CELPIP Writing Task 1 · formal email

Email to the city about a pothole that damaged your car

While driving to work, your car hit a deep pothole on a city street. A tire was destroyed and the wheel was bent, and you had to pay for repairs. You have noticed the pothole for several weeks. Write an email to your city's public works department.

Write an email of about 150–200 words in which you do the following:

Describe where and when the incident happened
Explain the damage and the cost of the repairs
Ask the city to take action

Your response

27:00

0 words · target 150–200

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Write at least 50 words first.

Tips for this prompt

Give an exact location, such as the street, the nearest intersection and the lane, so a crew can find the pothole.
Mention the repair invoice and its total; a claim with documents is taken more seriously.
Ask for two separate things: repairing the pothole and information about reimbursement.

Sample responses

Try the task first, then compare. Levels are our estimates, not official CELPIP scores.

Sample at about CLB 7180 words

Dear Public Works Department,

I am writing to tell you about a big pothole on Main Street, near to the corner with 5th Avenue. On Monday morning, I was driving to my work and my car hit this pothole. It was raining so I could not see it because it was full with water.

After that my front tire was flat and the wheel was also bent. I had to call a tow truck and bring my car to the garage. The repair cost me $540, it is a lot of money for me. Also I was late to work and I lost half day pay.

This pothole is there since at least one month. I drive on this street every day and I saw it many times. It is very dangerous, not only for cars but also for people who ride bicycle.

I ask the city to fix this pothole quickly before somebody get hurt. I also want to know if the city can pay back my repair. I can send the bill from the garage.

Regards, Mohammed Haddad

Why about CLB 7: All three points are covered with a clear request, but the location and the incident are described in general terms. Errors such as "near to", "full with water", "is there since", "half day pay" and "somebody get hurt" are noticeable.

Sample at about CLB 9173 words

Dear Public Works Department,

I am writing to report a large pothole on Main Street near 5th Avenue. Last week I was driving to work in the morning when my car hit it. It had been raining, so the hole was full of water and I did not see it.

The damage to my car was quite bad. One of the tires was destroyed and the wheel was bent, so my car had to be towed to a garage. The repairs were very expensive, and I also missed half a day of work.

I have noticed this pothole for several weeks now, as I drive on Main Street every day. It seems to be getting bigger, and I think it is dangerous for other drivers too.

I would like the city to repair this pothole as soon as possible. I would also like to know if the city can pay for some of the repairs, and what is the process for this.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely, Mohammed Haddad

Why about CLB 9: Clear and well organized, but the location, date and cost stay vague ("quite bad", "very expensive") and no invoice is mentioned. "What is the process" should be "what the process is".

Sample at about CLB 11187 words

Dear Public Works Department,

I am writing to report a hazardous pothole and to file a claim for the damage it caused to my car. The pothole is in the eastbound curb lane of Main Street, about ten metres before the traffic lights at 5th Avenue, directly beside the bus stop.

At around 7:40 a.m. on Monday, October 6, my front tire dropped into it during heavy rain. Because the hole was filled with water, it looked like an ordinary puddle; in reality it is roughly fifteen centimetres deep. The impact shredded the tire and bent the rim, and my car had to be towed. The attached invoice from Westside Auto comes to $540, and I also lost half a day's wages.

I drive this route daily and have watched the pothole widen for at least three weeks. Cyclists who swerve around it are pushed into traffic, so I would urge the department to patch it immediately and put up warning cones in the meantime. I would also appreciate guidance on how to submit my reimbursement claim and how long the review usually take.

Sincerely, Mohammed Haddad

Why about CLB 11: A precise location, a clear timeline and attached evidence make both the report and the claim easy to act on. "Usually take" should be "usually takes".

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