CELPIP Writing Task 1 · semi-formal email

Email to a neighbour about a contractor blocking the driveway

You and your next-door neighbour share a narrow driveway. Your neighbour is renovating their kitchen, and for the past week their contractor's truck has often been parked across the driveway in the morning. Twice you could not get your car out and were late for work. Write an email to your neighbour, whom you know only a little.

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

Describe the problem politely and give an example
Explain how it has affected you
Propose a solution that works for both of you

Your response

27:00

0 words · target 150–200

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Write at least 50 words first.

Tips for this prompt

Open in a friendly way, for example by mentioning the renovation positively, before raising the problem.
Describe specific mornings and times instead of using blaming language such as 'your contractor always...'.
Suggest a practical compromise, such as street parking until a certain time or a text message when the truck arrives.

Sample responses

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

Sample at about CLB 7184 words

Hello Sam,

This is Alex, I live in the house next to you. I know we did not talk much before, so I hope you don't mind this email. I heard you are making renovation in your kitchen, I hope it is going well.

I want to tell you about a small problem. In this week, the truck of your contractor often park across our driveway in the morning. For example, on Wednesday I wanted to drive to work at 7:30 but I could not take my car out. I waited almost thirty minutes.

Because of this I was late for work two times. My boss was not happy with me and I felt very stressful. I do not want this happen again.

Maybe your contractor can park his truck on the street, or he can come a little later after I leave. I usually leave at 7:30 every morning. If he need to use the driveway early, he can knock my door and I will move my car. I think this way is good for both of us.

Thank you for understanding.

Alex

Why about CLB 7: The tone is friendly and a solution is offered, but the effect on the writer is explained only briefly. Errors such as "making renovation", "the truck ... often park", "I felt very stressful", "want this happen" and "knock my door" appear throughout.

Sample at about CLB 9167 words

Hi Sam,

My name is Alex and I live next door to you. I hope your kitchen renovation is going well. I wanted to talk to you about something that has been happening with our shared driveway this week.

For the past week, your contractor's truck has been parked across the driveway in the mornings. On Tuesday and again on Thursday, I could not get my car out when I needed to leave for work, and I had to wait until someone came to move the truck. Because of this I was late to work both days, and my boss was not very happy about it.

I understand that the contractor needs to bring in a lot of materials for your kitchen. However, I need to leave for work around 7:30 every morning. I would really appreciate if you could ask him to park on the street instead of the driveway until the work is finished.

Thank you for understanding, and good luck with the renovation!

Alex

Why about CLB 9: Friendly and clear, with a good example of the problem. The solution only works for the writer rather than for both neighbours, and the effect on the writer is brief; small slips include "I would really appreciate if" and a missing comma after "Because of this".

Sample at about CLB 11186 words

Hi Sam,

I hope the kitchen renovation is progressing well. Could you speak to your contractor about keeping our shared driveway clear in the mornings? His truck has blocked it several times this week. On Tuesday and Thursday, I could not get past at 7:30 a.m. and had to wait until someone moved it.

Both delays made me late for work. As I open the shop, that also left customers waiting outside, so I need a more predictable way to leave. I appreciate that unloading close to your house is easier for the contractor; the narrow driveway simply cannot accommodate his truck and a passing car together.

Would parking on the street until 8 a.m. work? He could then use the driveway after I have gone. For any delivery that must arrive earlier, please text me the previous evening at 555-0146. I can park my car at the street overnight, giving him access without delaying my morning departure.

Could you check this with him before tomorrow? A simple agreement should spare us repeated interruptions while allowing the work to continue smoothly.

Thanks for your help, Alex

Why about CLB 11: The writer explains the shared-space constraint and offers a concrete exception for early deliveries, maintaining a considerate tone. "On the street" is the correct preposition.

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