Tone Matters More Than You Think
CELPIP scores your writing on tone appropriateness. Writing a formal complaint to a close friend sounds robotic. Writing a casual message to a company manager sounds unprofessional. Both lose marks.
Task 1 (Email): Can be formal OR informal depending on the prompt. Read the scenario carefully - who are you writing to?
Task 2 (Survey Response): Almost always formal/semi-formal. You're responding to a community or organizational survey.
How to Identify the Required Tone
Read the Task 1 prompt for these cues:
Formal triggers:
- Writing to a manager, company, landlord, government office
- Words like "complaint," "request," "proposal," "address the issue"
- Professional relationship context
Informal triggers:
- Writing to a friend, family member, neighbour you know well
- Words like "your good friend," "someone you know well," "catch up"
- Personal relationship context
Semi-formal (middle ground):
- Writing to a colleague, acquaintance, or community member
- Polite but not stiff - like emailing a coworker you like
When in doubt, lean slightly more formal. It's safer to be too polite than too casual.
Formal vs. Informal Language
Greetings:
- Formal: "Dear Mr. Thompson," / "Dear Hiring Manager,"
- Semi-formal: "Hi Sarah," / "Hello David,"
- Informal: "Hey!" / "Hi there!"
Vocabulary:
- Formal: "I am writing to inform you" / "I would like to request" / "I trust this finds you well"
- Informal: "Just wanted to let you know" / "Can you help me with" / "Hope you're doing great!"
Contractions:
- Formal: "I would," "cannot," "should not"
- Informal: "I'd," "can't," "shouldn't"
Closings:
- Formal: "Sincerely," / "Regards," / "Thank you for your attention"
- Informal: "Talk soon!" / "Can't wait to hear from you!" / "Cheers,"
Key rule: Stay consistent. Don't start formal and end casual, or mix "Dear Sir" with "can't wait lol." Consistent tone = higher coherence score.
Task 2 Tone Template
Task 2 is almost always semi-formal to formal. Use this tone framework:
Opening: State your position clearly. "I strongly believe that..." or "In my opinion, the best option would be..."
Body: Present arguments with formal connectors. Avoid slang, contractions, or emotional language. Use "residents," not "people around here." Use "significant," not "really big."
Closing: Restate your position. "For these reasons, I support Option A." or "Taking all factors into account, I recommend..."
Task 2 is essentially a mini opinion essay. Think of yourself as writing a letter to a local newspaper - informed, measured, persuasive.