CELPIP Email vs Survey: How Tone and Structure Differ
The CELPIP email vs survey difference is easy to miss, because both tasks are about 150-200 words. Task 1 is a message to a specific person with a job to do; Task 2 is a reasoned opinion for people who have to make a decision. This page compares tone, structure and register, with short example lines.
CELPIP email vs survey at a glance
The two tasks differ in almost everything except length:
| Task 1: Email | Task 2: Survey | |
|---|---|---|
| Who reads it | A named person or organization: a manager, landlord, company, neighbour or friend | An organization collecting opinions: a city, employer, school or company |
| Your role | Someone with a problem to solve or a message to send | A resident, employee, parent or customer with a view |
| Register | Set by the reader: formal, semi-formal or friendly | Polite and neutral, close to semi-formal |
| Structure | Greeting, purpose, one paragraph per bullet, closing, sign-off | Choice, two or three reasons, comparison, closing |
| Must include | Every bullet point in the task | A clear choice and a comparison with the other option |
| Greeting and sign-off | Yes | Not needed |
Tone in Task 1: set by the reader
The email task tells you who you are writing to, and that decides the tone. A landlord or a company needs a polite, formal message. A neighbour or coworker needs something friendly but respectful. A friend or relative can get a relaxed message, but it is still written English, not a text message. The same kind of request reads differently in each register:
- Too casual for a landlord: "Hey Mr. Fraser, the heat is still broken, can you fix it ASAP?"
- Too stiff for a brother: "I am writing to formally inform you of the arrangements for your arrival."
Formal (to a landlord): I would appreciate it if the repair could be completed by January 17. Semi-formal (to a neighbour): Would you consider hiring a dog walker around midday? Friendly (to a brother): Leave the coat and boots for now; I'll take you shopping once the sales start.
Tone in Task 2: a reasonable person with a view
In the survey you are not writing to a friend, and you are not writing an academic essay. You are a resident, an employee or a customer helping an organization decide. The right tone is polite, direct and practical.
Disagreeing is fine; dismissing the other option, or the people who prefer it, is not. "While I understand why parents want somewhere for children to cool off..." keeps the tone respectful while you argue for the other side.
Too academic: Public recreational infrastructure plays a crucial role in the development of modern society. Too casual: Honestly, a splash pad is way better, the fitness thing is kind of pointless!! About right: I would prefer a splash pad, because young children in our area have nowhere free to cool off on the hottest days.
Structure: an email does a job, a survey makes a case
An email is organized by the bullet points. Each bullet becomes a paragraph, in order, and the email ends with what you want to happen next. The reader should finish knowing what you need from them.
A survey answer is organized by reasons. The choice comes first, each reason gets a paragraph with a specific example, and somewhere you compare your choice with the other option. The reader should finish knowing what you prefer and why.
- Email opening, a purpose statement: "I am writing to follow up on my two phone messages about the heating in unit 204..."
- Survey opening, the choice: "I strongly prefer the outdoor fitness area for adults and seniors."
- Email closing, an action: "I am home any weekday after 4 p.m. and would appreciate a call to confirm the appointment."
- Survey closing, the final point: "For these reasons, I believe the fitness area would be the more lasting use of the $400,000."
Openings and endings in the wrong task
Each of these is a correct sentence in the wrong place. Raters judge tone and task fulfillment, so a line that suits the other task works against you.
In a survey answer: Dear Sir or Madam, I hope this message finds you well. In an email to a landlord: In conclusion, heating is very important in our society. In an email to a friend: I am writing to inform you that I have received your inquiry about packing. In a survey answer: Please reply to me as soon as possible.
Habits to avoid in both tasks
Whatever the register, these habits hurt tone and readability:
- Spoken or texting forms: gonna, wanna, u, "you guys", emojis.
- Rows of exclamation marks. One in a friendly email is fine; in a survey answer, leave them out.
- Sarcasm or rudeness, even in a complaint. Firm and polite works better.
- More personal information than the purpose needs.
- Whole phrases copied from the task instead of your own words.
Quick self-check before time runs out
Use the last three or four minutes of each task for these questions:
- Email: Does the greeting match the reader? Is the purpose in the first sentence or two? Is every bullet covered, in order? Would this reader be comfortable with every sentence?
- Survey: Is the choice clear in the first sentence? Is each reason supported with something specific? Did you compare with the other option? Does it sound like a resident or an employee, not an essay?
Related guides
- Writing templatesEmail and survey structures and phrases by register, and when not to use them
- Task 1 samples with answersEmail responses at Levels 5, 7, 9 and 11, with why each got its level
- Task 2 samples with answersSurvey responses at Levels 5, 7, 9 and 11, with why each got its level
- Writing test formatTasks, timing, word count, the test screen and scoring
- CELPIP WritingBoth writing tasks, how they are scored and how to practise