Performance Standards for the CELPIP-General Writing Test - Explanation

The Performance Standards chart is designed to help you understand how your Writing skills are
measured by our trained and certified raters. The raters determine your skill level in each of the four
categories. The yellow boxes list the specific factors that are assessed in each category. Here are
some guiding questions that our raters consider as they rate your work:

1) COHERENCE/MEANING

This category measures how smoothly and effectively the ideas flow together to form a meaningful
and coherent whole.

Are the ideas explained clearly? Are the ideas well organized so that the reader can easily follow
what has been written? Can the test taker express precise meaning and/or explore deeper levels of
meaning?

2) VOCABULARY

This category assesses how well the test taker uses vocabulary, idioms and phrases to make his/her
ideas understandable.

Is the range of words sufficient to complete the task? How well is the test taker using words that
help express precise ideas clearly? Can the test taker combine words to express precise meaning?

3) READABILITY

This category measures how intelligible and fluent your writing is.

How much do errors in word form, spelling and punctuation interfere with readability? Does the
test taker’s control of grammar and syntax interfere with or improve readability? Is there
complexity and variety in the sentence structure? Does the test taker use paragraphing and
formatting to improve readability? Are connectors and transitions used appropriately and
effectively?

4) TASK FULFILLMENT

This category considers how well the content of the response addresses the task requirements. In
other words, has the test taker understood the instructions and done everything he or she was
asked to do?

How well does the response address the task? How complete is the response? Is the tone of the
response appropriate for the social context of the task? Is the word count within the given range?
The four category ratings from one rater are combined into one score for that task. Two raters rate
each task, and all four task scores are combined into one overall score for your Writing skills. Each
task is worth 50% of your Writing score.

Read the following information.

Task 1: Writing an email

You live in a house near a park. Recently, a lot of teenagers have been meeting in the park at
night. They are very noisy.

Write an email to the local government in about 150-200 words. Your email should do the
following things:

Provide information about where you live.

Explain the problem and how it affects your life.
Suggest a way to solve the problem.

To whom it may concern,

I would like to register a complaint. I currently live in Whistler, a small 3 bedroom house
overlooking the village green. We moved here in the fall of 2013 however since then some
of the local kids have started meeting up in the park at night and causing a lot of noise.

While I feel this would be fine in the early evening, it becomes a problem when it carries on
until midnight. Sometimes even later than that!

My job requires me to work early mornings, I need to be alert and friendly throughout the
day. Being woken up several times throughout the night is definitely having a negative
impact on my work performance.

While I have tried to ask them to keep the noise down on numerous occasions it has been to
no avail. I feel I have no recourse but to contact you now in the hopes that you could enforce
some form of curfew on the park. I would suggest no loud noises after maybe 9pm or 10pm.
The local residents and myself would much appreciate your consideration on this matter.

Regards
Gwen T. Alderidge
Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions (Sample Responses)
Read the following information.

Online vs. Print News Survey

Your local newspaper is experiencing low sales of its newspapers since many readers are
now choosing the online version. Its current number of online subscribers is now three times
the number of print subscribers. The newspaper has sent a survey to all of its print and
online subscribers to see whether there is enough demand to keep the print version.
Choose the option that you prefer. Explain the reasons for your choice. Why do you prefer
your choice? Write about 150-200 words.

• Option A: Stop producing the print version of the newspaper.

• Option B: Keep producing both the print and online versions.

CELPIP 10-12 RESPONSE

I would recommend that the local newspaper continues to keep producing both the print
and online versions.

I recognize that particular individuals are pushing a shift towards media being exclusively
online but doing this will undoubtedly leave some readers unhappy.

I enjoy having the physical printed newspaper to read. I spend enough time each day on a
computer as it is. Reading the newspaper is a time for me to relax and get away from the
online and electronic world.

There are certainly times when the online issue has been beneficial, like being able to access
the local news while in a foreign country but for the most part, I prefer the experience of
reading a print version.

I also believe that within our community, there is a large number of elderly residents who
actively buy the print version and have been doing so for year. Many do not have access to a
computer. If you stop producing the print version, you are instantly cutting this group of
people form your readers.
Task 1: Writing an Email (Sample Responses)
Read the following information.

Car Accident

You saw a car accident. Now you have been asked to write a report for the police describing
the scene.

Write an email to the police in about 150-200 words. Your email should do the following
things:

Explain when and where you saw the accident.

Describe the road conditions, what you saw, and how many people and vehicles were
involved.
Explain who you feel was responsible and why.

CELPIP 4-5 Response CELPIP 7-8 Response CELPIP 10-12 RESPONSE

To whom it may concern,

The following is an account of the vehicle accident I witnessed on February 16th, 2014 at
approximately 6:45pm. The accident occurred on in the intersection of George Street and
Mason Avenue in Jumpton, Alberta.

At that time of the accident, I was walking northbound on George Street, towards the
intersection with Mason Avenue. The road conditions were slick as an intense rainfall event
had just passed through the city, however it was not raining at that time.

Car A (a Ford F150) was on George Road (heading northbound), waiting in the intersection
with Mason Street to turn left. When the traffic light turned red, Car A commenced turning
left onto Mason Street. However, at the same time, Car B (a purple Corvette) who was
travelling southbound on George Street, also entered the intersection on the red light.

Car A hit the left side of Car B. The drivers in both cars required medical attention from the
ambulance that arrived on the scene shortly after. No other passengers or vehicles were
involved in the accident.

I believe Car B was at fault for failing to stop at a red light.

Regards

Mavis