Reading Part 1
Reading Correspondence
Time
~11 minutes
Questions
11
What Is This Task?
Reading Part 1 consists of TWO linked readings. First, you read a personal letter and answer 6 multiple-choice questions. Then, you read a reply letter from the recipient and fill in 5 blanks by selecting the best word or phrase from a drop-down menu.
The original letter topic can be any subject people would discuss in typical personal correspondence: a holiday, a meal at a restaurant, a family event, a visit to a new city, or a shared experience. The tone is informal and personal.
The reply letter directly responds to the content of the first letter, but may also present new information. To answer the fill-in-the-blank questions, you often need to relate the reply letter BACK to the first letter — answers depend on understanding both texts together.
This is the only reading section with a two-part structure. The 11 questions (6 + 5) make it the most question-dense reading section. You have approximately 11 minutes to complete both halves.
Step-by-Step Task Flow
Read the Original Letter
A personal letter appears on screen. Read it carefully — skim first for the general situation (who wrote it, to whom, what they are describing), then read more carefully to understand specific details, opinions, and suggestions.
Answer 6 Multiple-Choice Questions
Six drop-down questions appear. Each asks about the letter's content: facts, opinions, implications, and the writer's attitude. Use scanning to quickly locate relevant sections.
Read the Reply Letter
A response letter appears with 5 blanks. This letter refers back to the original — the reply writer responds to points from the first letter, often using different words.
Fill in 5 Blanks
For each blank, choose the best word or phrase from 4 options. You need to understand BOTH letters to fill many blanks correctly — scan back to the original letter if needed.
Strategies & Techniques
Common Traps to Avoid
- ✗The word "too" always signals negativity and excess in CELPIP: "too small to be interesting" means the size is a problem. But "small" by itself can be positive — Jared finds Tofino's small size "refreshing."
- ✗The reply letter may introduce new information not in the original. Some blanks test this new information, while others test your recall of the original letter. Read each blank's surrounding context carefully.
- ✗Don't confuse what the writer describes (facts) with what the writer feels (opinions). "It started to pour" is a fact; "amazing place" is an opinion. Questions may ask about either.
- ✗If you recognize a phrase from the original letter being echoed in the reply, use that connection to fill in blanks accurately — the reply writer is directly referencing something from the first letter.