CELPIP Reading · Part 1 of 4

CELPIP Reading Part 1 Practice Questions: Reading Correspondence

Practice CELPIP Reading Part 1 with 50 original emails and letters.

50 sets
Original practice sets
Set 1
Free to try
11 questions
Per set
10 min
Per set

50 CELPIP Reading Part 1 practice questions

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What is CELPIP Reading Part 1: Reading Correspondence?

An email or letter, usually personal or semi-formal: a friend describing a trip, a neighbour raising a concern, a club telling its members about a change. You read it, answer questions about it, then complete a reply that has to fit what the original message said.

How a practice set runs

Open the set; the timer starts and the message appears on the left.
Answer six drop-down questions about the purpose, details and implications of the message.
Read the reply and complete its five blanks so that it agrees with the original message.
Submit before the timer ends to see your score and an explanation for every answer.

What you answer

Eleven answers in total: six drop-down questions with three or four options each, and five drop-down blanks inside the reply. Nothing is typed. Each choice is scored right or wrong the moment you submit, and the explanation points to the sentence in the message that decides it.

Example

Sample question: Why is Lena writing to her cousin? (choose: to change the date of her visit / to ask for a lift from the airport / to cancel the trip / to recommend a hotel). Sample reply blank: 'I can pick you up on ... (Friday evening / Saturday morning / Sunday afternoon).'

Skills and pitfalls

What CELPIP Reading Part 1 tests

Part 1 checks whether you can read everyday correspondence accurately: why the message was written, what it asks for, and what the details actually say.

The reply-completion half tests something extra: whether you can keep a response consistent with the original message in tone, facts and intent.

How practicing these sets helps

Fifty different senders, purposes and registers train two habits: locating the exact sentence behind each question, and reading the reply as a whole before filling any blank. The explanations on every answer point back to the line in the message that decided it.

What you will see

An email or letter from a friend, a neighbour, a colleague or an organization, usually a few paragraphs long.
Six drop-down questions about the purpose, details and implications of the message.
A short reply with five blanks, each with three or four options, that must agree with the original message.

Skills you need

Finding the purpose of a message quickly
Locating the sentence that answers a specific question
Reading for tone and register, not just facts
Checking a reply against the original for consistency

Common mistakes

Choosing an option that repeats words from the email but answers a different question
Completing the reply from memory instead of checking the original message
Missing a change of plan mentioned near the end of the email
Spending too long on the message and rushing the reply

Strategy

How to improve in CELPIP Reading Part 1

Improve Reading Part 1 by practising the 5 habits below on timed sets and reviewing every explanation afterwards.

Read the whole message once before any question
Correspondence often changes course halfway through, with a request, then a condition, then a new date. One full read stops you answering from the first half.
Match each question to one sentence
Every drop-down question in Part 1 has a home in the text. Find it, reread it, then choose. Do not answer from your overall impression.
Read the reply before filling the blanks
Skim the whole reply first so you know what it is trying to say. Then each blank has a context on both sides, not just before it.
Check facts, dates and names against the original
The reply must agree with the message it answers. If a blank mentions Friday, find Friday in the email. If it is not there, it is the wrong option.
Budget your time by halves
In these sets you have 10 minutes. Aim to finish the six questions in the first half so the reply gets the attention it needs.

FAQ

What do candidates ask about CELPIP Reading Part 1?

Short answers to what candidates ask about Reading Correspondence and about practicing it here.

What is CELPIP Reading Part 1?

Part 1, Reading Correspondence, gives you an email or letter to read. You answer 6 questions about the message and complete a reply with 5 blanks, for 11 questions in total.

How many questions are in Reading Part 1?

Eleven: six about the message and five blanks in the reply. Every set on this page follows that structure.

How do I complete the reply in Part 1?

Read the entire reply first, then choose each option so the finished reply agrees with the original message. Dates, requests and decisions must line up.

How can I practice CELPIP Reading Part 1?

Open a set, read against the timer, submit, then go through the explanation for each answer. One set a day with a proper review beats several rushed sets.

Are these Reading Part 1 practice questions free?

The first set is free, including the timed interface, scoring and explanations. The other sets are part of the Pro plan.

Are these official CELPIP reading passages?

No. Every email and letter is original practice material written to match the Part 1 format. This site is independent and not affiliated with CELPIP or Paragon Testing Enterprises.

Can I practice Part 1 on its own?

Yes. This page isolates Part 1. When you are ready to read all four parts in order under one clock, take a full Reading practice test.

Keep going

Move to the next Reading part, or switch skills. Every page below lists its own 50 practice sets.

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CELPIP Reading Part 1 Practice Questions: Reading Correspondence

50 CELPIP Reading Part 1 practice questions

Furniture Repair Class Transfer

Reunion Picnic Shelter Closure

Closed Trail for Sunrise Hike

Birthday Baking in Another Kitchen

Concert Trip by Train

Balcony Plants During Water Shutoff

Scanning Old Class Photos

Earlier Ferry Sailing Time

Football Practice Moved Indoors

Grocery Delivery at the Cottage

Extra Days of Garden Care

Collecting a Restored Quilt

Later Entry at Children's Museum

Splitting Holiday Meal Cooking

Covering a Missed Dog Walk

Moving Day Elevator Booking

Family Documents in Storage

Guest Room Without Heating

Airport Pickup Terminal Change

Running Group Route Detour

Hosting Book Club Elsewhere

Kayak Rental Pickup Time

Board Game Night Relocation

Choir Rehearsal Without a Pianist

Bike Ride Return Route

Late Arrival at a Cabin

Wrong Date on Museum Tickets

Cancelled Bus from Craft Fair

Community Garden Watering Swap

Sewing Costumes for School Play

Pool Locker Key Handover

Delayed Prints for Photo Exhibition

Ceramics Kiln Booking Swap

New Space for Prop Painting

Shift Swap for Training Day

Conference Travel After Rail Suspension

Shared Report Version Mix-Up

Front Desk Coverage During Demo

Missing Inventory Scanner

New Room for Software Training

Duplicate Receipt in Expense Claim

Missing Samples for Product Demo

Staff Breakfast Order Shortfall

Presenting Survey Results Remotely

Creek Cleanup Supply Pickup

Fundraiser Table Layout Change

Closed Dock at Donation Depot

Rescheduling Food Drive Pickups

Tree Planting Soil Delay

Moving a Festival Accessibility Tent