CELPIP READING · PART 1
Reading Correspondence
Understand purpose, relationships and practical details in correspondence.
A useful approach
Read the opening and request, then return to exact evidence for each item.
A common trap
Polite indirect requests can be mistaken for optional background.
Reading Correspondence: a worked question
Read this original email. Separate instructions for everyone from instructions that apply only to some volunteers.
Subject: Thursday volunteer orientation
Hello everyone,
Our orientation begins at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday in Room 204 of the community centre. Please arrive at 6:15 with photo identification so we can complete registration before the session starts. We will supply gloves and all other equipment.
If you already hold a valid first-aid certificate, email a copy to me by Tuesday. Those who do not have one can arrange training after orientation; this will not prevent you from joining Thursday's session. The Saturday workshop advertised on our website is for returning team leaders and is not part of your orientation.
Thank you,
Alex, Volunteer Coordinator
What must every new volunteer do before orientation starts?
- Email a first-aid certificate by Tuesday.
- Arrive at 6:15 p.m. with photo identification.
- Bring gloves and other equipment.
- Complete the Saturday workshop.
Answer and evidence
B is correct. The arrival and identification instruction applies to everyone. The first-aid request is conditional: it starts with “If you already hold…”. Equipment is supplied, and Saturday is for returning team leaders.
The distractors reuse genuine details but change who must act or what is required. Check the person, condition and requested action together instead of matching a familiar word.
Apply the same reading habit
Make three notes: everyone → arrive early with ID; certificate holders → email a copy; returning leaders → Saturday workshop. On a fresh email, identify the audience, purpose, deadline and any exception before answering.
Original CELPIP Studio teaching example. Independent preparation, not an official CELPIP question or an examiner-rated response.
Try a focused drill
Make the feedback useful
After answering, find the exact evidence for the correct option. Explain which condition or assumption made your chosen distractor wrong. Save the mistake and retry a related task after a short interval.
These are CELPIP Studio preparation suggestions. Official test format and rules are published by CELPIP. Practice material is original and does not predict future questions.
Keep building this skill with all Reading task types and worked examples.