Celpe-Bras writing genres: 12 text types with examples
The Celpe-Bras written part never asks for "just an essay": every task calls for a specific genre written for a specific reader. Below are the 12 genre families we practice in Mnezo: who writes to whom, how the text is organized, how it opens and closes, which register it needs, a short example and the typical mistake.
Why genre carries so much weight
Since the 2014/2 edition, the written part has been assessed holistically: each task receives a single score from 0 to 5, with no separate marks for grammar or vocabulary. The top level describes a text that "configura adequadamente a relação de interlocução no gênero discursivo proposto na tarefa, realizando a ação solicitada" — in other words, it sets up the right relationship between writer and reader in the required genre and carries out the requested action. Level 2 lists passages that "remetem a um gênero diferente" among its problems, and level 0 includes, among other cases, a text that merely reproduces the source material without authorship of its own. These parameters are set out in the Documento base do exame Celpe-Bras (Inep, 2020, Quadro 2).
If you have seen three separate criteria in prep materials — adequação contextual, discursiva and linguística — that is the earlier grid. Up to the 2013/1 edition scoring was described along those three axes, in the 2013/2 and 2014/1 editions along two (contextual and linguistic-discursive), and since 2014/2 a single set of parameters has applied. Axes were never scored separately even then: a text always received one score, and language was judged by how it serves the text (Documento base, section 3.1.1.1). How task scores add up to a certificate level is covered in the article on the exam structure.
The same document gives an indicative list of the genres candidates are asked to write (Quadro 6): among them carta do leitor, carta aberta, artigo de opinião, e-mail, convite, depoimento, notícia, panfleto, guia de orientações, relatório, instruções, abaixo-assinado and editorial — and the list ends with "entre outros". The document also notes that a reader's letter to a newspaper is far more common in the exam than an e-mail to a friend: Celpe-Bras prefers public situations.
Our 12 families are a Mnezo teaching grouping, not an official list. Closely related genres are grouped together, while the proposal and the post with comment get their own sections as practice formats: Inep names "propor" and "sugerir" among the purposes of the texts, and task sources can include social media content. Every example below was written for this article; the names, places and figures are invented.
Four anchors and the "No seu texto" points
In the Documento base, Inep analyzes a 2019/1 task about parklets — mini-squares built on parking spaces. The expected response is described in four lines: genre — a letter (carta); writer — the president of a retailers' association in a city that has no parklets yet; readers — the members of that association; purpose — to explain what parklets are and justify investing in them. Write down these four anchors — gênero, enunciador, interlocutor, propósito — before reading the source in every task.
Often the command also lists what the text must contain: with gerunds, as in the parklets task ("explicando o que são os parklets"), or as a numbered list after "No seu texto". Take this practice command:
Comando: Você mora em Niterói e leu, no jornal da cidade, que a feira de domingo da Praça do Coreto vai passar a funcionar às quartas-feiras. Escreva uma carta do leitor à redação do jornal. No seu texto, 1) identifique a reportagem a que você responde; 2) posicione-se sobre a mudança; 3) apresente dois argumentos; 4) proponha uma solução para feirantes e moradores.
Translation: you live in Niterói and read in the city paper that the Sunday street market on Praça do Coreto is moving to Wednesdays. Write a letter to the editor: identify the piece you are responding to, state your position, give two arguments and propose a solution for stallholders and residents.
| Point in the command | What the reader sees |
|---|---|
| 1) identifique a reportagem | a reference: the topic or headline and the date of the piece |
| 2) posicione-se | your position in one clear sentence: for or against |
| 3) dois argumentos | two separate reasons, ideally with a fact from the source |
| 4) proponha uma solução | a concrete measure: who does what, and when |
Four rules for breaking a command down:
- Each point is a separate action. The reader has to see it in the text directly, not guess it from a hint.
- The order of the points need not match the order of your paragraphs. In an invitation, for example, you invite first and explain afterwards.
- The points do not replace the genre. Even with all four covered, the text must still be a letter to a newspaper, with a salutation, a public tone and a signature. Do not copy the "1), 2)" numbering into your text.
- Restate the source's facts in your own words. A copied paragraph does not show that you understood the material and turned it into your own message.
This is how the first two points might look:
Prezados editores,
Li a reportagem "Feira da Praça do Coreto muda para quarta-feira", publicada no domingo, e discordo da mudança. A feira de domingo é o único momento em que muitas famílias que trabalham durante a semana conseguem comprar frutas e verduras frescas perto de casa.
Translation: "Dear editors, I read the piece 'Praça do Coreto market moves to Wednesday', published on Sunday, and I disagree with the change. The Sunday market is the only time many families who work during the week can buy fresh fruit and vegetables close to home."
Texts that take a position: letter to the editor, open letter, opinion article
Carta do leitor — letter to the editor
- Who to whom: a reader of a newspaper or website writes to the editors; in practice, other readers read the letter.
- Purpose: respond to a specific piece — agree, disagree or add to it.
- Structure: reference to the piece → position → two or three reasons → proposal → signature.
- Opening and closing: "Prezados editores," or "Prezada redação,"; finish with "Atenciosamente,", your name and city, sometimes your occupation.
- Register: neutral to formal; opinions are introduced with a meu ver, acredito que.
- Typical mistake: retelling the article without ever saying what you think of it.
The ending of the market letter:
Proponho que a feira continue aos domingos pela manhã e ganhe um horário extra às quartas, à tarde, como teste. Assim, ninguém perde o seu dia de compras.
Atenciosamente,
Rafael Monteiro, Niterói (RJ)
Translation: "I propose that the market stay on Sunday mornings and add extra hours on Wednesday afternoons as a trial. That way nobody loses their shopping day."
Carta aberta — open letter
- Who to whom: a group (residents, workers, an association) writes to a specific recipient, but publicly, so that everyone reads it.
- Purpose: name a problem and push for a concrete action.
- Structure: the heading "Carta aberta à/ao…" → who is writing and whom they represent → the problem, with facts → demands or proposals → call to action and the group's signature.
- Opening and closing: "Carta aberta à Prefeitura de Campinas"; finish with "Contamos com uma resposta rápida" and the group's name.
- Register: formal, firm and polite; first person plural: solicitamos, propomos.
- Typical mistake: only complaining — or forgetting to say who signs the letter.
Nós, moradores do Jardim Esperança, solicitamos a troca das lâmpadas queimadas da Praça das Mangueiras. Há dois meses a praça fica escura depois das 19h, e as crianças deixaram de brincar ali à noite.
Translation: "We, the residents of Jardim Esperança, request that the burnt-out lamps in Praça das Mangueiras be replaced. For two months the square has been dark after 7 p.m., and children no longer play there in the evening."
Artigo de opinião — opinion article
- Who to whom: an author, often with a stated role, writes for the broad readership of a newspaper, magazine or website.
- Purpose: defend a position on a debated issue and persuade readers with arguments.
- Structure: a headline that shows the position → topic and thesis → two or three arguments → the opposing view and your answer → conclusion or proposal.
- Opening and closing: no letter-style salutation or signature; start with a situation or a question, end with a conclusion (portanto, por isso).
- Register: formal; connectors such as além disso, por outro lado, no entanto.
- Typical mistake: opening with "Prezados leitores" or producing a pros-and-cons list with no position of your own.
Dinheiro vivo ainda tem lugar
Cada vez mais lojas exibem o aviso "Só aceitamos cartão e Pix". A praticidade é real, mas a regra deixa de fora quem não tem conta bancária ou celular com internet. Por isso, defendo que o comércio continue aceitando dinheiro em espécie.
Translation: "Cash still has its place. More and more shops display the sign 'Card and Pix only'. It is genuinely convenient, but the rule leaves out people without a bank account or a phone with internet access. That is why I believe shops should keep accepting cash."
Texts that address someone: e-mail, proposal, invitation
E-mail formal and informal
- Who to whom: formal — a customer, employee or citizen writes to an institution or a manager; informal — to a friend, colleague or neighbor.
- Purpose: ask, inform, arrange something.
- Structure: subject line (Assunto) → salutation → who you are and why you are writing → details → request → sign-off and name.
- Opening and closing: formal — "Prezada coordenadora,", "Atenciosamente," or "Cordialmente,"; informal — "Oi, Bruno!", "Um abraço,".
- Register: formal — o senhor, a senhora, gostaria de solicitar; informal — você and lively connectors, but no chat abbreviations such as vc or blz.
- Typical mistake: an empty subject line or mixed registers: "Oi, secretário, beleza?".
Assunto: Pedido de mudança de turma
Prezada coordenadora,
Sou aluno do curso de português para estrangeiros, na turma de terça e quinta, às 19h. Por causa de uma mudança no meu horário de trabalho, gostaria de solicitar a transferência para a turma de sábado de manhã, se houver vaga.
Translation: "Subject: Request to change class. Dear coordinator, I am a student on the Portuguese for foreigners course, in the Tuesday and Thursday 7 p.m. class. Because of a change in my working hours, I would like to request a transfer to the Saturday morning class, if there is a place."
Proposta — proposal
- Who to whom: a resident, employee or association member writes to whoever makes the decision: the síndico (building manager), a school board, the city hall.
- Purpose: propose a concrete solution and show that it is feasible.
- Structure: problem → proposal → how to carry it out (steps, timing, resources) → benefits → request for approval.
- Opening and closing: "Prezado síndico," or "À direção da escola,"; finish with something like "Coloco-me à disposição para apresentar a proposta na próxima reunião".
- Register: formal and specific; verbs such as propor, sugerir, implantar, and the softer seria possível.
- Typical mistake: describing the problem vividly without saying what exactly should be done, by whom and when.
Proponho criar uma biblioteca de ferramentas no salão de festas: cada morador poderia retirar uma furadeira, uma escada ou um serrote por até três dias, com registro em um caderno na portaria. Assim, evitamos compras repetidas e aproveitamos um espaço que fica fechado durante a semana.
Translation: "I propose setting up a tool library in the party room: each resident could take out a drill, a ladder or a saw for up to three days, signing for it in a notebook at the front desk. That way we avoid buying the same things twice and make use of a room that stays closed all week."
Convite and carta-convite — invitation
- Who to whom: the organizer writes to participants, or to a guest who is being asked to take part.
- Purpose: invite and give everything people need to come or to accept.
- Structure: the invitation straight away → what the event is and why → when, where and how to take part → for a guest: the role you are offering → a request to confirm.
- Opening and closing: "Prezada Dona Lourdes," or "Caros vizinhos,"; finish with "Aguardamos a sua confirmação até…" or "Contamos com a sua presença!".
- Register: a carta-convite to a guest is formal (gostaríamos de convidá-la); an invitation to neighbors is warm and neutral.
- Typical mistake: leaving out the date, the place or how to confirm — an invitation without details does not work.
Prezada Dona Lourdes,
Em nome da Escola Municipal Ipê Amarelo, gostaríamos de convidá-la para conduzir uma oficina de pão caseiro na nossa Semana da Alimentação, no dia 18 de outubro, às 9h. A atividade terá cerca de uma hora, para 25 alunos do 5º ano.
Translation: "Dear Dona Lourdes, on behalf of Ipê Amarelo Municipal School, we would like to invite you to run a home-made bread workshop during our Food Week on October 18 at 9 a.m. The session will last about an hour, for 25 fifth-grade pupils."
Texts that report: news story, personal account, report
Notícia — news story
- Who to whom: a newsroom or city portal writes for the general public; the author is not visible in the text.
- Purpose: report an event: what, who, when, where, how and why.
- Structure: headline → lead (the essentials in one or two sentences) → details in decreasing order of importance → a quote from someone involved → what happens next.
- Opening and closing: no salutation and no personal judgement; end with the next step or where to find out more.
- Register: neutral, third person; the headline is usually in the present tense, and quotes are introduced with disse, afirmou, explicou.
- Typical mistake: writing in the first person and adding judgements such as "foi incrível".
Feira de ciências reúne 40 projetos em escola de Contagem
Alunos da Escola Municipal Vale Verde apresentaram, no sábado (14), quarenta projetos de ciências. O primeiro lugar ficou com um medidor de chuva feito de garrafa PET, criado por três estudantes do 9º ano.
Translation: "Science fair brings together 40 projects at a Contagem school. Pupils at Vale Verde Municipal School presented forty science projects on Saturday (the 14th). First place went to a rain gauge made from a plastic bottle, built by three ninth-grade students." Note the "(14)": Brazilian news stories often give the day of the month like this, after the weekday.
Relato de experiência and depoimento — personal account
- Who to whom: someone who lived through a situation writes for the readers of a website, magazine or community.
- Purpose: tell your experience so that it is useful to others or inspires them.
- Structure: context (when, where, why) → events in order → a difficulty or turning point → what you learned → advice or an invitation.
- Opening and closing: you can start right in the moment ("Quando cheguei…"); end with a conclusion or a piece of advice.
- Register: first person; pretérito perfeito for events, imperfeito for background; personal but measured.
- Typical mistake: general reflections on why the topic matters instead of your own story, or jumps in time without connectors such as primeiro, depois, no fim.
Quando entrei pela primeira vez na roda de conversa do centro cultural, eu só sabia dizer "bom dia" e "obrigado". Na terceira semana, contei sem ler no papel como era o inverno na minha cidade — e todo mundo quis fazer perguntas.
Translation: "The first time I joined the conversation circle at the cultural center, all I could say was 'good morning' and 'thank you'. By the third week I described what winter was like in my city without reading from my notes — and everyone wanted to ask questions."
Relatório — report
- Who to whom: an employee, committee or volunteer writes to management, a council or the members of an organization.
- Purpose: present findings based on data and draw conclusions or make recommendations.
- Structure: purpose of the report → what was studied and how (period, participants) → results with figures → conclusions → recommendations.
- Opening and closing: "Este relatório apresenta…"; finish with "Recomenda-se…" or "Sugerimos…".
- Register: formal and impersonal (realizou-se, observou-se, recomenda-se); figures exactly as in the source.
- Typical mistake: listing figures without a conclusion, or distorting them — for example confusing percentages with numbers of people.
Este relatório apresenta o resultado da pesquisa sobre a cantina, respondida por 120 estudantes em setembro. Do total, 78 avaliaram o atendimento como bom, mas 64 reclamaram da falta de opções sem açúcar. Recomenda-se incluir ao menos duas opções desse tipo no cardápio diário.
Translation: "This report presents the results of the canteen survey, answered by 120 students in September. Of these, 78 rated the service as good, but 64 complained about the lack of sugar-free options. We recommend adding at least two such options to the daily menu."
Texts for the wider public: notice, guide, post and comment
Anúncio and panfleto — notice and leaflet
- Who to whom: an organization or campaign writes to local residents or the general public.
- Purpose: catch attention and prompt one action: come, donate, sign up.
- Structure: a short, catchy headline → why it matters (one or two sentences) → what to do → where and when → contacts or a slogan.
- Opening and closing: a headline that calls for action, often a question or an imperative; end with the call to action again and the practical details.
- Register: direct; imperatives (traga, participe, doe) and você; short sentences and lists.
- Typical mistake: a long reflection with no call to action — or no answer to "where and when do I go?".
Seu casaco parado pode aquecer alguém
A Campanha do Agasalho da Associação de Moradores da Vila Nova recebe roupas de frio limpas e em bom estado até 30 de junho. Deixe sua doação na sede da associação, de segunda a sábado, das 9h às 16h.
Translation: "The coat you never wear could keep someone warm. The Vila Nova Residents' Association winter clothing drive is collecting clean, warm clothes in good condition until June 30. Drop off your donation at the association's office, Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m."
Guia — guide
- Who to whom: an institution or an experienced person writes for people doing something for the first time.
- Purpose: explain steps or give practical advice.
- Structure: a "Como…" headline → who it is for and why → steps or tips in order (often numbered) → warnings → where to get help.
- Opening and closing: no salutation; a headline and an introductory sentence; end with where to get help.
- Register: clear; imperatives or você deve, você pode; one tip per sentence.
- Typical mistake: mixing the tips with a personal story, or adding tips that are not in the source when the task asks you to pass on its information.
Como gastar menos energia no verão
- Use o ar-condicionado com a porta e as janelas fechadas.
- Feche as cortinas nas horas de sol forte.
- Tire da tomada os aparelhos que ficam em modo de espera.
Translation: "How to use less electricity in summer. 1. Run the air conditioning with the door and windows closed. 2. Close the curtains when the sun is strongest. 3. Unplug appliances left on standby."
Post para blog and comentário — blog post and comment
- Who to whom: a blogger writes to followers; a commenter writes to the author of a piece and the site's other readers.
- Purpose: share an experience or opinion and engage the reader; in a comment, respond to a specific piece.
- Structure: post — headline → personal way into the topic → main idea with examples → a question for readers; comment — what it refers to → agreement or disagreement → a reason or experience → a question or addition.
- Opening and closing: "Pessoal," or no salutation; end with "E vocês, o que acham?"; a comment has no formal signature.
- Register: neutral with a conversational touch, você and vocês; no slang or abbreviations; polite disagreement.
- Typical mistake: a comment that is not about the piece — or a post in the tone of an official letter: "Venho por meio desta…".
Concordo com a reportagem sobre o novo horário da piscina pública, mas acho que faltou ouvir quem trabalha à noite. Eu só consigo nadar depois das 20h. Será que a prefeitura não poderia abrir até as 22h pelo menos duas vezes por semana?
Translation: "I agree with the piece about the public pool's new opening hours, but I think they forgot to ask people who work evenings. I can only swim after 8 p.m. Couldn't the city keep it open until 10 p.m. at least twice a week?"
Salutations and sign-offs: a cheat sheet
- A newspaper's editors: "Prezados editores," → "Atenciosamente," plus your name and city.
- An institution or a manager: "Prezado senhor," or "Prezada senhora," with the job title → "Atenciosamente," or "Respeitosamente,".
- Neighbors and residents: "Caros vizinhos," or "Prezados moradores," → "Contamos com vocês!".
- A friend or colleague: "Oi, Bruno!" or "Querida Ana," → "Um abraço," or "Beijos,".
- The general public (article, news story, guide): a headline, no salutation → a conclusion or next step, no signature.
In official correspondence, Respeitosamente is kept for higher-ranking officials and Atenciosamente for all other cases; this is what the Manual de Redação da Presidência da República recommends (summary of the rule).
How to practice genres
Take one source and write two texts in different genres from it — for example a notícia and a carta do leitor. Compare how the opening, the register, the writer's role and the facts you take from the material change. Nothing shows more quickly that genre is not "formatting" but a different message for a different reader.
Before each text, write down the four anchors and the points of the command; afterwards, mark in your draft where each point is covered. Then check the genre signals: a salutation and signature appear where they belong, and only there; articles, news stories, leaflets and guides have a headline; the figures in a report match the source.
Once this analysis becomes a habit, write against the clock. In the written simulator, tasks 3 and 4 have variants whose source is a full newspaper page. The Celpe-Bras path (Premium) includes a genre workshop: cards for all 12 families and lessons in which the source is analyzed before you write. For working with past exams, see the guide to past papers; for the written part as a whole, read the article on the four tasks. Mnezo's practice feedback helps you train, but it is not an official Inep score.
Practice genres in the simulator
Tasks 3 and 4 include variants with a newspaper page as the source: write the right genre for the right reader.