15-20 Minutes • 8 Speaking Tasks

CELPIP Speaking Test: Templates for All 8 Tasks

Master every speaking task with proven templates, high-scoring sample answers, and strategic tips to achieve CLB 9+ scores. Practice with confidence and eliminate speaking anxiety.

8 Speaking Tasks Timeline

Task 1: Giving Advice

Help someone solve a problem

90s
to respond

Task 2: Personal Experience

Share a relevant story

60s
to respond

Task 3: Describing a Scene

Describe what you see in detail

60s
to respond

Task 4: Making Predictions

Predict what will happen next

60s
to respond

Task 5: Comparing & Persuading

Compare options and convince

60s
to respond

Task 6: Difficult Situation

Handle a challenging scenario

60s
to respond

Task 7: Expressing Opinions

Share and support your viewpoint

90s
to respond

Task 8: Unusual Situation

Describe something strange

60s
to respond

Practice Timer

01:30

Detailed Templates & Examples

Task 1: Giving Advice (90 seconds)

Help someone solve a problem with structured advice

Template Structure

Opening (10s): "I understand your situation, and I'd be happy to help you with..."

Advice 1 (25s): "First, I would recommend that you..."

Advice 2 (25s): "Additionally, you could also..."

Advice 3 (20s): "Finally, it might be helpful to..."

Closing (10s): "I hope this advice helps you resolve your situation."

High-Scoring Example (CLB 9+)

"I completely understand your concern about balancing work and studies, and I'd be happy to share some strategies that have worked for many people in similar situations.

First, I would strongly recommend creating a detailed schedule that blocks out specific times for work, study, and personal activities. This will help you visualize your commitments and ensure you're allocating sufficient time for both responsibilities.

Additionally, you could also consider discussing flexible work arrangements with your supervisor. Many employers are understanding about employees pursuing education and might offer adjusted hours or remote work options.

Finally, it might be helpful to utilize study techniques like active recall and spaced repetition, which can make your study time more efficient and effective.

I hope these suggestions help you successfully manage both your work and academic goals."

Listen to sample answer

💡 Powerful Phrases

Opening:
"I understand your situation, and..."
Sequencing:
"First... Additionally... Finally..."
Recommendations:
"I would strongly recommend..."

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • • Giving only one piece of advice instead of multiple suggestions
  • • Speaking too fast and finishing early
  • • Using overly casual language like "Yeah, just do this..."

Task 2: Personal Experience (60 seconds)

Share a relevant personal story or experience

Template Structure

Context (15s): "This reminds me of when I..."

Story Details (30s): "What happened was... The situation was..."

Outcome/Learning (15s): "As a result... What I learned was..."

💡 Powerful Phrases

Starting:
"This reminds me of when..."
Details:
"What happened was..."
Reflection:
"Looking back, I realize..."

Task 3: Describing a Scene (60 seconds)

Describe what you see in the picture with rich details

Template Structure

Overview (10s): "In this image, I can see..."

People/Main Focus (20s): "In the foreground/center, there is/are..."

Background/Setting (15s): "In the background, I notice..."

Details/Actions (15s): "The people appear to be... and they seem..."

💡 Descriptive Phrases

Location:
"In the foreground/background..."
People:
"The person appears to be..."
Actions:
"They seem to be engaged in..."

Task 4: Making Predictions (60 seconds)

Predict what will happen next in the scene

Template Structure

Current Situation (15s): "Based on what I can see in this image..."

Prediction 1 (15s): "I think what will happen next is..."

Prediction 2 (15s): "It's also likely that..."

Reasoning (15s): "The reason I believe this is because..."

💡 Prediction Phrases

Certainty:
"I'm confident that..."
"It's clear that..."
Possibility:
"It's likely that..."
"There's a good chance..."
Reasoning:
"Based on the evidence..."
"Given the circumstances..."

Task 5: Comparing & Persuading (60 seconds)

Compare two options and convince someone to choose one

Template Structure

Acknowledge Options (10s): "I understand you have two options to consider..."

Compare Benefits (20s): "While both have advantages, Option A offers..."

Address Concerns (15s): "Although Option B might seem appealing because..."

Strong Recommendation (15s): "I strongly recommend Option A because..."

High-Scoring Example (CLB 9+)

"I understand you're choosing between taking the bus or driving to work, and both options certainly have their merits.

While both can get you to your destination, I'd recommend taking the bus because it offers several significant advantages. First, it's more economical since you'll save money on gas, parking fees, and vehicle maintenance. Additionally, you can use the travel time productively by reading, responding to emails, or simply relaxing.

Although driving might seem more convenient because of the flexibility it offers, the stress of traffic jams and finding parking often outweighs these benefits.

Therefore, I strongly believe the bus is your best choice for a more cost-effective and stress-free commute."

💡 Persuasive Phrases

Comparing:
"While both have advantages..."
"In contrast to..."
Persuading:
"I strongly recommend..."
"The best choice would be..."
Supporting:
"The main benefit is..."
"This option provides..."

Task 6: Difficult Situation (60 seconds)

Handle a challenging scenario diplomatically

Template Structure

Acknowledge Issue (10s): "I understand this is a challenging situation..."

Show Empathy (15s): "I can see how this would be frustrating/concerning..."

Propose Solution (20s): "What I'd like to suggest is..."

Follow-up (15s): "Additionally, to prevent this from happening again..."

💡 Diplomatic Phrases

Acknowledging:
"I understand your concern..."
"I appreciate you bringing this up..."
Empathy:
"I can see how frustrating..."
"That must be disappointing..."
Solutions:
"What I'd like to propose..."
"Let me offer a solution..."

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • • Being defensive or argumentative
  • • Dismissing the person's concerns
  • • Providing vague or unrealistic solutions

Task 7: Expressing Opinions (90 seconds)

Share and support your viewpoint with strong arguments

Template Structure

Opinion Statement (15s): "In my opinion, I believe that..."

First Reason (25s): "The main reason I think this is because..."

Second Reason (25s): "Furthermore, another important point is..."

Example/Evidence (20s): "For example, in my experience..."

Conclusion (5s): "Therefore, I strongly believe..."

💡 Opinion Phrases

Stating Opinion:
"In my opinion..."
"I firmly believe..."
Supporting:
"The main reason is..."
"Furthermore..."
Concluding:
"Therefore..."
"In conclusion..."

Task 8: Unusual Situation (60 seconds)

Describe something strange or unexpected you observe

Template Structure

Introduce the Scene (10s): "I'm looking at quite an unusual situation where..."

Describe the Unusual Element (25s): "What's particularly strange/interesting is that..."

Possible Explanations (20s): "This could be happening because..."

Conclusion (5s): "It's definitely not something you see every day."

High-Scoring Example (CLB 9+)

"I'm looking at quite an extraordinary situation where there's a businessman in a full suit sitting at what appears to be a makeshift office desk right in the middle of a busy park.

What's particularly fascinating is that he has a laptop, a coffee cup, and several documents spread out on this small table, and he's conducting what looks like a serious business meeting while children are playing on swings nearby and joggers are passing by constantly.

This unusual setup could be happening because perhaps his regular office is being renovated, or maybe he's trying to combine his love for the outdoors with his work responsibilities. It's also possible that he's demonstrating the flexibility of modern remote work.

It's definitely not something you see every day - a perfect blend of professional life and nature!"

Listen to sample answer

💡 Descriptive Phrases for Unusual Situations

Introducing:
"What's unusual here is..."
"I'm observing something quite extraordinary..."
Describing:
"What's particularly strange..."
"The most striking aspect..."
Speculating:
"This could be because..."
"One possible explanation..."

✅ Success Tips

  • • Focus on what makes the situation truly unusual
  • • Use vivid, descriptive language to paint the scene
  • • Offer logical explanations for why this might be happening
  • • Maintain an interested, curious tone throughout

📊 CELPIP Speaking Scoring Criteria

Content & Coherence (25%)

  • • Complete task requirements
  • • Logical flow of ideas
  • • Appropriate content depth
  • • Clear message structure

Vocabulary (25%)

  • • Range of vocabulary
  • • Accuracy in word choice
  • • Natural expressions
  • • Appropriate register

Listenability (25%)

  • • Clear pronunciation
  • • Natural rhythm
  • • Appropriate pace
  • • Effective pausing

Task Fulfillment (25%)

  • • Address all task requirements
  • • Maintain appropriate tone
  • • Use time effectively
  • • Stay on topic

Power Phrases Bank

Strong Openings

  • • "I'd be delighted to help..."
  • • "Based on my experience..."
  • • "What immediately strikes me..."
  • • "I firmly believe that..."
  • • "Let me share my perspective..."

Linking Words

  • • "Furthermore..."
  • • "In addition to that..."
  • • "On the other hand..."
  • • "As a result..."
  • • "Consequently..."

✅ Strong Conclusions

  • • "In conclusion..."
  • • "To summarize..."
  • • "I hope this helps..."
  • • "Therefore, I recommend..."
  • • "That's my perspective on..."

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to prepare for each speaking task?

You have 30 seconds of preparation time for each speaking task. Use this time to organize your thoughts and plan your response structure.

What if I finish speaking before the time runs out?

It's better to use the full time allocated. If you finish early, elaborate on your points or add additional examples to strengthen your response.

Can I use the same template for different tasks?

While templates provide structure, you must adapt them to each specific task. The content should be relevant to what the task is asking you to do.

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