CELPIP Speaking Task 5 Template (Comparing and Persuading)

CELPIP Speaking Task 5 has two parts. In Part 1 you get 60 seconds to pick one of two options, and you do not speak at all. In Part 2 you get 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to persuade someone that your choice is better. Paragon scores it on Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability and Task Fulfillment.

Practice Task 5 against a real 60-second timer. Exam-like comparing and persuading scenarios

How long is CELPIP Speaking Task 5?

Three minutes in total, split across two parts: 60 seconds to choose, 60 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Task 5 is the only CELPIP Speaking task built this way, and it is the longest single task on the test.

Those figures come from the Speaking Test Overview table in the CELPIP Speaking Pro study packs at celpip.ca. Here is where Task 5 sits against the rest:

The practical consequence: you get twice the planning time of most tasks, and almost nobody uses it well. Sixty seconds to choose feels generous until you are sitting in front of it with a clock running and no microphone to fill.

Sixty seconds of speaking is roughly 130 to 150 words at a comfortable pace. That is enough for a greeting, three comparison points and a closing sentence. Not more.

What does CELPIP Speaking Task 5 ask you to do?

Paragon's description, word for word: "In Part 1, select an option from two choices. You will not speak in Part 1. In Part 2, persuade someone that your chosen option is better than the one they are proposing."

Read that middle sentence again. You will not speak in Part 1. It is the single most useful fact about this task and most prep material skips it, including the AI summaries that appear above these search results.

Paragon says it a second time, in different words, in the CELPIP-General Overview Participant Package: "On the first screen, you will simply make a choice between options; you will not speak. On the second screen, you will have another preparation time, and finally a speaking time." Two screens, one voice recording.

Three things follow from the wording:

You choose, and then somebody disagrees with you. Part 2 is not a fresh start. Someone has come back with the other option, or a new one, and you are responding to a person who has already made a case.

There is no wrong choice. Paragon does not say one option scores better than the other. Pick the one you can support with specific details, not the one you would actually buy.

"Persuade someone" means a person, not an essay. Greet them. Acknowledge their idea. Then disagree with reasons. A response that reads like a product review misses the task.

The task is also called Comparing and Persuading.

What should you do in Part 1, when you cannot speak?

Choose fast, then start building your case with the time left over. Paragon's own Task 5 strategy list gives three steps for Part 1:

• "Read and understand the situation."
• "Compare the information provided for the two options."
• "Quickly choose which one you prefer to talk about."

Note the word quickly. The choosing is not the work. Once you have picked, the remaining seconds are free planning time that most candidates waste sitting still because the screen has not asked them for anything yet.

Use them for three things: the two prices, said out loud in your head the way you will say them in Part 2, one contextual reason your choice fits the person in the scenario, and one weakness in the other option you can name politely.

For Part 2, Paragon adds three more:

• "Read the information about the new option."
• "Think of details and reasons to explain why your choice is better."
• "Use specific language to explain your choice, and expand on the information included with the picture."

"Expand on the information included with the picture" is the one that separates scores. The prompt gives you a price and two or three features. A weak answer reads them back. A strong one adds what they mean for the person in the scenario.

Goal

Persuade a friend, family member, or colleague to change their mind and agree with your choice. You must compare two options (the one you chose and the one they suggested) using comparative adjectives and specific data (prices and numbers).

What CELPIP actually rates on Task 5

CELPIP Speaking is rated on four dimensions: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability and Task Fulfillment. Those four names are Paragon's own, and they apply to all eight scored tasks.

Three things about this list, because most CELPIP prep gets them wrong:

Each response is scored separately on all four dimensions, and one hard task does not decide your level. The CELPIP Speaking Pro study packs put it plainly: "As each Speaking response is scored separately in each of the four dimensions, and your Level is a product of your scores on all 8 tasks, there are many ways to achieve a particular CELPIP Level." No points formula is published, and no per-dimension weighting is published either. Task 5 has a reputation as the hardest task. It is still one of eight.

There is no Grammar band. Look at the middle column. Grammar is not one of the four dimensions, it is one item inside Listenability. That does not make the comparative rules below optional, because "more cheaper" is exactly the kind of error that pulls a listener out of your argument. But nobody is scoring your comparatives on their own line.

"Coherence and Cohesion", "Lexical Resource" and "Fluency and Pronunciation" are IELTS terms. If a Task 5 template promises to fix your Lexical Resource, it was written for a different test.

For how the four dimensions turn into a level, see the CELPIP Speaking score chart.

What strong Task 5 answers do well

These are not the official rating criteria. They are the three habits that tend to earn what the criteria reward on a persuasion task.

• Soft rejection: You cannot just say "Your choice is bad." You must be polite: Acknowledge their idea first, then disagree.
• Comparatives: They are listening for the correct use of "More" vs. "-er". You must use "Much cheaper" or "More expensive". Never say "More cheaper."
• Reading numbers: This is a critical test. You must read prices naturally. Do not say "point" or "dollars" in the middle.
  • $100 → Say "A hundred dollars".
  • $699.99 → Say "Six ninety-nine ninety-nine" or "Almost seven hundred dollars".

Step 1: The Opening (Greeting & Soft Rejection)

Goal: Be polite but firm. You need to show that you have read their suggestion, but you are sticking to your own choice.

Structure

1. Greeting: Hi [Name].
2. Acknowledgment: "I saw your suggestion to choose..."
3. The Pivot (Transition): "I understand why you chose it, however..."
4. The Thesis: "...I believe [Option B] is the better choice."

Example: Hi Sarah. I saw your suggestion to choose the downtown hotel. I understand why you chose it because it is central; however, I believe the seaside resort is the better choice for our vacation.

Step 2: The Comparison (The 3-Point Strategy)

Goal: Compare the items point by point. You must always follow this order: Price, then Contextual Value, then Detail.

⚠️ Grammar Alert: Comparative Errors

Even native speakers make mistakes here. Use this table to avoid common pitfalls.

The "Context Rule" (Crucial for High Scores)

You cannot use random adjectives. You must choose words that fit the Person and the Situation.

Example: Buying a bed for a 5-year-old child.

Always ask yourself: "Who is this for?"

Point 1: The Price (ALWAYS First)

Your first argument must always be about money. Use specific numbers.

If your option is cheaper:

• "First, regarding the price, my option only costs a hundred dollars."
• "This is much cheaper than your option, which costs three hundred dollars. We can save money for other things."

If your option is more expensive:

• "First, looking at the cost, my option is more expensive at six ninety-nine."
• "However, I think it is worth it because it will last longer and is better quality."

Point 2: Contextual Value (Features that matter)

Based on the context (the "Who" and "Why"), explain why your feature adds more value.

• For Convenience: "Also, since we are in a rush, my option is much more convenient because it is closer."
• For Fun (Kids/Parties): "Also, looking at the entertainment, my choice is more exciting for the kids. A car-shaped bed is more engaging than a plain one."
• For Comfort: "My option offers a larger seat, which makes the journey more comfortable for grandma."

Point 3: The Detail (Specific Comparison)

Compare a specific detail to seal the deal.

• "Finally, even though your choice has [Detail A], I think [Detail B] is better because..."
• "My option is lighter, which makes it easier to carry."

Step 3: The Conclusion

Goal: A confident closing sentence asking for agreement.

• Structure: Reiterate your stance and ask for confirmation.
• Example: "For these reasons, I think we should go with my suggestion. Let me know if you agree."

CELPIP Speaking Part 5: Model Answer (Score 9+)

Task: You and your friend are buying a gift. Your friend wants a Tablet ($300). You want a Smartwatch ($100). Persuade your friend.

Start of Response:

Hi John. I saw your suggestion to buy the Tablet. I understand why you chose it because it has a large screen; however, I believe the Smartwatch is the better choice for his birthday. Greeting & Soft Rejection

First, regarding the price, the Smartwatch only costs a hundred dollars. Point 1: Price (Cheaper) This is much cheaper than your option, which costs three hundred dollars. I think it is better to save that extra money for the party. Comparison

Also, the Smartwatch offers fitness tracking, which is more useful for him since he loves running. Point 2: Activity Your choice is mainly for watching movies, but I think a health device is more practical. Comparison

Finally, even though the Tablet is popular, the Smartwatch is more durable. Point 3: Detail It is water-resistant, so it will last longer than the tablet. Reasoning

For these reasons, I think we should go with my suggestion. Let me know if you agree. Conclusion

Three more CELPIP Task 5 sample answers

Each runs the same three points and lands inside the 60-second window. Notice that two of the three argue for the more expensive option, because that is the version most people never practise.

Sample 1: Two moving companies, cheaper option (139 words)

Hi Priya. I saw your suggestion to book Maple Movers, and I understand why, because they include packing materials. However, I think Cross-Town Moving is the better choice for us.

First, regarding the price, Cross-Town charges four eighty, while Maple is six fifty. That is a hundred and seventy dollars saved, which covers the deposit on the new place.

Also, since we only have one weekend before the lease starts, Cross-Town is much more convenient. They have a Saturday slot available and Maple does not, so we would have to move on a weekday and both take time off work.

Finally, even though Maple includes boxes, we already have boxes from the last move. We would be paying for something sitting in the hallway.

For these reasons, I think we should book Cross-Town. Let me know if you agree.

Sample 2: Two weekend courses, more expensive option (144 words)

Hi Daniel. I saw your suggestion to sign up for the online course, and I see the appeal because it is only ninety-five dollars. However, I believe the in-person workshop is the better choice for you.

First, looking at the cost, the workshop is more expensive at two twenty. That is a real difference. But I think it is worth it, because the online course has no instructor feedback at all.

Also, given that you want to change careers this year, the workshop is much more valuable. You get four sessions with someone who hires for these roles, and you leave with a portfolio piece rather than a certificate.

Finally, even though the online course is self-paced, that is the reason you did not finish the last one.

For these reasons, I think you should take the workshop. Let me know what you think.

Sample 3: Two used cars for a family, more expensive option (144 words)

Hi Mum. I saw that you prefer the older hatchback at eighty-four hundred, and I understand, because it is the cheaper car by a long way. However, I think the estate at eleven nine hundred is the better choice.

First, regarding the price, yes, the estate costs thirty-five hundred more. But the hatchback needs new tyres and a timing belt, which the listing mentions, so the real gap is closer to two thousand.

Also, since you are driving the grandchildren every week, the estate is much safer and far more comfortable. It has newer airbags and a boot that actually fits the pram.

Finally, even though the hatchback has lower mileage, it is nine years older, and age matters more than mileage for rust on these models.

For these reasons, I think we should go with the estate. Let me know if you agree.

Will the exact Task 5 question you practiced come up?

Almost certainly not, and chasing one specific scenario is the worst way to prepare for this task.

A handful of Task 5 scenarios circulate widely in study groups, Reddit threads and coaching classes, and people search for them by name hoping to find the "right" answer before test day. It is an understandable instinct. It does not work, for three reasons.

Nobody can confirm any of them. Paragon does not publish a public bank of Task 5 prompts. What it does publish free is two full CELPIP-General practice tests, which between them contain two Task 5 items, plus the practice items inside the paid Speaking Pro study packs. Beyond those, any scenario described online as "the real one" is somebody's recollection. There is no way to verify it and no reason to build your preparation on it.

Start with those two free practice tests. They are the only Task 5 items anyone can point to and say where they came from.

A memorised answer is easy to hear. Task Fulfillment includes tone, and Vocabulary rewards precision fitted to the situation. An answer assembled for a different scenario and bent to fit this one produces exactly the generic adjectives the Context Rule above warns you about. Raters listen to eight of these responses in a row.

The structure transfers and the scenario does not. Every Task 5 prompt has the same skeleton: two options, at least one price, a person with a reason to prefer the other one. Greeting, soft rejection, price, contextual value, detail, close. That shape handles a hotel, a fridge, a dog breeder, a childcare centre or a car without any adjustment.

What to do instead. Practice the shape across many different scenarios until the opening comes out automatically, and force yourself to argue for the more expensive option half the time, because that is the version that catches people out. Our Task 5 question bank has tens of them, and it scores what you record, so you find out whether your third point actually landed or you ran out of things to say at second forty.

Universal Templates

Step 1: The Pivot Phrases (Soft Rejection)

• "I understand your point, but looking at the bigger picture, I think..."
• "I see where you are coming from, however, considering our budget, I believe..."
• "That is a good idea, but to be honest, my option is..."

Step 2: The "Price" Formulas

• The "Savings" Argument: "My option is much cheaper. It only costs [Number], while yours is [Number]."
• The "Quality" Argument: "Although my option is more expensive, it is worth the price because..."

Step 3: The Universal Adjective Bank (For All Scenarios)

Memorize 2-3 phrases from each category so you are ready for any topic.

Where to practice CELPIP Task 5 questions

Task 5 is the task where reading the template is furthest from being able to do it. Three points in sixty seconds, with two prices said aloud naturally and an adjective chosen to fit a stranger in a scenario you have never seen, is a lot to assemble live. It comes apart in the gap between point two and point three.

Record against a real clock at least fifteen times before you book, more than you would for any other task. Our Task 5 question bank holds 82 comparing and persuading scenarios and scores what you record.

Two more things worth doing. Read the Task 4 template for Making Predictions and the Task 6 template for Dealing with a Difficult Situation, because Tasks 5 and 6 both give you a full 60 seconds of preparation and they are the two most people find hardest. Then check how the CELPIP Speaking test is organised so that the silent screen in Part 1 is not a surprise.

The Task 5 vocabulary and comparison phrases list goes deeper than the adjective bank above, and the full set of eight speaking templates is there when you are ready to work through the rest.