The CELPIP Speaking Test consists of eight tasks designed to measure your ability to communicate in English. Each task presents a different scenario or challenge, testing how well you can convey information, describe events, and share your opinions. Here's a breakdown of each task with links to practice samples.
Task 1: Giving Advice
In this task, you’ll help someone by giving advice. The scenario might ask you to assist a friend or colleague in making a decision, such as which career path to choose or how to prepare for an upcoming event. You’ll have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak.
Key points:
- Offer a solution to the problem.
- Explain your advice with reasons and examples.
Task 2: Talking About a Personal Experience
You’ll be asked to talk about a past experience related to a specific topic. For example, you might share a story about a memorable trip or a time when you overcame a challenge. The goal is to clearly narrate the event and provide relevant details.
Preparation: 30 seconds
Speaking time: 60 seconds
What to include:
- Describe what happened, who was involved, and where it took place.
- Mention the outcome or what you learned from the experience.
Task 3: Describing a Scene
Here, you’ll see a picture and describe what is happening in the scene. This could be an illustration of a park, a party, or a workplace. You’ll need to provide as many details as possible to help someone visualize the scene.
Preparation: 30 seconds
Speaking time: 60 seconds
Focus on:
- Describing the people, objects, and activities.
- Using descriptive words to create a vivid picture.
Task 4: Making Predictions
Using the same image from Task 3, you’ll be asked to predict what might happen next. For example, if the image shows people at a picnic, you might predict that they will start packing up because of dark clouds in the sky.
Preparation: 30 seconds
Speaking time: 60 seconds
Key points:
- Make logical predictions based on the scene.
- Explain why you think those events are likely to happen.
Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
This task has two parts:
- Comparison: You’ll compare two options, such as different types of vacation packages, and choose one.
- Persuasion: You’ll need to convince someone why your choice is the better option.
Preparation: 60 seconds
Comparison speaking time: No additional time
Persuasion speaking time: 60 seconds
What to include:
- Discuss the pros and cons of each option.
- Clearly explain why your choice is preferable.
Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
In this task, you’ll explain how you would handle a challenging situation. The scenario could involve resolving a conflict, making a tough decision, or managing a stressful event.
Preparation: 60 seconds
Speaking time: 60 seconds
Focus on:
- Explaining your decision-making process.
- Justifying your actions with examples or reasoning.
Task 7: Expressing Opinions
You’ll be presented with a statement or question and asked to share your opinion. For example, you might be asked whether you agree that children should be limited in their screen time.
Preparation: 30 seconds
Speaking time: 90 seconds
What to include:
- State your opinion clearly.
- Provide reasons and examples to support your viewpoint.
Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation
You’ll see an image of something unusual, such as a person riding a bicycle built from tree branches. You’ll need to describe the image to someone who cannot see it.
Preparation: 30 seconds
Speaking time: 60 seconds
Key points:
- Clearly describe the unusual features.
- Use detailed language to help someone visualize the scene.