CELPIP Speaking sample answers for all 8 tasks
One model answer per task at a CLB 9–10 level, with the official preparation and response times and the structure each answer follows.
| Task | Prepare | Speak |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 — Giving Advice | 30 s | 90 s |
| Task 2 — Talking About a Personal Experience | 30 s | 60 s |
| Task 3 — Describing a Scene | 30 s | 60 s |
| Task 4 — Making Predictions | 30 s | 60 s |
| Task 5 — Comparing and Persuading | 60 s to choose + 60 s | 60 s |
| Task 6 — Dealing with a Difficult Situation | 60 s | 60 s |
| Task 7 — Expressing Opinions | 30 s | 90 s |
| Task 8 — Describing an Unusual Situation | 30 s | 60 s |
Task 1: Giving Advice
A friend or colleague faces a decision; you advise them and explain why. · Prepare 30 s · Speak 90 s
Structure: Recommend → reason with example → second suggestion → warm close.
Prompt: Your friend has been offered a job in another city but her family lives here. Advise her.
Sample answerIf I were you, I would take the job, at least for a year. A new city is a chance to grow professionally, and the salary jump you mentioned would let you fly home every few weeks, so you would not really lose touch with your family. My cousin did the same in Calgary and found that video calls plus regular visits kept everyone close. That said, before you decide, I would ask the company about remote days and about how long the contract is. If they are flexible, it is a very safe move, and you can always come back with better experience.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 1 →
Task 2: Talking About a Personal Experience
Describe an experience from your own life, usually with a feeling attached. · Prepare 30 s · Speak 60 s
Structure: Set the scene (when, where, who) → what happened → how you felt → what it meant.
Prompt: Talk about a time you helped a stranger.
Sample answerLast winter I was leaving a grocery store in Mississauga when an elderly man slipped on the ice in the parking lot. I helped him up, carried his bags to his car and waited until he was sure he could drive. He kept thanking me, and honestly I felt a little embarrassed because it was such a small thing. Afterwards, though, I realised how much a minute of attention can matter to someone, and since then I try to notice people around me instead of rushing.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 2 →
Task 3: Describing a Scene
You see a picture and describe it to someone who cannot see it. · Prepare 30 s · Speak 60 s
Structure: Overview sentence → foreground → background → one detail or guess about what is happening.
Prompt: Describe the picture (a busy park on a sunny day).
Sample answerThis is a lively park on a bright afternoon. In the foreground, two children are flying a red kite while their mother watches from a bench with a coffee. To the left, a man in a blue jacket is walking a large golden dog, and behind him a group of teenagers are playing frisbee on the grass. In the background there are tall trees and a small pond with a couple of ducks. Everyone looks relaxed, so I would guess it is a weekend.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 3 →
Task 4: Making Predictions
Using the same picture, predict what will happen next. · Prepare 30 s · Speak 60 s
Structure: Main prediction → reason from the picture → a second, smaller prediction → what people will feel.
Prompt: What do you think will happen next in the scene?
Sample answerI think the kite is going to get caught in the tall tree on the right, because the wind is clearly blowing that way and the children are not paying attention to it. Their mother will probably put down her coffee and help them pull it free, and the man with the dog might stop to give a hand. The teenagers will most likely keep playing until it starts getting dark, and then everyone will head home feeling tired but happy.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 4 →
Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
Choose one of two options and persuade someone who prefers the other. · Prepare 60 s to choose + 60 s · Speak 60 s
Structure: State your choice → two advantages with examples → address their option → confident close.
Prompt: Persuade your partner to buy the smaller, cheaper apartment rather than the larger one.
Sample answerI really think the smaller apartment is the smarter choice for us right now. First, it is almost three hundred dollars a month cheaper, which over a year is a holiday or a good part of our emergency fund. Second, it is ten minutes closer to both our jobs, so we would save nearly an hour of commuting every day. I know the bigger place has an extra bedroom, but we would mostly use it for storage, and we can revisit that in two years when we have saved more. Let's go with the smaller one.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 5 →
Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
Choose who to talk to in an awkward situation and say what you would tell them. · Prepare 60 s · Speak 60 s
Structure: Name who you are speaking to → explain the situation politely → propose a solution → thank them.
Prompt: Your neighbour's dog barks all night. Speak to your neighbour.
Sample answerHi Daniel, do you have a minute? I wanted to mention something before it becomes a bigger issue. Over the last two weeks your dog has been barking most nights, usually after eleven, and it is keeping our baby awake. I completely understand that dogs get anxious, so I am not upset with you at all. Would it be possible to keep him inside at night, or maybe try one of those calming collars? If it helps, I can send you the name of the trainer my sister used. Thanks so much for understanding.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 6 →
Task 7: Expressing Opinions
Give and defend your opinion on a general question. · Prepare 30 s · Speak 90 s
Structure: Clear position → reason one with example → reason two → acknowledge the other view → restate.
Prompt: Should cities ban cars from downtown areas?
Sample answerIn my opinion, cities should not ban cars from downtown completely, but they should limit them much more than they do today. Cars bring customers to small businesses and let people with mobility problems reach services, so a total ban would hurt the people it is meant to help. However, most downtown trips could be made by transit or bike if those options were reliable. Cities like Montreal have closed a few streets in summer and the shops there did better, not worse. So my view is: fewer cars, more pedestrian streets, but not a complete ban.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 7 →
Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation
Describe a strange object or picture to someone over the phone. · Prepare 30 s · Speak 60 s
Structure: Overall shape and size → colours and materials → parts and what they might do → best guess at its purpose.
Prompt: Describe the unusual object in the picture to a friend on the phone.
Sample answerI am looking at a strange object about the size of a microwave. It is a shiny silver box with a round glass window on the front, a little like a washing machine, but it has three thin metal legs and a long curved handle on top. There are four coloured buttons on the right side and a small screen above them showing numbers. Honestly, it might be some kind of kitchen appliance for drying fruit, or maybe a very fancy pet feeder — I have never seen anything like it.Full template, phrase bank and second model answer for Task 8 →
What every high-scoring answer has in common
Each sample above opens with a direct answer to the prompt, gives one or two concrete examples with names, places or numbers, uses a short linking phrase between ideas, and ends with a closing sentence rather than trailing off. That is what the four Speaking criteria — content and coherence, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfilment — reward. Keep the structures, change the content, and practise with a timer until 60 and 90 seconds feel natural.
Frequently asked questions
How many tasks are in CELPIP Speaking and how long is it?
Eight tasks in about 15–20 minutes. You speak into a microphone; there is no live examiner. Each task gives 30 or 60 seconds to prepare and 60 or 90 seconds to answer, and the timings above are the official ones.
How is CELPIP Speaking scored?
Trained raters score each task on content and coherence, vocabulary, listenability (pronunciation, pace and fluency) and task fulfilment. The Speaking score is reported on the CELPIP 1–12 scale, which maps one-to-one to CLB levels.
Should I memorise these sample answers?
No. Raters reward answers that respond to the specific prompt. Use the structures and the natural phrases, then practise producing fresh content within the time limit. A memorised answer that does not fit the prompt loses task-fulfilment marks.
What if I finish before the time runs out?
Add one more example or a closing sentence rather than stopping early; unused time is a lost chance to show range. Practising with a timer is the fastest way to learn how much 60 or 90 seconds actually holds.
Can I get my speaking scored before the test?
Yes. Celpip.me records your answer to any of the eight tasks and returns a CLB level with feedback on the four criteria; the first Speaking task is free.
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