A Repair You Did Yourself

The task

Talk about a time when you tried to fix or repair something in your home by yourself. Describe what happened.

• Read the task, prepare during the preparation time, then speak aloud for the speaking time.
• This is an original practice question written in a CELPIP-style format. It is not a real test question.
• The CLB level of each model answer was reviewed by a TESOL-certified instructor. It is not an official CELPIP score. This practice material is not affiliated with or endorsed by Paragon Testing Enterprises.
• CELPIP is a registered trademark of Paragon Testing Enterprises. This site is not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking time

60 seconds

Question

26 of 30

Last year the toilet in my apartment was running all the time, day and night, and the noise was very annoying. I didn't want to wait for the landlord, so I decided fix it myself. I watched a video on YouTube. I needed a new, um, the rubber thing in the bottom of the tank. I bought it at hardware store for ten dollars. When I changed it, I forgot to close the water first, so the water come everywhere on the floor! I felt so stupid. But after that it worked, no more noise. I was proud of myself.

Why this answer works

• Problem, attempt, setback and result are all there, in order.
• When a word is missing, the speaker describes it ("the rubber thing in the bottom of the tank") and keeps going, a useful CLB 7 strategy.
• Slips such as "decided fix it" and "the water come everywhere" are noticeable but do not block meaning.

Last spring, the bathroom fan in our house started making a horrible rattling noise, and since a repair person would have been expensive, I decided to replace it myself. I watched a couple of tutorials and felt confident. Of course, it wasn't as simple as the videos made it look. First, I had to switch off the right breaker, which took a few tries because the labels on our panel were wrong. Then the old fan was stuck to the ceiling with years of paint. The worst moment was when I dropped a screw into the vent and spent twenty minutes fishing it out with a magnet. Eventually, though, everything clicked into place, and it was almost silent. I felt ridiculously proud of myself.

Why this answer works

• Three obstacles in order (breaker, paint, screw), each clearly marked.
• Specific vocabulary: "rattling", "breaker", "panel", "fishing it out".
• Light humour ("ridiculously proud") helps listenability.

A couple of winters ago, the kitchen faucet in my condo started dripping, and that steady plink every few seconds was driving me up the wall. The plumber couldn't come for a week, so I figured, how hard can it be? I shut off the water under the sink, dismantled the handle, and discovered a worn-out cartridge inside. The catch was, I didn't know which model it was, so I carried the whole thing to the hardware store in a sandwich bag. The clerk identified it in about thirty seconds, which was slightly humbling. Back home, I reassembled everything, turned the water on, and held my breath. Not a drop. It cost twenty-two dollars, and I'm still unreasonably proud of it.

Why this answer works

• Builds suspense ("turned the water on, and held my breath") and pays it off with a two-word sentence ("Not a drop.").
• Natural, exact language: "driving me up the wall", "worn-out cartridge", "slightly humbling".
• Self-deprecating humour keeps it personal and easy to listen to.