CELPIP Speaking Task 2 · Talking About a Personal Experience · question 15 of 20
A Wait Much Longer Than Expected
A CELPIP Speaking Task 2 practice question (Talking About a Personal Experience), with a model answer below. No sign-up needed. Read the task, take 30 seconds to prepare, then speak for 60 seconds, out loud, as you would on the test.
The task
Talk about a time when you had to wait much longer than you expected, for example at an airport, a clinic or an office. Describe what happened and how you dealt with it.
- Read the task, prepare during the preparation time, then speak aloud for the speaking time.
- Preparation
- 30 seconds
- Speaking time
- 60 seconds
- Question
- 15 of 20
A simple way to build your answer
- Set the scene briefly: when, where and who.
- Tell the events in order, in the past tense.
- Finish with how you felt or what you learned.
Model answer · CLB 9
144 words · no sign-upThe longest wait I've ever had was at Pearson Airport two winters ago. I was flying to Vancouver for my cousin's wedding, and our flight was delayed because of freezing rain. At first they said two hours, then four, and in the end we waited almost nine hours. The terminal was packed, every seat was taken and the lines at the food places were endless. Instead of getting angry, I decided to make the best of it. I found a quiet spot near the windows, charged my phone and started talking to a family next to me who were also going to the wedding of a relative. We ended up sharing snacks and playing cards for hours. When the flight finally left, I was tired but in a good mood. Since then I always pack a book and snacks when I travel in winter.
Why this answer works
- The repeated delay (two hours, then four, then nine) is a natural, effective way to show the situation getting worse.
- Clearly answers both parts: what happened and how the speaker dealt with it.
- Uses idiomatic expressions naturally: make the best of it, ended up, packed.
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