CELPIP Speaking Task 2 · Talking About a Personal Experience · question 11 of 20
Returning Something to a Store
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 return something you bought or complain about a product or service. Describe what happened.
- Read the task, prepare during the preparation time, then speak aloud for the speaking time.
- Preparation
- 30 seconds
- Speaking time
- 60 seconds
- Question
- 11 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
133 words · no sign-upLast fall I bought a winter jacket online from a big Canadian retailer, and when it arrived, the zipper broke the very first time I used it. I was annoyed, because winter was coming and I'd chosen that jacket for its warranty. I took it to their store in Montreal with the receipt, expecting a long argument. The employee looked at the zipper, apologized and offered me either a refund or an exchange. Unfortunately, they didn't have my size in stock, so she ordered one from another location and gave me a fifteen percent discount for the trouble. The new jacket arrived three days later, and I've worn it for two winters now without any problems. It actually made me trust that company more, because they handled the problem so quickly and fairly.
Why this answer works
- Presents the expectation (a long argument) and the reality, which creates natural contrast.
- Precise everyday vocabulary: receipt, refund, exchange, in stock, warranty.
- The ending gives a clear opinion about the experience, rounding off the story.
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