CELPIP Speaking Task 3 · Describing a Scene · question 18 of 20
A Car Repair Shop on a Snowy Morning
A CELPIP Speaking Task 3 practice question (Describing a Scene), 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
Describe some things that are happening in this scene in a car repair shop as well as you can. The person with whom you are speaking cannot see it.
- Read the scene, prepare during the preparation time, then speak aloud for the speaking time.
The scene
On the real test you see a picture. Here the scene is described in words, so describe it as if you were looking at it.
It is a snowy morning in early December at a small car repair shop. Through the open garage door, snow is falling on the parking lot, where cars are lined up waiting. On the left, a red car is raised high on a hydraulic lift, and a mechanic in dark blue coveralls is standing underneath it, shining a flashlight at the bottom of the car. In the centre, a second mechanic is rolling a winter tire toward a silver SUV, and four more tires are stacked beside it. On the right, behind a glass window, there is a small waiting room. A woman in a long coat is sitting in a plastic chair, drinking coffee from a paper cup, and a man next to her is talking on his phone. At the counter, a receptionist is writing on a clipboard. In the background, the wall is covered with hanging tools, a large calendar and a poster showing different types of engine oil.
- Preparation
- 30 seconds
- Speaking time
- 60 seconds
- Question
- 18 of 20
A simple way to build your answer
- Explain why the shop is busy; the snow and the winter tires are clues.
- Use workshop vocabulary: lift, coveralls, flashlight, winter tires.
- Separate the work area from the waiting room behind the glass.
Model answer · CLB 9
159 words · no sign-upThe picture shows a small car repair shop on a snowy morning in December. Through the big garage door, you can see snow falling on the parking lot, with cars lined up outside. On the left, a red car is raised way up on a lift, and a mechanic in dark blue coveralls is standing underneath it, shining a flashlight up at the bottom. In the middle, another mechanic is rolling a winter tire over to a silver SUV, and there are four more tires stacked up beside it. I'd guess lots of people want winter tires put on because of the weather. On the right, behind a glass window, there's a little waiting room. A woman in a long coat is sitting there drinking a coffee, and the man beside her is on his phone. A receptionist is writing on a clipboard. And the back wall is covered with tools, a big calendar and an engine oil poster.
Why this answer works
- Connects visible details (snow, tires, a line of cars) into a reasonable explanation, clearly marked as a guess.
- Uses specific workshop vocabulary that suits the setting.
- Separates the work area from the waiting room, giving the answer a clear structure.
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