CELPIP Speaking Task 3 · Describing a Scene · question 3 of 20
A Hardware Store on a Saturday 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 hardware store 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 busy Saturday morning inside a large neighbourhood hardware store. Bright lights hang from the high ceiling, and the aisles are marked with yellow signs. On the left, a store employee in a red apron is cutting a long wooden board with a power saw while a customer in a grey hoodie watches from behind a safety line. In the centre, a young couple is standing in front of a wall of paint colour cards, holding up two small samples, one light blue and one pale green. Beside them, a toddler is sitting in a shopping cart, chewing on a set of plastic keys. On the right, an older woman is reaching for a box of light bulbs on a high shelf, and a tall employee is stepping forward to help her. In the background, near the front doors, a line of snow shovels and bags of salt is stacked under a sign that says Get Ready for Winter.
- Preparation
- 30 seconds
- Speaking time
- 60 seconds
- Question
- 3 of 20
A simple way to build your answer
- Explain what the store sells in one short sentence before describing the people.
- Compare the couple's two paint samples; describing colours shows detail.
- Use 'while' and 'as' to show two actions happening at the same time.
Model answer · CLB 9
161 words · no sign-upThis picture shows the inside of a big hardware store, and it's a busy Saturday morning. The aisles have yellow signs over them. On the left, an employee in a red apron is cutting a long piece of wood with a power saw, while a customer in a grey hoodie waits behind a safety line and watches. In the middle, a young couple is standing in front of a big wall of paint cards. They're holding up two samples, a light blue and a pale green, so they're probably trying to choose a colour for a room. Beside them, a toddler is sitting in the cart, chewing on some plastic keys. Over on the right, an older lady is stretching up for a box of light bulbs on a high shelf, and a tall employee is coming over to help her. Near the front doors, there are snow shovels and bags of salt stacked under a Get Ready for Winter sign.
Why this answer works
- States what kind of place it is and when, so the listener has a frame before the details.
- Signals inference clearly ('they're probably trying to choose a colour') and keeps it reasonable.
- Links simultaneous actions with 'while' and 'and', showing control of complex sentences.
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