CELPIP Speaking Task 3 · Describing a Scene · question 5 of 20
The Deck of a Coastal Ferry
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 on the deck of a ferry 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 windy, partly cloudy afternoon on the outside deck of a large car ferry crossing between the mainland and an island on the West Coast. The water is dark blue and there are green, forested islands in the distance. On the left, a woman with a camera is leaning against the white railing and taking photos of the islands. Her scarf is blowing in the wind. In the centre, a family of four is sitting on a long orange bench, sharing a paper bag of fries. The father is pointing at something in the water. On the right, a cyclist in a black jacket is standing beside his bicycle and drinking from a water bottle. Near him, a crew member in a bright yellow jacket is coiling a thick rope. In the background, a small sailboat with a white sail is moving past, and a seagull is flying low over the back of the ferry.
- Preparation
- 30 seconds
- Speaking time
- 60 seconds
- Question
- 5 of 20
A simple way to build your answer
- Mention the wind; the scarf blowing is a visible sign you can describe.
- Notice the father pointing and make a careful guess about what he sees.
- Separate what is on the ferry from what is on the water in the background.
Model answer · CLB 9
163 words · no sign-upHere we've got the outside deck of a big car ferry on the West Coast. It's a windy, partly cloudy afternoon, and there are green, tree-covered islands far off in the distance. On the left, a woman is leaning on the white railing and taking pictures of the islands with her camera, and her scarf is flying around in the wind. In the middle, a family of four is sitting on a long orange bench, sharing a bag of fries. The dad is pointing at something in the water, maybe a seal or a bird, though I can't tell exactly what. To the right, there's a cyclist in a black jacket standing next to his bike and having a drink of water, and close to him a crew member in a bright yellow jacket is coiling up a heavy rope. Out on the water, a little white sailboat is going by, and a seagull is flying low over the back of the ferry.
Why this answer works
- Opens with an informal but clear frame ('Here we've got...') and sets weather and colour right away.
- Handles uncertainty honestly ('though I can't tell exactly what') instead of inventing a detail.
- Separates people on deck from things on the water, which gives the description a logical shape.
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