CELPIP Speaking Task 6 · Dealing with a Difficult Situation · question 7 of 10
A Friend Wants to Borrow Your New Car
A CELPIP Speaking Task 6 practice question (Dealing with a Difficult Situation), with a model answer below. No sign-up needed. Read the task, take 60 seconds to prepare, then speak for 60 seconds, out loud, as you would on the test.
The task
Your close friend, Arjun, has asked to borrow your car for a week-long road trip from Calgary to the Rocky Mountains next month. Last year, Arjun had a minor accident while driving a borrowed car, and your spouse is strongly against lending him yours. Your car is only six months old.
- Choose ONE option.
- EITHER Talk to Arjun. Explain why you cannot lend him your car.
- OR Talk to your spouse. Explain why you have decided to lend Arjun the car.
Original CELPIP-style practice question, not an official CELPIP test item. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Paragon Testing Enterprises. The CLB level of each sample answer was reviewed by a TESOL-certified instructor. It is not an official CELPIP score.
- Preparation
- 60 seconds
- Speaking time
- 60 seconds
- Question
- 7 of 10
How to structure it
- Give your decision early: to Arjun, that you cannot lend the car; to your spouse, that you have decided to lend it.
- To Arjun, keep the reason about the car and the risk, not his past accident. To your spouse, show you take the accident seriously.
- Make the decision easier to accept: help Arjun compare rentals, or set conditions such as one driver and paying for any damage.
Model answer · CLB 7
90 words · no sign-upHey Arjun, about your road trip to the mountains. I thought about it, and... sorry, I can't lend you my car. It's very new, I have it only six months, and I still pay every month for it. If something happen on the mountain road, the insurance, the repairs, all this, it's a big problem for me. Also my spouse don't agree. It's not about you, you're my good friend. Maybe you rent a car? I can help you to look online for a good price. I feel bad, really.
Why this answer works
- Option chosen: talking to Arjun. Content/Coherence: the refusal comes first with one reason (the new car); the spouse is mentioned but not explained.
- Vocabulary: limited range ("the insurance, the repairs, all this", "a big problem").
- Listenability: a hesitation before the refusal ("and... sorry"), a tense slip ("I have it only six months") and agreement errors ("something happen", "my spouse don't agree").
- Task Fulfillment: a clear, friendly refusal with a simple offer of help.
Model answer · CLB 9
103 words · no sign-upI know you're against this, and I've thought about what you said. But I've decided to lend Arjun the car for his trip. He's been a good friend for fifteen years, and when we moved last spring, he spent two whole weekends helping us. The accident last year was minor, and nobody was hurt. He paid for the repair himself, too. Still, I'm not ignoring your worry, so I've set some conditions. He'll be the only driver, I've checked with our insurer, and he's agreed in writing to pay for any damage. If you still feel strongly after hearing that, let's talk tonight.
Why this answer works
- Option chosen: talking to your spouse. Content/Coherence: the decision is explicit ("I've decided to lend Arjun the car"), followed by a reason and conditions that answer the worry.
- Vocabulary: "set some conditions", "checked with our insurer" and "agreed in writing" are precise.
- Listenability: "Still, I'm not ignoring your worry" marks the turn from reasons to conditions, and the three conditions come as a short list.
- Task Fulfillment: acknowledges the spouse, explains the choice and offers a further conversation.
Model answer · CLB 11
118 words · no sign-upArjun, I've thought about the road trip, and I'm going to say no to lending you the car. I'd rather be straight with you than make up some excuse. It's six months old, it's the only car we have, and if anything happened on a mountain road, we'd be without it for weeks, however careful you were. My spouse and I have agreed not to lend it to anyone, so it really isn't about you. I'd say the same to my brother. What I'd like to do instead is help you find a rental. I'll go through some prices with you this weekend, and if cost is the issue, I'm happy to put a hundred dollars toward it.
Why this answer works
- Option chosen: talking to Arjun. Content/Coherence: a clear refusal, reasons about the car rather than Arjun, and a reframe that protects the friendship ("it really isn't about you").
- Vocabulary: "be straight with you", "however careful you were" and "put a hundred dollars toward it" are idiomatic.
- Listenability: the refusal is the first sentence, and the reasons follow as a simple list ("It's six months old, it's the only car we have") that is easy to hear.
- Task Fulfillment: says no without mentioning Arjun's accident; the rental help and the money make the refusal easier to accept.
Level reviewed by a TESOL-certified instructor. Not an official CELPIP score.
The most common mistake
Bringing up Arjun's accident when you talk to Arjun; it sounds like an accusation and damages the tone the task asks for.
Get your own answer scored by AI: free account, no card
The model answer shows the target. To find out where your own recording lands, answer this question in the practice runner and get a CLB level for each criterion. A free account includes 3 AI-scored answers every 30 days.