Speaking Section · CELPIP-General
CELPIP Speaking: eight short tasks.
Eight tasks in about 15 minutes. Each task has its own prep window (usually 30 seconds) and response window (60–90 seconds). Scored on four rubrics — Content, Vocabulary, Listenability, and Task Fulfillment.
Tasks8
Time~15 min
Prep / response30s / 60–90s
Rubrics4
Task 1 · 30s prep · 90s response
Giving Advice
A friend or family member is described as having a problem. You speak to them, suggesting what to do. Use second person — "you should", "have you tried" — and concrete reasons.
Strategy: Give two pieces of advice, not one. A single recommendation under-fills 90 seconds; three feels rushed.
Task 2 · 30s prep · 60s response
Talking About a Personal Experience
You describe a past experience — a memorable trip, a difficult decision, a learned skill. The narrative needs a beginning, a middle, and a reason it mattered.
Strategy: Use past tense consistently. Listenability scores drop fast when narrators slip between past and present.
Task 3 · 30s prep · 60s response
Describing a Scene
You're shown an image of a scene — a park, a room, a street — and asked to describe it to someone who can't see it. Spatial language is the win here.
Strategy: Move through the image in a clear order — left to right, foreground to background. Random hopping reads as low Coherence.
Task 4 · 30s prep · 60s response
Making Predictions
From the same or a similar image, you predict what will happen next. Future tense, with reasoning.
Strategy: Each prediction should include a "because" — without it, predictions read as guesses, not reasoning.
Task 5 · 60s prep · 60s response
Comparing and Persuading
You're shown two options (vacations, products, services) and asked to persuade someone of one choice. You hear who you're speaking to, which changes register.
Strategy: Reference the other option to dismiss it. Pure praise of one option misses the comparison rubric.
Task 6 · 60s prep · 60s response
Dealing with a Difficult Situation
A social or workplace dilemma is described — two parties with conflicting requests. You explain how you'd handle it.
Strategy: Acknowledge both sides before stating your plan. Graders reward perspective-taking on this task.
Task 7 · 30s prep · 90s response
Expressing Opinions
A statement is given — about technology, education, lifestyle — and you agree, disagree, or qualify. Strong structure beats a strong opinion.
Strategy: Open with your position in one sentence, then give two reasons. Wandering openings burn 15 seconds you can't get back.
Task 8 · 30s prep · 60s response
Describing an Unusual Situation
You're shown an unusual or ambiguous image and asked to describe it to someone over the phone. Hedging language is essential — "it looks like", "it seems to be".
Strategy: Don't try to "solve" the image. Listeners aren't graded on getting it right — they're graded on describing carefully.