Reading good answers is one of the fastest ways to understand what CELPIP raters want. Below is a model answer for every Speaking task, written to fit the real time limit. Read each one out loud with a timer: if you finish too early, you need more detail; if you run out of time, you need less.
At the end there is a weaker and a stronger answer to the same task, side by side, so you can see exactly what makes an answer better.
Please note: these are my original teaching examples, not official CELPIP responses, and they have not been scored by CELPIP. Use them to understand structure and development, not as scripts to memorize. Raters notice memorized answers, and a real high-scoring answer can still contain a few small mistakes.
How long is a good answer? CELPIP has no word requirement for Speaking; what matters is the time and how well you develop your ideas. Just to check your pace: at a calm speed, 60 seconds is roughly 120–150 words, and 90 seconds roughly 180–220.
If you want the rules, timing and a structure for each task first, read the CELPIP Speaking task-by-task guide.
Task 1: Giving Advice (90 seconds)
Prompt: Your friend has just moved to a new city and feels lonely. Give your friend advice about how to meet people.
I'm really sorry you're feeling lonely. Moving to a new city is hard, and almost everyone feels like this at the beginning. Here are a few things that helped me when I moved.
First, I think you should join a group that meets every week. It could be a running club, a board game night, or a volunteer group. The important thing is that you see the same people again and again. After three or four weeks, they stop being strangers and start being friends.
Second, try to say yes to every small invitation, even if you feel tired. If a colleague asks you to get coffee, go. Those short conversations often turn into real friendships.
Another idea is to use your local library or community centre. Many of them have free events, like conversation circles or cooking classes, and people there are usually open to meeting someone new.
Finally, be patient with yourself. Building a social life takes a few months, not a few days. If you keep going to the same places, I'm sure you'll feel at home soon. And of course, you can call me anytime you want to talk.
Why it works: it talks directly to the friend, gives practical advice with a reason or example for each idea, and ends warmly. It uses the full 90 seconds without rushing. You don't need a fixed number of suggestions: two well-developed ideas can work as well as four short ones.
Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience (60 seconds)
Prompt: Talk about a time when you had to learn something new quickly.
When I started my first job in Canada, I had to learn a new computer system in just two days. I worked at a medical clinic, and all the appointments and patient records were in a program I had never seen before.
On my first day, my manager showed me the basics for about an hour, and then I was at the front desk alone. I was very nervous, so I wrote short notes on a card for every task, like booking an appointment or cancelling one. Every time a patient came in, I followed my notes step by step.
By the end of the second day, I didn't need the card anymore. That experience taught me that I learn best by doing things, not just by watching. Now, whenever I have to learn something new, I start practising as soon as possible.
Why it works: one small, clear story in time order (When... On my first day... By the end...), specific details, and a short lesson at the end.
Task 3: Describing a Scene (60 seconds)
Prompt: Describe a picture of a busy farmers' market. (In the picture: fruit and vegetable stands, a man buying apples with an empty shopping bag in his other hand, a girl holding balloons and pulling her father's hand, a woman with a dog, a musician playing guitar, dark clouds in the sky.)
This picture shows a busy farmers' market on what looks like a cloudy morning.
In the centre, there's a long row of stands with fresh fruit and vegetables. At the front, a man in a green jacket is buying apples. The seller is putting them into a paper bag, and they're both smiling.
On the left side, a little girl is holding a bunch of colourful balloons, and she's pulling her father's hand towards the next stand.
On the right, a woman is walking a small brown dog, and next to her, a musician is sitting on a chair and playing the guitar. A few people have stopped to listen.
In the background, I can see more stands and a lot of people walking around. The sky is grey and cloudy, but most people are smiling and walking slowly.
Why it works: it moves around the picture in a clear order (centre, left, right, background), uses the present continuous (is buying, is holding), and describes only what the listener would see in the picture. It doesn't invent a hidden story. Save predictions for Task 4.
Task 4: Making Predictions (60 seconds)
Prompt: Look at the same farmers' market picture. Predict what will happen next.
I think a few things are going to happen in the next few minutes.
First, the man with the apples will probably pay and then move to the vegetable stand, because he has an empty shopping bag in his other hand.
The little girl with the balloons might let one of them go. She's pulling her father's hand very hard, so one balloon could easily slip and fly away. If that happens, she'll probably start crying, and her father will have to calm her down.
The dog is looking at the musician, so it may start barking, and the musician might stop playing for a moment.
Finally, because the sky is getting darker, I expect it will start raining soon. When it does, people will hurry to the covered stands, and some sellers will close early.
Why it works: each prediction has a reason from the picture (because...), and it uses a range of future forms: will probably, might, could, I expect.
Task 5: Comparing and Persuading (60 seconds)
This task has two steps. First you get 60 seconds to choose between two options (you don't speak). Then a third option appears: someone else prefers it. You have 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to persuade that person that your choice is better than the new option. The option you didn't choose in step one no longer matters.
Prompt, step 1: You and your neighbour are planning a birthday party for a friend, about 12 adults. Choose one place:
- Garden Room at the Community Centre: $90 for 3 hours, indoor room for up to 16 people, bring your own food, 15-minute walk from your street.
- Riverside Pavilion: $60 for 3 hours, covered picnic area with open sides, bring your own food, 10-minute bus ride.
(You choose the Garden Room.)
Step 2: Your neighbour suggests a Restaurant Party Room: $25 per person with dinner included, a private room for up to 16 people, available for 2 hours only, a 5-minute walk away. Persuade your neighbour that the Garden Room is better.
I see why you like the restaurant. It's close, and nobody has to cook. But I really think the Garden Room at the community centre works better for this party.
First, the cost. With twelve people, the restaurant would be three hundred dollars. The Garden Room is only ninety dollars, and even if we spend a hundred and fifty on food, we still save money.
Second, we get more time. The restaurant gives us only two hours, and with dinner, speeches and cake, we'd have to rush. The Garden Room is ours for three hours, so people can relax and stay longer.
It is a bit further to walk, I agree, but fifteen minutes is fine for everyone on our street. And we can choose the food our friend really loves. So for a lower price and a more relaxed party, the Garden Room is the better choice.
Why it works: it compares the chosen option directly with the new option (price and time), uses real numbers from the task, and answers the neighbour's likely objection (It is a bit further to walk, I agree, but...).
Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation (60 seconds)
Prompt: You agreed to help your friend move this Saturday. Now your manager asks you to work an extra shift that day, which would help your chance of a promotion. Choose: talk to your friend OR talk to your manager.
(Talking to the friend:)
Hi Sam, do you have a minute? I need to talk to you about Saturday.
My manager just asked me to work an extra shift that day. There's a supervisor position opening soon, and she told me this shift would really help my chances. I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for over a year.
I know I promised to help you move, and I don't want to leave you without help. So here's what I can do: I can come over on Friday evening after work and help you pack everything. And on Sunday, I can help you unpack and set up the furniture in the new place. I can also ask my brother if he's free on Saturday, because he has a truck.
I know it's not what we planned, and I really appreciate your understanding. Would that plan work for you?
Why it works: it speaks directly to the friend, gives the decision and an honest reason, shows understanding, and offers concrete alternatives. It apologizes briefly instead of repeating "sorry". Too much apologizing is a common weakness in this task; a practical solution matters more.
Task 7: Expressing Opinions (90 seconds)
Prompt: Should employees be allowed to work from home at least two days a week? Explain your opinion.
In my opinion, yes, employees should be allowed to work from home at least two days a week, as long as their job can be done remotely.
My first reason is that it saves people a lot of time. Many workers in big cities spend one or even two hours a day commuting. If they work from home twice a week, they get back several hours they can spend with their family, exercising, or simply resting. For example, my neighbour uses those two mornings to take her son to school, which she couldn't do before.
My second reason is that many people actually get more done at home. There are fewer interruptions, no loud open office, and fewer unnecessary meetings. When I work on reports, I finish them much faster at my kitchen table than at the office.
Of course, some things work better in person, like training new staff or brainstorming ideas as a team. That's why I think two or three days at home is a good balance, not five. People still see each other regularly, but they also get more flexibility.
So overall, I believe a hybrid schedule makes employees happier and more productive, and that's good for companies too.
Why it works: clear opinion in the first sentence, two reasons each with an example, a fair look at the other side, and a conclusion. That structure fills 90 seconds naturally.
Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation (60 seconds)
Prompt: You see a strange object in a store and call a friend to describe it. (In the picture: a bright yellow umbrella with a small clear window on top and a built-in light in the handle.)
Hi, it's me! I'm at the shopping mall, and I just found something really unusual. I think you'd love it for your dad's birthday.
It's an umbrella, but a very special one. It's bright yellow, so you can see it from far away. On the top, in the middle of the fabric, there's a small round window made of clear plastic, about the size of my hand, so you can look up at the sky without moving the umbrella.
The handle is black and quite thick, and there's a small light built into the end of it. When you press a button, it shines down on the ground, so it's perfect for walking home in the dark.
It's about the same size as a normal umbrella, and it costs forty dollars. Should I buy it for you?
Why it works: the listener can't see the object, so the answer describes colour, shape, size, material, location of parts and purpose, and ends with a question to the friend.
A Weaker Answer vs a Stronger Answer
Task 7 prompt: Should cities ban cars from downtown areas on weekends?
Weaker answer:
I think cities should ban cars downtown on weekends. First, it is better for the environment, because there is less pollution. Second, people can walk more and it is more safe. For example, in my city there is a street with no cars on Sunday and many families go there. Some people say it is bad for stores, but I think more people will come walking. So I agree with this idea.
Stronger answer:
I believe banning cars from downtown on weekends is a great idea, at least for a few central streets. The biggest benefit is safety and comfort: when there's no traffic, families can walk, cycle and let their kids move around freely. In my city, one main street closes to cars every Sunday in summer, and it has turned into the busiest, most relaxed place in town, full of street musicians and outdoor cafés. Some store owners worry they'll lose customers who drive, and that's a fair concern. But in practice, more people walking by usually means more people stopping to shop. So, as long as there's parking nearby and buses keep running, I think the benefits clearly outweigh the downsides.
What makes the second answer stronger:
- Vocabulary is more precise: more safe → safety and comfort, many families go there → has turned into the busiest, most relaxed place in town.
- Ideas are developed, not listed: the stronger answer has concrete details (street musicians, outdoor cafés).
- The other side is treated fairly (that's a fair concern. But in practice...).
- Sentences are varied, with conditions (as long as...). The weaker answer also has small mistakes like more safe instead of safer, but grammar is not the main difference: the stronger answer is better mostly because it develops its ideas.
- Length: the weaker answer ends after about 35–40 seconds, far short of the 90 available. The stronger answer lasts about a minute; one more example or a second reason would fill the rest.
Useful Phrases for Every Task
- Advice (Task 1): I think you should..., It might be a good idea to..., Another thing you could try is...
- Story (Task 2): At first..., After that..., In the end..., Looking back, I learned that...
- Scene (Task 3): In the foreground / background..., On the left / right..., It looks like...
- Predictions (Task 4): is probably going to..., might..., I expect that..., as a result...
- Persuading (Task 5): I understand that..., but..., Compared to..., it's much more..., In the long run...
- Difficult situation (Task 6): I feel terrible about this, but..., What if I..., Would it help if...?
- Opinion (Task 7): In my opinion..., The main reason is..., On the other hand..., Overall...
- Unusual object (Task 8): It's about the size of..., It's made of..., On the top / at the end there's...
How to Practise With These Answers
- Read one answer out loud with a timer. Notice how much you can say in 60 or 90 seconds.
- Answer the same prompt yourself, without looking, and record it.
- Compare: did you use the full time? Did you give reasons and examples? Did you use the right tone?
- Repeat with a new prompt of the same task type.
You can practise speaking out loud with instant feedback in the live AI speaking practice, and read CELPIP Scores and CLB Levels to set your target.
If you want a teacher to listen to your recorded answers and tell you exactly what is holding your score back, see CELPIP preparation with Masha, or practise speaking every week in the Speaking Club.