Tasks 3 and 4 are the picture tasks. In Task 3 you describe a scene; in Task 4 you look at the same picture again and say what will probably happen next. Because they share a picture, it makes sense to practise them together.
Please note: the sample answers below are my original teaching examples, not official CELPIP responses, and they have not been scored by CELPIP. In the real test you see a picture; here, each scene is described in words so you can imagine it.
How Tasks 3 and 4 Work
| Task | What you do | Prepare | Speak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task 3: Describing a Scene | Describe the picture to someone who can't see it. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds |
| Task 4: Making Predictions | Look at the same picture and say what is likely to happen next. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds |
The key difference:
- Task 3 is about now: what you can see. Use the present continuous (a man is carrying…) and place words (on the left, in the background). Don't invent a hidden story about the people.
- Task 4 is about the future: what will probably happen next, and why you think so, based on clues in the picture.
Task 3: How to Describe a Scene
- Start with one sentence about the whole picture: where it is and what is happening.
- Choose a route and stick to it, for example front (foreground) to back (background). This helps the listener build the picture in their mind.
- Describe people by position or clothing (the woman in the red coat, the man on the left), then say what they are doing.
- Group details. You don't need to name every object. The main people and actions are more important.
- Use "seems" or "appears to be" when you are not sure (she seems to be waiting for someone).
Useful phrases: In the foreground… / In the background… / On the left/right… / In the middle… / Next to… / Just behind… / There's a… who is… / It looks like…
Task 4: How to Make Predictions
- Find two or three clues in the picture that point to something about to happen.
- Connect each prediction to its clue: because…, judging by…, since…
- Show different levels of certainty: will definitely, will probably, might, could.
- Keep it realistic. Predict the next likely events, not a dramatic story with no support in the picture.
Useful phrases: is about to… / is going to… / will probably… / might… / I expect that… / Judging by…, I think… / As soon as…, …will…
Scene 1: Moving Day
The picture: It is a sunny day outside a three-storey apartment building. A moving truck is parked at the curb, next to a "No Parking" sign, with its back door open and a ramp down to the street. Two men in blue T-shirts are carrying a large grey sofa up the path towards the building's front door. On the left, a woman holding a box marked "KITCHEN" is talking on her phone. A boy is sitting on a box near the truck, holding a cat carrier. On the truck ramp, a tall stack of boxes is leaning to one side. An older man is holding the building's front door open. In the background, a parking officer is walking along the sidewalk towards the truck.
Task 3 sample answer: Describing the scene
This picture shows what looks like moving day outside an apartment building on a sunny day.
In the foreground, there's a big moving truck parked next to the curb. Its back door is open, and a ramp goes down to the street. On the ramp, there's a tall stack of cardboard boxes that's leaning to one side.
In the middle of the picture, two men in blue T-shirts are carrying a large grey sofa up the path towards the building. At the front door, an older man is holding the door open for them.
On the left, a woman is holding a box that says "kitchen", and she's talking on her phone. Near the truck, a boy is sitting on a box with a cat carrier on his lap.
In the background, I can see a parking officer walking along the sidewalk towards the truck.
Why it works: one sentence for the whole scene, then a clear route (foreground, middle, left, background). Each person is identified by position or clothing and has an action. The speaker describes what is visible, uses looks like for the one reasonable guess (moving day), and doesn't invent who the people are or why they are moving.
Task 4 sample answer: Making predictions
I think a few things are going to happen in the next few minutes.
First, the stack of boxes on the ramp will probably fall over, because it's already leaning to one side and nobody is holding it. One of the movers will have to go back and pick everything up.
Second, the parking officer is walking straight towards the truck, and the truck is parked next to a "No Parking" sign. So I expect the officer will stop and talk to the movers, and might give them a ticket or ask them to move the truck.
The two men will probably have trouble getting the sofa through the door, because it looks quite wide. They might need to turn it on its side.
Finally, as soon as the sofa is inside and the door is free, the boy will probably take the cat in.
Why it works: every prediction comes from a clue in the picture (leaning boxes, the parking sign, a wide sofa), and the speaker says why. It uses different levels of certainty (will probably, might, I expect) and stays realistic.
Scene 2: A Park on a Hot Afternoon
The picture: It is a hot summer afternoon in a city park. In the middle, a family is having a picnic at a wooden table with a birthday cake, plates and a pile of wrapped presents. A man at a barbecue next to the table is turning burgers, and there is a lot of smoke. On the right, children are playing in a splash pad with water coming up from the ground. A soccer ball is rolling across the grass from the left towards the picnic table, and a teenage boy is running after it. In the background, an ice cream truck is parked at the edge of the park, and a few children are pointing at it. A small dog next to the picnic table is looking up at the cake.
Task 3 sample answer: Describing the scene
This is a busy city park on a hot summer afternoon.
In the middle, what looks like a family is having a picnic at a wooden table. On the table, there's a birthday cake and a pile of wrapped presents, so it looks like a birthday party. Next to the table, a man is cooking burgers on a smoky barbecue, and a small dog is sitting by the table, looking up at the cake.
On the right side, some children are playing in a splash pad. Water is shooting up from the ground, and they're running through it.
On the left, a soccer ball is rolling across the grass towards the picnic table, and a teenage boy is running after it.
In the background, there's an ice cream truck parked at the edge of the park, and a few children are pointing at it.
Why it works: the speaker uses looks like when making a reasonable guess from what is visible (the cake and presents suggest a birthday). The description follows a clear route and uses precise place words (on the table, next to the table, at the edge of the park).
Task 4 sample answer: Making predictions
Judging by the picture, I think several things will happen very soon.
First, the soccer ball is rolling straight towards the picnic table, so it might hit the table leg or roll under the table, right next to the dog. The teenager running after it will probably apologize to the family and take the ball back.
Second, the dog is staring at the birthday cake. If the family gets distracted by the ball, the dog might jump up and try to eat some of it.
The children pointing at the ice cream truck will probably run to their parents and ask for money to buy ice cream, especially because it's so hot.
And finally, the man is already turning the burgers, so they'll probably be ready soon. I expect he'll bring them to the table, and the family will start eating before they cut the cake.
Why it works: the predictions link together (the ball distracts the family, so the dog has a chance) and each one is supported by a clue. The speaker uses if to describe a possibility, which is a natural way to show less certainty.
Common Mistakes in Tasks 3 and 4
Task 3
- Listing objects with no actions: "There is a truck. There is a sofa. There is a boy." Say who is doing what.
- Jumping around the picture. Choose a route so the listener can follow.
- Inventing a story. "The woman is angry because her husband forgot the keys" is not in the picture. Describe what you can see; use seems or looks like for reasonable guesses.
- Spending the whole minute on one detail. Cover the main parts of the scene.
Task 4
- Describing the picture again. "The man is carrying a sofa" is Task 3. Task 4 needs future events.
- Predictions with no reason. Always connect the prediction to a clue: because…, judging by…
- Dramatic or random predictions. "A plane will crash into the park" has no support in the picture.
- Using only "will". Mix will probably, might, is about to and I expect.
Practice: Describe and Predict
For each scene, set a timer: 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to describe it (Task 3), then 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to predict what happens next (Task 4). If you can, find a similar photo online and use that.
- A busy coffee shop in the morning: a long line, a barista dropping a cup, a man with a laptop next to a full cup of coffee near the edge of the table, rain starting outside the window.
- A school playground at the end of the day: parents waiting at the gate, a child crying near the slide, a teacher holding a lost backpack, a bus arriving.
- A grocery store checkout: a woman with a very full cart, a cashier looking at a "closed" sign, a child reaching for candy, a man with one item looking at his watch.
- A beach in the late afternoon: people packing up, dark clouds over the water, a lifeguard blowing a whistle, a sandcastle near the waves.
- An office kitchen: a coffee machine with a "broken" note, someone carrying a large cake, a microwave with smoke coming out, coworkers looking surprised.
- A snowy street in the morning: a car stuck in snow, a man with a shovel, a school bus coming down the street, children building a snowman next to the road.
Keep Practising
- See all eight tasks with sample answers: CELPIP Speaking sample answers.
- Learn the strategy for every task: CELPIP Speaking task-by-task guide.
- Another picture task: CELPIP Speaking Task 8 sample answers.
- Telling a story in the past: CELPIP Speaking Task 2 sample answers.
- Place and description words: CELPIP vocabulary by topic.
If you want feedback on your own picture-task answers, see CELPIP preparation with Masha.