CELPIP Speaking Sample Answers: Tasks 1–4
By David · Speaking · Published · 8 min read
Sample answers are most useful when you can see why they work. Below are four original CELPass prompts and answers for Speaking Tasks 1–4, written to fit the real response times. Each one comes with an estimated CLB range and a short note on the four rating dimensions. They are practice examples from an independent site, not official CELPIP material or official scores.
How to use these sample answers
Do not memorise these answers. Raters hear rehearsed speech quickly, and a memorised answer rarely fits the exact prompt you get. Instead, study the moves each answer makes: how it opens, how each point is developed and how it closes.
- Read the prompt and answer it yourself first, with a timer: 30 seconds to prepare, then 90 seconds for Task 1 or 60 seconds for Tasks 2–4.
- Then read the sample out loud at a natural pace and notice how much fits into the time.
- Compare your answer with the "why it works" notes and pick one habit to copy.
- Answer the same prompt again and listen for the difference.
The answers are written for a steady, unhurried pace. If you read one aloud and finish well before the time is up, you are speaking too fast for the rater to follow comfortably.
Task 1 sample: Giving Advice (90 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): Your sister Priya wants to get fit, but she says she has no time because of her new job and her two young children. Give Priya some advice. Preparation: 30 seconds. Speaking: 90 seconds.
Original CELPass sample answer (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"Hi Priya, I know things have been really hectic since you started the new job, so I'm not going to tell you to join a gym and go five times a week. Here are a few ideas that could actually fit into your day.
First, try to build exercise into things you already do. For example, you could get off the bus one stop early and walk the rest of the way to the office. That's twenty extra minutes of walking a day without planning anything.
Second, include the kids. On weekends you could all go skating at the community rink or take your bikes to the park. They'd burn off some energy, and you'd get a workout at the same time.
And finally, if you can find just fifteen minutes in the evening after the kids are asleep, there are lots of free workout videos online. Short sessions at home are much easier to stick to than a long drive to a gym.
So, walk more on your commute, make weekends active with the kids, and try a quick home workout. Start small, and I'm sure you'll feel the difference in a few weeks."
- Content/Coherence: an opening that shows understanding, three pieces of advice in order (first, second, finally) and a summary that repeats them in a few words.
- Vocabulary: everyday but precise phrases such as "hectic", "build exercise into", "burn off some energy" and "stick to".
- Listenability: short sentences with natural contractions (I'm, you'd, they'd) that are easy to say at a steady pace.
- Task Fulfillment: speaks directly to Priya, every suggestion responds to her problem (no time, young children), and the answer fills most of the 90 seconds.
Task 2 sample: Talking about a Personal Experience (60 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): Talk about a time when something did not go as planned. What happened, and how did you deal with it? Preparation: 30 seconds. Speaking: 60 seconds.
Original CELPass sample answer (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"Last winter, I planned a surprise birthday dinner for my best friend at a small Italian restaurant downtown. I booked a table for eight people two weeks ahead.
But when we arrived, the manager told me they had no record of my booking. The restaurant was completely full, and my friend was going to walk in fifteen minutes later.
I tried not to panic. I called a pizza place near my apartment, bought a cake at the grocery store next door, and texted everyone my address. When my friend walked into my living room, she had no idea anything had gone wrong.
Honestly, it turned out more relaxed and much cheaper than the restaurant. Since then, I always call the day before to confirm a booking."
- Content/Coherence: a clear story arc in four short parts: the plan, the problem, the solution and the lesson.
- Vocabulary: specific details (eight people, fifteen minutes, the grocery store next door) make the story easy to picture.
- Listenability: past tense used consistently (booked, arrived, called, texted), with no long background section.
- Task Fulfillment: answers both parts of the prompt, what happened and how the speaker dealt with it, and finishes inside 60 seconds.
Task 3 sample: Describing a Scene (60 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): Describe the picture to a friend who cannot see it. Preparation: 30 seconds. Speaking: 60 seconds. Because this page has no image, here is the scene in words: an outdoor farmers' market in a town square on a sunny morning. A fruit stand is in the front; a juggler, a father with a stroller and a bakery stall with a long line are in the middle; a clock tower and picnic tables are at the back; on the right, a dog's leash is wrapped around the leg of a table holding jars of honey.
Original CELPass sample answer (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"This picture shows a busy outdoor farmers' market in a town square on what looks like a sunny summer morning.
In the foreground, there's a fruit stand with baskets of strawberries and apples. An older woman in a straw hat is weighing some apples, and a young man is paying her with his phone.
In the middle, a father is pushing a stroller, and his little girl is pointing at a man who is juggling oranges. Next to them, there's a long line at a bakery stall.
In the background, I can see a clock tower and some people eating at picnic tables. And on the right, a dog has wrapped its leash around the leg of a table full of honey jars, and its owner looks a little embarrassed."
- Content/Coherence: starts with a one-sentence overview, then moves through the picture in one direction (foreground, middle, background, right).
- Vocabulary: precise nouns (stroller, clock tower, honey jars) instead of "thing" or "stuff".
- Listenability: the present continuous (is weighing, is pushing, is juggling) keeps the description lively and consistent.
- Task Fulfillment: describes people and what they are doing, not just objects, so the listener can picture the scene.
Task 4 sample: Making Predictions (60 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): Using the same farmers' market picture, predict what will probably happen next. Preparation: 30 seconds. Speaking: 60 seconds.
Original CELPass sample answer (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"I think a few things are going to happen in the next couple of minutes.
First, the dog on the right will probably pull even harder on its leash, and the table might tip over. Since it's covered in honey jars, the owner is going to have a sticky mess to clean up.
Second, the little girl seems fascinated by the juggler, so her father will likely stop and let her watch. He might even drop a few coins in the juggler's hat.
Also, the line at the bakery stall is getting longer, so the baker is likely to run out of bread soon.
Finally, the young man paying for apples looks like he's in a hurry, so I expect he'll grab his bag and head off, maybe to catch a bus."
- Content/Coherence: four predictions about different parts of the picture, each linked to a visible clue with "since" or "so".
- Vocabulary: a range of future forms (will probably, is going to, might, is likely to, I expect).
- Listenability: each prediction is one or two sentences, so the speaker never gets lost mid-sentence.
- Task Fulfillment: predicts instead of describing the picture again, which is the most common Task 4 mistake.
What the four answers have in common
The tasks are different, but the samples share a few habits that you can copy into any answer:
| Habit | Where you see it |
|---|---|
| A one-sentence opening | "Hi Priya…", "Last winter…", "This picture shows…" |
| Signposts between points | First, second, finally; in the foreground, in the background |
| A detail or reason for every point | "That's twenty extra minutes of walking a day" |
| A short close | A summary in Task 1, a lesson in Task 2 |
| Length that fits the time | Task 1 runs longer than Tasks 2–4 because it has 90 seconds |
None of them uses rare words. The estimated CLB comes from organisation, development and precise everyday vocabulary, not from sounding impressive.
Practise your own answers
The fastest way to improve is to record your own answer to a fresh prompt and get feedback on each dimension. The CELPass question bank has Speaking prompts for every task type, and each recorded answer is scored on the four CELPIP dimensions with an estimated CLB. The free plan includes three AI-scored Speaking or Writing answers.
Frequently asked questions
Are these official CELPIP sample answers?
No. They are original CELPass examples written for practice. The estimated CLB ranges are our judgement, not official scores. Paragon's official practice tests are on the CELPIP website.
Should I memorise a sample answer for the test?
No. Memorised answers rarely fit the exact prompt and tend to sound rehearsed. Learn the structure and phrases, then fill them with details from the prompt you get.
Keep reading
CELPass is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises. CELPIP is a trademark of Paragon Testing Enterprises. Check the official CELPIP website and IRCC for current test rules and requirements.