CELPIP Speaking Sample Answers: Tasks 5–8
By David · Speaking · Published · 7 min read
Tasks 5–8 ask you to persuade, handle an awkward conversation, defend an opinion and describe something strange. Below is one original CELPass prompt and sample answer for each, written to fit the real response time, with an estimated CLB range and notes on the four rating dimensions. These are practice examples, not official CELPIP material or official scores.
Before you read the samples
Try each prompt yourself before reading the sample. Use the real timing: Task 5 gives you 60 seconds to choose, 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak; Task 6 gives you 60 seconds to prepare and 60 to speak; Tasks 7 and 8 give you 30 seconds to prepare, then 90 seconds (Task 7) or 60 seconds (Task 8) to speak.
| Task | Preparation | Speaking | Who you are talking to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task 5: Comparing and Persuading | 60 seconds (after 60 seconds to choose) | 60 seconds | A family member |
| Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation | 60 seconds | 60 seconds | The person you chose |
| Task 7: Expressing Opinions | 30 seconds | 90 seconds | A general listener |
| Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | Someone who cannot see the picture |
As with any sample, copy the structure, not the words. A memorised answer will not fit a different prompt, and raters can hear when speech is recited.
Task 5 sample: Comparing and Persuading (60 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): Your family is planning a one-week summer holiday. You chose a lakeside cabin: a two-hour drive away, $900 for the week, with a canoe included and no Wi-Fi. Your brother Marco prefers a hotel package in Montreal: $1,600 for the week, close to museums and restaurants, with train tickets extra. Persuade Marco that your choice is better.
Original CELPass sample answer (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"Hey Marco, I know the Montreal hotel sounds exciting, but I really think the lake cabin is the better choice this year.
First, look at the cost. The cabin is $900 for the whole week, while the hotel is $1,600, and that's before restaurants and train tickets. With the money we save, we could rent a boat for a day.
Second, the cabin's only a two-hour drive, so we can leave whenever we want and bring all our gear. Montreal means booking trains and dragging suitcases around.
And honestly, a quiet week without Wi-Fi sounds perfect. We can swim, take out the canoe and actually talk to each other.
Montreal will still be there next year. So what do you say, should we book the cabin?"
- Content/Coherence: every point compares the two options directly, using numbers and details from both descriptions.
- Vocabulary: comparison language (while, before, the better choice) and natural phrases like "dragging suitcases around".
- Listenability: a friendly, confident tone with short sentences and a clear question at the end.
- Task Fulfillment: persuades Marco rather than only describing the cabin, acknowledges his preference and asks him to agree.
Task 6 sample: Dealing with a Difficult Situation (60 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): Weeks ago, you promised to drive your coworker Lisa to the airport at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Now your neighbour Tom asks you to help him move a heavy sofa at the same time, because his movers cancelled. Choose one: tell Lisa you cannot drive her, or tell Tom you cannot help him.
Original CELPass sample answer, speaking to Tom (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"Hi Tom, I'm really sorry to hear the movers cancelled. That's so frustrating, especially on moving day.
Unfortunately, I can't help on Saturday morning. Weeks ago, I promised my coworker Lisa I'd drive her to the airport at six, and she can't change her flight.
But I don't want to leave you stuck. I should be back by about nine, so if you can wait until then, I'll come straight over. I could also ask my brother-in-law, who has a pickup truck, if he's free earlier.
Again, I'm really sorry about the timing. Just let me know what works best for you."
- Content/Coherence: sympathy first, then the refusal with a clear reason, then two alternatives, then a warm close.
- Vocabulary: softening language (I'm really sorry, unfortunately, I don't want to leave you stuck) suits an awkward conversation.
- Listenability: polite but direct; the speaker gets to the point in the second sentence.
- Task Fulfillment: speaks only to Tom, the person chosen, instead of describing both people, and offers a compromise.
Task 7 sample: Expressing Opinions (90 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): Some people think children under 12 should not have their own smartphone. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your reasons. Preparation: 30 seconds. Speaking: 90 seconds.
Original CELPass sample answer (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"In my opinion, children under twelve shouldn't have their own smartphone, and I have two main reasons.
First, there's the effect on sleep and attention. Kids who keep a phone in their bedroom often stay up late watching videos or playing games, and then they're exhausted at school the next day. At that age, they need sleep and focus more than anything else.
Second, a smartphone opens the door to things young children aren't ready to handle. Even with parental controls, they can come across inappropriate content or get pulled into group chats where other kids are unkind. A friend's nine-year-old son went through exactly that, and it took months for him to feel confident again.
Some parents say children need a phone for safety, to call home after school. I understand that, but a basic phone that only calls and texts does the same job without social media and endless apps.
So, to sum up, I believe smartphones can wait until kids are older and more mature. Until then, a simple phone and clear family rules are a much better solution."
- Content/Coherence: the opinion is in the first sentence and never changes; two reasons are each developed with an example.
- Vocabulary: precise choices such as "exhausted", "inappropriate content" and "opens the door to".
- Listenability: clear signposts (first, second, so, to sum up) help the listener follow a longer answer.
- Task Fulfillment: answers the question directly, deals with the strongest opposing argument and uses most of the 90 seconds.
Task 8 sample: Describing an Unusual Situation (60 seconds)
Prompt (original CELPass example): You are at a garage sale and see an unusual object. Your friend Sam collects odd household items. Call Sam, describe the object so Sam can picture it, and say whether Sam should buy it. The picture shows a table lamp made from an old brass trumpet. Preparation: 30 seconds. Speaking: 60 seconds.
Original CELPass sample answer (estimated CLB 9–10, not an official score):
"Hi Sam, I'm at a garage sale on Elm Street, and I've found something you'll love.
It's a table lamp made from an old brass trumpet. The trumpet stands upright on a round wooden base about the size of a dinner plate, with the wide end pointing up. There's a light bulb inside, and on top there's a small cream-coloured lampshade. Altogether it's about sixty centimetres tall.
The three buttons in the middle still move, and the seller says pressing the first one switches the light on and off, which is pretty clever.
The brass has a few scratches, but it's still shiny. It's only twenty-five dollars, so I really think you should get it. Want me to grab it for you?"
- Content/Coherence: moves from the overall object to its parts, then to why it is unusual, then to a recommendation.
- Vocabulary: shape, size, colour and material words (upright, round, brass, cream-coloured) plus a size comparison.
- Listenability: a natural phone-call tone with short, easy-to-follow sentences.
- Task Fulfillment: Sam could picture the lamp, and the answer ends with the recommendation the prompt asks for.
Patterns to take from Tasks 5–8
- Tasks 5 and 6 reward tact: acknowledge the other person's view or problem before you argue or refuse.
- Task 5 is a comparison, not a description. Mention the other option in every point.
- Task 6 needs a solution. A refusal with no alternative sounds abrupt, however polite the words.
- Task 7 needs one clear position. Answering an opposing argument shows range; changing sides does not.
- Task 8 is about precision. Size, shape, colour, material and purpose matter more than adjectives like "nice" or "weird".
Get feedback on your own answers
Reading samples shows you the target; recording yourself shows you the gap. On CELPass you can record answers to fresh prompts for every Speaking task and get a score on each of the four dimensions with an estimated CLB. The free plan includes three AI-scored Speaking or Writing answers, and the free diagnostic estimates your level in about 25 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
In Task 6, does it matter which person I choose?
Either choice can score well. What matters is that you speak to the person you chose, explain your reason clearly and offer an alternative or compromise.
Can I disagree with the statement in Task 7?
Yes. Agreeing or disagreeing does not affect your score. Choose the side you can support with the clearest reasons and examples, and keep it to the end.
Keep reading
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