CELPIP Speaking Templates for All 8 Tasks
By David · Speaking · Published · 4 min read
A good template is a skeleton, not a script. It tells you what to say first, what comes next and how to finish, so your preparation time goes into ideas instead of organisation. Below is a flexible structure for each of the eight CELPIP Speaking tasks, with phrases you can adapt.
Templates vs memorised scripts
Memorised paragraphs are easy to spot: they sound rehearsed, they often do not fit the exact prompt, and they push out the details the task actually asks for. A template is different. It is a short list of moves you make in order, filled with content from the prompt in front of you.
- Keep each template to four or five steps you can remember without notes.
- Learn two or three phrases per step, and rotate them so you do not sound robotic.
- Always put the prompt's names, places and details into your answer.
Task 1: Giving Advice (90 seconds)
- Greet the person by name and show you understand: "Hi Sam, I know this has been on your mind."
- Advice one with a reason: "First, I'd suggest... because..."
- Advice two with a reason or example: "Another option is to..."
- Advice three if time allows: "Finally, you might want to..."
- Summary and encouragement: "So, to sum up... Whatever you decide, I'm here to help."
Task 2: Personal Experience (60 seconds)
- When and where: "A couple of years ago, when I was living in..."
- What happened, in two or three steps, in the past tense.
- One vivid detail: a sound, a feeling, something someone said.
- How it ended and what you learned or felt: "Looking back, I realised..."
Keep the background short. The most common Task 2 problem is spending half the time on setting and running out before the ending.
Tasks 3 and 4: Describing a Scene and Making Predictions (60 seconds each)
Both tasks use the same picture. Task 3 describes it; Task 4 predicts what will happen next.
| Step | Task 3: Describe | Task 4: Predict |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overview: "This looks like a busy farmers' market on a sunny morning." | Link to the scene: "Based on what's happening at the market..." |
| 2 | One area, people and actions (present continuous) | Prediction about one person + the clue |
| 3 | Move in one direction: left to right, or front to back | Prediction about a second person + the clue |
| 4 | Background details | Prediction about a third person or the whole scene |
| 5 | Short close: "Overall, it's a lively, cheerful scene." | Close: "So, it's likely to be a busy afternoon." |
Task 5: Comparing and Persuading (60 seconds)
- Acknowledge their choice politely: "I can see why you like the downtown apartment."
- State your choice: "But I really think the house near the park would suit us better."
- Comparison one, using details from both options: "It's cheaper than yours by..."
- Comparison two: "And it's much closer to the kids' school, while yours would mean..."
- Ask them to agree: "So, what do you think? Could we go and see it this weekend?"
The key word is compare. Describing only your option, without mentioning theirs, misses the point of the task.
Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation (60 seconds)
- Open politely and name the issue: "Hi Priya, can I talk to you about Saturday?"
- Give your decision clearly and kindly: "I'm really sorry, but I won't be able to..."
- Explain your reason in one or two sentences.
- Offer an alternative or compromise: "Would it work if I helped you on Sunday instead?"
- Close warmly: "I hope you understand, and thanks for being so flexible."
Speak only to the person you chose. Talking about both people as if you were explaining the dilemma to a third party is a common Task Fulfillment mistake.
Task 7: Expressing Opinions (90 seconds)
- Opinion in the first sentence: "In my opinion, cities should..."
- Reason one with an example: "The main reason is... For example, in my neighbourhood..."
- Reason two with an example: "On top of that..."
- Optional: briefly answer the other side: "Some people argue that..., but..."
- Restate your opinion in different words: "So overall, I'm convinced that..."
Pick the side that is easier to support, not the one you personally believe. Changing your opinion halfway through is one of the listed common mistakes for this task.
Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation (60 seconds)
- Set up the call: "Hi Tom, I'm at the store and I found something unusual."
- Overall shape and size, compared with something familiar: "It's about the size of a suitcase."
- Parts, colours and materials: "On the top there's a... made of..."
- What makes it unusual or what it seems to be for.
- Your recommendation or question: "I think it'd be perfect for your garden. Should I buy it?"
How to make a template your own
Templates only work if they are automatic. Practise each one with five or six different prompts until you no longer think about the steps. Then record yourself and check two things: did every step appear, and did the content come from the prompt rather than from memory?
If a rater could swap your answer onto a different prompt without noticing, you are leaning on a script. Put more of the prompt's details in.
Frequently asked questions
Will raters lower my score for using a template?
A clear structure helps Content/Coherence. What hurts is a memorised script that ignores the prompt's details or sounds rehearsed. Keep the structure, change the content every time.
Should I memorise opening sentences?
A few flexible openings are fine, as long as they lead straight into the prompt's specific situation. Rotate them so they do not sound identical every time.
Keep reading
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