CELPIP Speaking

Task 1: Giving Advice

By David

Give advice to a friend or family member who is facing a choice or a problem.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

What happens in Task 1

The prompt describes someone's situation, for example a friend who cannot decide whether to move cities for a job.
You speak directly to that person and give practical advice.

Tips for a higher score

Use your 30 seconds to choose two or three pieces of advice, not to write sentences.
Talk to the person by name and use a warm, natural tone.
Give a reason for each suggestion, then finish with a short summary.

Common mistakes

Describing the problem instead of advising.
Stopping after 40 seconds with one idea.

Task 1 template

Opening. Greet the person by name, react to their news and show you understand why it's hard. Keep it to about 10 seconds.
- Hey Maria, thanks for telling me about this.
- I can totally see why you're torn.
- That sounds like a tough spot to be in.
- Congratulations, first of all!
Advice 1 + reason + example. Give your strongest suggestion, explain why it helps and add one concrete detail. Aim for about 25 seconds.
- The first thing I'd do is...
- If I were you, I'd start by...
- One thing that might help is...
- The reason I say that is...
Advice 2 + reason + example. Move to a different angle of the problem (money, time, people, health) so the two ideas don't overlap. About 25 seconds.
- Another thing to think about is...
- On top of that, you could...
- It might also be worth...
- For example, when my cousin was in the same situation...
Advice 3 (if time allows). Add a short third suggestion, often a practical next step or a backup plan. About 15 seconds; skip it if your first two points ran long.
- My last suggestion would be to...
- And just in case, you could also...
- One more quick idea:
- Whatever happens, make sure you...
Closing. Sum up your advice in one sentence and end warmly, with encouragement or an offer to help. About 10 seconds.
- So, to sum up, I'd...
- Anyway, those are just my thoughts.
- I'm sure you'll make the right call.
- Let me know if you want to talk it through.
- You know I'm here if you need anything.

Task 1 vocabulary and useful phrases

Giving advice

If I were you, I'd... · You might want to... · Have you thought about...? · It might be a good idea to... · I'd strongly suggest... · Why don't you...? · It's worth looking into... · What I'd do is...

Giving reasons

That way, you'll... · The main reason is... · It'll save you a lot of... · so that you don't end up... · which means you won't have to... · since you already...

Linking ideas

First of all · On top of that · Another thing is · Apart from that · Last but not least · So, all in all · Speaking of...

Softening and showing empathy

I totally get it. · It's completely normal to feel that way. · I know it's easier said than done, but... · This is just my opinion, of course. · No pressure, but... · I'm sure it's been stressful.

Common Task 1 topics

weigh the pros and cons · cost of living · work-life balance · take on a part-time job · set a budget · commute · get a second opinion · a fresh start · a trial period

Encouraging endings

You've got this. · Whatever you decide, I've got your back. · Keep me posted. · I'm sure it'll work out. · Give me a call anytime. · Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

Sample question and answer

Your friend Daniel has been offered a job in another city. The pay is better, but he would have to leave his family and friends. Give Daniel some advice.

Sample answer (transcript): estimated CLB 9–10

Hi Daniel, congratulations on the offer! That's really exciting, and I can see why it's a hard decision. First, I'd suggest you look closely at the whole package, not just the salary. Rent in the new city might be much higher, so check whether you'd really have more money at the end of the month. Second, think about how often you could come home. If it's a short flight or a few hours by train, you could visit your family once a month, and with video calls you'd still feel close to everyone. My last piece of advice is to ask the company whether you could start with a trial period, or even work remotely a couple of days a week. A lot of employers are flexible now, and it would make the move much easier. So, compare the real costs, plan your visits, and see if they'll be flexible. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll make it work, and you know I'll come and visit!

Why it scores well

Task Fulfillment: Speaks directly to Daniel with three clear pieces of advice and uses most of the 90 seconds.
Content/Coherence: Each suggestion has a reason, and the answer ends with a summary that ties the ideas together.
Vocabulary: Natural expressions such as "the whole package" and "make it work" suit a conversation with a friend.
Listenability: Short, clear sentences that are easy to deliver at a steady pace.

The same question at a lower level

Sample answer (transcript): estimated CLB 5–6

Hi Daniel. So, you have a new job in other city. The pay is better, but you have to leave your family and friends. It is a difficult situation. I think you should take the job, because the money is better. Money is very important. You can save money and buy a house. Also, um, your family is important too. You can call them. Yes, you can call them every day. And... the new city is good, maybe. You can find new friends there. So I think you should take the job. Good luck.

What holds it back

Task Fulfillment: Speaks to Daniel and gives advice, but spends the opening repeating the prompt and stops well before 90 seconds.
Content/Coherence: The ideas are relevant but undeveloped: "money is very important" and "you can call them" have no real reasons or examples behind them.
Vocabulary: Relies on basic, repeated words (important, good, money) and has small errors such as "in other city".
Listenability: Short, choppy sentences with fillers and pauses make it sound like a list rather than a conversation.

These are original CELPass examples. The CLBs are our estimates, not official CELPIP scores.

Task 1 practice questions

Your friend Priya wants to buy her first car but isn't sure whether to buy a new one or a used one. Give Priya some advice.
Your brother has been feeling tired and stressed since he started working night shifts. Give your brother some advice about staying healthy.
Your neighbour Tom has just moved to Canada and is having trouble making friends. Give Tom some advice.
Your cousin is thinking about leaving university for a year to travel and work abroad. Give your cousin some advice.
Your coworker Lisa wants to save money for a down payment on a condo, but she finds it hard to stick to a budget. Give Lisa some advice.

Speaking Task 1 questions, answered

How long is CELPIP Speaking Task 1?

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 gives you 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak. That makes it one of the two longest speaking turns in the test, along with Task 7. Plan for two or three pieces of advice so you can fill most of the 90 seconds without rushing.

Can I use a template for CELPIP Speaking Task 1?

Yes, a simple structure such as opening, two or three pieces of advice with reasons, and a closing works well for Task 1. Raters reward clear organisation, so a predictable shape helps. Just make sure the content fits the specific person and problem, because a memorised answer that ignores the details will lose marks for Task Fulfillment.

How many pieces of advice should I give in Task 1?

Two or three pieces of advice is the right amount for 90 seconds. With one idea you usually run out of things to say, and with five or more each idea stays too shallow. Give each suggestion a reason or a short example.

Should I talk to the person directly in Task 1?

Yes, speak directly to the person in the prompt, as if you were on the phone with them. Use their name and "you" rather than describing them in the third person. Talking about them instead of to them is a common way to lose Task Fulfillment marks.

What if I finish Task 1 before the 90 seconds are up?

Finishing a little early is fine, but a very short answer rarely shows enough to score highly. If you have time left, add a quick example to one of your points or an offer to help. Avoid repeating the same advice in different words just to fill time.

More CELPIP Speaking

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