CELPIP Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 Sample Answer: Getting Ready for a First Pet

This prompt asks you to help a recently retired neighbour get ready to adopt his first dog from a shelter. The tricky part is covering both what he should prepare and what daily life will really be like, without making it sound either too easy or too difficult.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

The question

Your neighbour Gordon recently retired, and he is thinking about adopting a dog from the animal shelter in Fredericton. He has never owned a pet before, so he isn't sure what he should prepare or what daily life with a dog will be like. Advise Gordon on how he can get ready to bring home his first pet.

How to plan your answer

What they want

Advise your neighbour Gordon, newly retired and thinking of adopting a dog from the shelter, on what to prepare and what to expect with his first pet.

Plan (90 sec)

Open: "Gordon, a dog is great company, especially now that you have more time."
Choose well: tell shelter staff about your lifestyle; an adult dog may be calmer than a puppy.
Supplies: leash, bed, bowls, food, crate, toys; dog-proof the house.
Health: book a vet visit in the first week; ask about vaccinations and pet insurance.
Expect: daily walks in all weather, a routine, an adjustment period.
Training: an obedience class helps you both.
Close: offer to help or dog-sit.

Useful vocabulary

adopt, shelter, vet, vaccinations
leash, crate, routine, obedience class

Phrases

"Before you bring the dog home,..."
"Something people often don't expect is..."
"It's a good idea to..."

Avoid

Only listing supplies; he also asked what to expect.
Making it sound too scary or too easy.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Gordon, I think a dog would be perfect for you. You've got the time now, and it'll get you out walking every day. My first suggestion is to be really honest with the shelter staff about your routine and energy level. Puppies are adorable, but they're exhausting. A two- or three-year-old dog is usually calmer, often already house-trained, and still has lots of good years ahead. Before the big day, set up a quiet corner with a bed and bowls, buy a sturdy leash and a bag of the food the shelter has been using, and move anything chewable off the floor. As for what to expect, the first couple of weeks can be a bit bumpy. A rescue dog might be nervous or have the odd accident, so patience is key. Book a vet appointment in the first week, and think about pet insurance, because surprise bills can be huge. And honestly, a basic obedience class is great for both of you. Whenever you go away, I'd be happy to dog-sit.

172 words

Why it scores high

Task Fulfillment: Warning that "the first couple of weeks can be a bit bumpy" prepares Gordon for real life with a rescue dog, not just the shopping list.
Content/Coherence: The advice follows a natural order, choosing the dog, preparing the home, then what to expect, with clear transitions like "Before the big day."
Vocabulary: Phrases like "the odd accident," "patience is key" and "surprise bills can be huge" sound fluent and natural.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Hi Gordon, I think getting a dog is a wonderful idea, especially now that you have more free time. When you visit the shelter, tell the staff about your lifestyle. They can match you with the right dog. An older dog is often calmer and already house-trained, which is easier for a first-time owner. Before you bring it home, get the basics: a leash, a bed, food and water bowls, and a few toys. Also, put away anything it could chew, like shoes or cables. In the first week, book a visit with a vet to check its health and vaccines. Remember that a dog needs at least two walks a day, even in January. If you ever need someone to look after it, I'm right next door.

128 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: Reasons like an older dog being "calmer and already house-trained" make the advice logical and convincing.
Vocabulary: Practical phrases such as "match you with the right dog" and "put away anything it could chew" are natural and accurate.
Task Fulfillment: Preparation is covered well, but what to expect in the first weeks, like an adjustment period, is missing.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hi Gordon, adopting a dog is great idea, now you have time after retire. First, talk to the shelter people. Tell them you want calm dog, maybe not puppy, because puppy is a lot of work. Before the dog come home, buy leash, bed, food and bowl. Take the dog to vet in first week, for check and vaccine. You need to walk the dog every day, two times, even in winter. It is big responsibility. Maybe first weeks the dog is shy or scared, it's normal. If you go on vacation, I can take care of him.

98 words

What holds it back

Vocabulary: Errors like "great idea" without an article, "after retire" and "Before the dog come home" show frequent grammar slips.
Content/Coherence: The tips are useful but very short, so the vet visit gets only "for check and vaccine" without any explanation.
Task Fulfillment: Both parts of the question are touched, but "what to expect" is reduced to walks and one line about a shy dog.

The CLBs are estimates of the level each sample was written at, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB