CELPIP Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 Sample Answer: Building Confidence Behind the Wheel

This prompt asks you to reassure a friend who is taking driving lessons but panics on busy roads and fears making mistakes. The tricky part is giving step-by-step ways to build confidence instead of simply telling her to relax.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

The question

Your friend Lucía has been taking driving lessons in Mississauga to prepare for her road test, but she gets very nervous every time she drives, especially on busy roads. She is scared of making a mistake and feels she isn't improving. Advise Lucía on how she can become a more confident driver.

How to plan your answer

What they want

Advise your friend Lucía, who is taking driving lessons but feels nervous on busy roads and scared of mistakes, on how to become a more confident driver.

Plan (90 sec)

Open: "Lucía, almost everyone feels this way at the start."
Practise more: extra hours with a calm friend or family member, not only paid lessons.
Start easy: empty parking lots and quiet streets on Sunday mornings, then busier roads step by step.
Know the route: drive the same route a few times so it feels familiar.
Calm down: deep breaths, no music, adjust seat and mirrors first.
Mistakes: they're normal; ask the instructor to explain, and focus on what you did well.
Close: offer to ride with her.

Useful vocabulary

road test, instructor, lane change, merge
blind spot, confidence, practise, stay calm

Phrases

"It might help to..."
"Once you feel comfortable,..."
"Remember that..."

Avoid

Saying "just relax"; give specific steps.
Stories about scary accidents.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Lucía, first of all, what you're feeling is completely normal. Busy roads in Mississauga are stressful even for people who've been driving for years. I think the main issue is that you're only driving during your lessons, so it never really feels routine. If you can, ask someone patient, maybe your brother, to take you out a couple of times a week. Then, build up slowly. Start in an empty parking lot on a Sunday morning, then quiet residential streets, and only move to roads like Hurontario when the easier ones feel boring. Boring is actually a great sign. It also helps to have a little routine before you pull out: seat, mirrors, seatbelt, a deep breath. It tells your brain you're in control. And about mistakes: everybody makes them, even experienced drivers. When it happens, ask your instructor what to do differently, then move on instead of replaying it. If you want, I can come along on your next practice drive.

162 words

Why it scores high

Content/Coherence: Identifying "the main issue" as driving only during lessons explains her problem, and every later tip follows from that insight.
Vocabulary: Expressions like "build up slowly," "pull out" and "instead of replaying it" are precise and sound like natural speech.
Task Fulfillment: The idea that "Boring is actually a great sign" and the pre-drive routine give Lucía memorable, concrete tools for confidence.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Hey Lucía, honestly, feeling nervous at the beginning is totally normal. I was the same when I was learning. The best thing you can do is get more practice outside your lessons. Maybe your brother or a friend who's a calm driver could take you out on weekends. Start somewhere easy, like an empty mall parking lot early on a Sunday. Once you're comfortable, move to quiet streets, and only then try busier roads like Hurontario. Before you start the car, take a minute to adjust your seat and mirrors and take a few deep breaths. And keep the radio off so you can concentrate. If you make a mistake, ask your instructor to explain it, and then let it go. Every driver makes mistakes. You'll get there.

128 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: The plan builds in clear stages, from "an empty mall parking lot" to "quiet streets" and "only then" busier roads.
Vocabulary: Phrases like "a calm driver could take you out" and "let it go" sound natural and supportive.
Task Fulfillment: Every worry is covered, but the reason she feels she isn't improving is not explored; linking it to too little practice would strengthen the advice.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hi Lucía, I understand, driving is scary at beginning. I was very nervous too when I learn. I think you need more practice. Not only with instructor, maybe your brother can drive with you on weekend. First go to empty parking lot, like at the mall on Sunday morning. When you feel okay, go to small street, and after go to busy road. Also before you drive, take deep breath and turn off the radio, so you can focus. If you make mistake, it's okay. Everybody make mistake. You will pass your test!

93 words

What holds it back

Vocabulary: Errors like "at beginning," "when I learn" and "Everybody make mistake" show missing articles and incorrect verb forms.
Content/Coherence: The step-by-step idea, from "empty parking lot" to "busy road," is good, but it is rushed and not explained.
Task Fulfillment: Her fear of mistakes gets only "it's okay," with no practical way to handle a mistake when it happens.

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