CELPIP Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 Sample Answer: Handling Pressure in a New Job

This prompt asks you to support a friend who is overwhelmed in a new accounting job, missing deadlines and afraid of errors. The tricky part is covering both his workload and his stress with practical steps, rather than just telling him to work harder or relax.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

The question

Your friend Raj started a new job as an accounting assistant at a company in Saskatoon two months ago. He has so many tasks that he often stays late, and he has already missed two deadlines. He is stressed and afraid that he will make a serious error. Advise Raj on how he can manage his workload and his stress.

How to plan your answer

What they want

Advise your friend Raj, two months into a new accounting job, who has too many tasks, has missed deadlines and fears a serious error, on managing his workload and stress.

Plan (90 sec)

Open: "Raj, two months in, it's normal to feel buried."
Organize: a to-do list each morning; rank tasks by deadline and importance.
Focus: one task at a time; turn off email alerts for an hour.
Errors: double-check numbers before sending; keep a checklist.
Talk to the manager: explain the workload, ask which tasks are priorities; ask for help early, not after a deadline.
Stress: real breaks, leave on time most days, exercise.
Close: "You were hired because they believe in you."

Useful vocabulary

workload, deadline, prioritize, overwhelmed
checklist, double-check, burnout, work-life balance

Phrases

"The first thing I'd do is..."
"It might be a good idea to..."
"Don't be afraid to..."

Avoid

Telling him to work even longer hours.
Forgetting the stress half of the question.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Raj, first of all, missing a couple of deadlines in your first two months doesn't make you bad at your job. It usually means the workload isn't realistic yet, or you haven't figured out the system. Here's what helped me. Every morning, before opening your email, spend five minutes writing down everything on your plate and ranking it by deadline. Then work on one thing at a time. Jumping between tasks is exhausting and that's when mistakes slip in. Since you're worried about errors, build yourself a short checklist for each type of report, and always do a final check before you hit send. The most important thing, though, is to talk to your manager this week. Tell her honestly that you're stretched thin and ask her to help you set priorities. Managers would much rather hear that early than discover a missed deadline. And please protect your evenings. Staying until eight every night will burn you out fast. Even a walk after work makes a difference.

167 words

Why it scores high

Content/Coherence: Reframing the missed deadlines, "doesn't make you bad at your job," addresses Raj's feelings first, then leads into a clear morning routine.
Vocabulary: Idiomatic expressions such as "on your plate," "stretched thin," "mistakes slip in" and "burn you out" sound natural and precise.
Task Fulfillment: Explaining that managers "would much rather hear that early" gives Raj a convincing reason to act, and the evenings tip covers stress.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Hey Raj, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Honestly, the first few months of any job are overwhelming, so don't be too hard on yourself. First, try making a to-do list every morning and putting the tasks in order by deadline. That way, you'll always know what has to be done first. To avoid errors, make a simple checklist for your regular reports and double-check the numbers before you send anything. I also think you should talk to your manager soon. Explain that you're struggling to keep up and ask which tasks are the most urgent. It's much better to ask for help before a deadline than after you miss it. Finally, try to leave on time most days. If you're exhausted, you'll make more mistakes.

128 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: Each tip comes with a reason, like "That way, you'll always know what has to be done first," so the advice feels logical.
Vocabulary: Useful workplace phrases like "struggling to keep up" and "double-check the numbers" are accurate and natural.
Task Fulfillment: Workload and errors are covered well, but stress gets only the last line; one more coping idea would balance the answer.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hi Raj, I know new job is stressful, especially first months. I think you should make a list every morning. Write all your task, and do the important one first, the one with deadline. Also, for mistake, check your work two times before you send. In accounting, small mistake is big problem, so checking is important. And you can talk with your manager. Tell him you have too much work, maybe he can help you. Don't stay at office too late every day, you need rest. Go walk or gym after work. I'm sure it will be better soon.

99 words

What holds it back

Vocabulary: Errors like "new job is stressful," "Write all your task" and "small mistake is big problem" drop articles and plurals throughout.
Task Fulfillment: All areas get a tip, but "Go walk or gym" is the only stress advice, and it is not linked to his worry about errors.
Listenability: Each idea starts with "I think," "Also" or "And," so the answer sounds like a list read aloud rather than a friend talking.

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