CELPIP Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 Sample Answer: Settling In After a Job Move

This prompt asks you to support a co-worker who is moving across the country for a promotion and has never moved before. The tricky part is covering all three of his worries, housing, loneliness and adjusting to the city, with concrete steps instead of general reassurance.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

The question

Your co-worker Ben has accepted a promotion that means moving from Halifax to Calgary next month. He has lived in Halifax his whole life, so he has never moved to a new city before, and he is anxious about finding a place to live, feeling lonely and getting used to his new surroundings. Advise Ben on how he can make the move easier.

How to plan your answer

What they want

Advise your co-worker Ben, moving from Halifax to Calgary for a promotion and never having moved before, on finding housing, avoiding loneliness and adjusting to the new city.

Plan (90 sec)

Open: "Ben, congratulations; feeling nervous is normal."
Housing: ask if the company offers relocation help; book a short-term rental first, then choose a neighbourhood once you know the area.
Before you go: research commute, transit, cost of living.
Meeting people: say yes to work invitations, join a sports league or club.
Adjusting: explore a new place each weekend; Calgary winters and chinooks; the mountains are an hour away.
Stay connected: regular video calls home.
Close: "Give it six months."

Useful vocabulary

relocate, short-term rental, neighbourhood, commute
settle in, homesick, make friends, adjust

Phrases

"Before you sign a lease,..."
"A good way to meet people is..."
"Try not to..."

Avoid

Covering only housing; he has three worries.
Telling him not to worry without concrete steps.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Ben, first of all, congratulations! It's a big step, and honestly, feeling anxious just means you're taking it seriously. For housing, my advice is not to rush into a lease. Book a furnished short-term rental for the first month or so, and use that time to see which neighbourhoods suit you, how long the commute is, and whether you want to be downtown or somewhere quieter. Also, check with HR. A lot of companies offer relocation money, and you might as well use it. The loneliness part is real, so be proactive. Say yes to every lunch or after-work drink in the first few weeks, even if you'd rather stay home. Joining something regular, like a rec hockey team or a weekend hiking group, helps a lot, and Calgary is only an hour from the Rockies. To feel at home faster, explore one new spot every weekend. And be ready for the winters. They're drier and colder than Halifax. Give it six months. And call me whenever you need to.

170 words

Why it scores high

Task Fulfillment: Detailed housing advice, including checking "how long the commute is" and relocation money from HR, gives Ben concrete steps for his biggest worry.
Content/Coherence: Calling loneliness "real" and urging him to "be proactive" leads naturally into specific social ideas, so every section feels connected.
Vocabulary: Natural phrases like "rush into a lease," "you might as well use it" and "drier and colder than Halifax" sound fluent and locally aware.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Hey Ben, congratulations on the promotion! It's completely normal to feel nervous, since you've never lived anywhere else. For housing, I'd start with a short-term rental for the first month or two. That way, you can explore different neighbourhoods before signing a lease. Also ask HR if the company offers any relocation support. To avoid feeling lonely, say yes to invitations from your new co-workers, even if you're tired. You could also join a rec hockey league or a hiking group. The mountains are only an hour away. To get used to the city, try exploring a new area every weekend. And keep in touch with your friends back home with regular video calls. Give yourself a few months. You'll be fine.

122 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: Clear openers like "For housing" and "To avoid feeling lonely" match Ben's worries and keep the advice organized.
Vocabulary: Useful terms such as "short-term rental," "signing a lease" and "relocation support" are accurate and natural.
Task Fulfillment: Housing and loneliness are covered well, but adjusting to Calgary gets only one quick tip, so the third worry feels thin.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hi Ben, congratulations for the promotion! I know moving is scary, especially first time. First, don't buy or rent big apartment right away. Rent short time place, like one month, then you can see which area is good. Also ask the company, maybe they help with moving. For lonely, try to say yes when coworkers invite you. And join some club, like hockey or hiking. Calgary is near the mountains, so hiking is good. Every weekend go to new place in the city, then it feel like home faster. And call your family in Halifax often. Good luck, Ben!

99 words

What holds it back

Vocabulary: Errors like "congratulations for the promotion," "Rent short time place" and "For lonely" show problems with prepositions and word forms.
Content/Coherence: The tips are relevant but very short, and ideas like asking the company for moving help are added without any explanation.
Task Fulfillment: All three worries are touched, but the advice on getting used to the city is a single line about weekends.

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