CELPIP Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 Sample Answer: Starting a Side Hustle

Your cousin wants to earn extra money with a side hustle but doesn’t know what to do or how to begin. They’ve asked for your advice on how to start a small side business. Give them some ideas.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

The question

Your cousin wants to earn extra money with a side hustle but doesn’t know what to do or how to begin. They’ve asked for your advice on how to start a small side business. Give them some ideas.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

It’s a smart move to start a side hustle for extra income. I suggest beginning with a low-cost idea that suits your skills, such as freelancing online, selling handmade crafts, or offering pet-sitting services. Start small by promoting your business to friends, family, or on social media, and use free tools like Google Sheets to manage orders and finances. Researching your potential customers will help you improve your approach. A relative of mine began tutoring part-time and expanded the business steadily. Choose something you enjoy so it feels rewarding, not like extra work.

93 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Starting a side hustle is a great idea! You might try something simple like baking treats to sell or walking dogs in your neighborhood. Keep your business small at first by telling friends or posting on social media to find customers. Use your phone to organize orders and payments. My uncle began selling plants this way, and his business grew quickly. Pick something you enjoy and start from there.

69 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Extra money is good! You could start with something simple like selling cookies or walking dogs. Begin small and tell your friends about it. You can use your phone to take orders and keep track. It’s easy to start, and you will learn as you go.

46 words

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