CELPIP Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 Sample Answer: Starting a Vegetable Garden

Your friend wants to grow their own vegetables at home but has no gardening experience and doesn’t know where to begin. They’ve asked for your advice on how to start a small vegetable garden. Give them some tips.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

The question

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

That’s a fantastic idea to grow your own vegetables! I’d recommend starting modestly with beginner-friendly crops like cherry tomatoes, lettuce, or basil, which thrive in pots or small garden beds if space is limited. Invest in quality potting soil and choose a location with at least six hours of sunlight daily—consistent light is crucial. Water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy, and consider adding compost for nutrients. A friend of mine began with herbs on her balcony and scaled up to a full garden within a year. Take it step-by-step, and you’ll enjoy both the process and the harvest!

101 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Hi! It’s cool you want to start a vegetable garden. I’d suggest beginning with easy plants, like tomatoes or herbs, in small pots or a little patch of dirt. Buy good soil and put them in a sunny spot—plants need light to grow. Water them every day, but not too much. My neighbor started this way, and now she has fresh basil all the time. You’ll love it!

68 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hey, growing veggies is nice! Start small—like with tomatoes or lettuce. Get some pots and soil from a store. Put them where it’s sunny. Water a little every day. It’s easy, just try it!

34 words

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