CELPIP Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 Sample Answer: Supporting a Friend Through a Breakup

Your close friend recently broke up with their partner and feels really down. They ask for your advice on how to get through this tough time.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Listener

Someone you know well

The question

Your close friend recently broke up with their partner and feels really down. They ask for your advice on how to get through this tough time.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Helping a friend after a breakup requires patience and understanding. Listen without judging and reassure them that their feelings are normal. Encourage them to talk about their emotions if they want to, and suggest doing activities together to distract them and lift their mood. Remind them to take care of themselves, like eating well and getting enough rest. Over time, the pain will fade, and they’ll feel stronger. Your ongoing support and kindness will really help them through this tough period.

81 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Supporting a friend through a breakup is important. Let them know you’re there for them and encourage them to talk about their feelings. Invite them to do fun things, like going for a walk or watching a movie. Remind them that it’s normal to feel sad and that it takes time to heal. Just being a good listener can help a lot.

62 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

If your friend is sad after a breakup, tell them it’s okay to feel upset. Listen to them and spend time together. Doing things they enjoy can help them feel better. Remind them that things will get better with time.

40 words

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