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CELPIP Speaking Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience

CELPIP Speaking Task 2 Sample Answer: Dealing with a Cancelled Flight While Traveling Abroad

By David

Tell me about a time when you dealt with a cancelled flight while traveling abroad. What did you do, and how did it turn out?

Preparation
30 seconds
Speaking
60 seconds
Tense
Mostly past tense

The question

Tell me about a time when you dealt with a cancelled flight while traveling abroad. What did you do, and how did it turn out?

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

During a solo trip to Asia two years ago, my return flight was abruptly cancelled due to a technical issue, leaving me stranded at the airport. The initial panic was overwhelming, but I took a deep breath and approached the airline staff, calmly inquiring about options. They arranged a flight for the following day and provided a hotel voucher. I used the unexpected time to visit a nearby cultural site, turning a stressful situation into an opportunity. Though challenging, the experience taught me resilience and adaptability, and I felt a sense of accomplishment when I safely returned home. It reinforced my ability to stay composed under pressure and embrace unexpected detours with optimism.

113 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

A couple of years ago, while traveling in Europe, my flight home was suddenly cancelled due to bad weather. I felt frustrated and worried about being stuck. I went to the airline counter, where they explained the situation and offered a flight the next day with a hotel stay. I stayed calm, rebooked my flight, and used the extra day to explore the city. Though it was stressful, I made the best of it. When I finally got home, I felt relieved and learned to be more flexible when things go wrong while traveling.

94 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Two years ago, my flight got cancelled when I was in another country. I was scared and didn’t know what to do. I went to the airline desk and asked for help. They gave me a new flight for the next day and a hotel room. I felt stressed but stayed calm. The next day, I got home safely. I was happy it worked out.

65 words

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

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