CELPIP Speaking Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience

CELPIP Speaking Task 2 Sample Answer: Getting Lost While Hiking and Finding Your Way Back

Describe a time when you got lost while hiking and managed to find your way back. What did you do, and what did you learn?

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

60 seconds

Tense

Mostly past tense

The question

Describe a time when you got lost while hiking and managed to find your way back. What did you do, and what did you learn?

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

During a hiking trip last fall, I accidentally wandered off the marked path and soon realized I was lost. Initially, I panicked, but I took a deep breath, checked my GPS, and retraced my steps. After an hour, I finally found the main trail and made it back safely. The experience was both frightening and eye-opening, teaching me the importance of preparation and staying calm in difficult situations.

68 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Last summer, I lost my way while hiking in a large park. At first, I was nervous, but I used my phone’s map and looked for signs. After a while, I found the main trail again. I felt proud for not panicking and learned to always stay alert on hikes.

50 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

One time, I got lost while hiking in the woods. I felt scared, but I followed the trail signs and found my way back. I was happy and learned to be more careful.

33 words

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