CELPIP Speaking Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience

CELPIP Speaking Task 2 Sample Answer: Saving Up for and Buying Something You Really Wanted

Tell me about a time when you saved up for and bought something you really wanted. What did you buy, and how did it feel?

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

60 seconds

Tense

Mostly past tense

The question

Tell me about a time when you saved up for and bought something you really wanted. What did you buy, and how did it feel?

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

I had always dreamed of owning a professional camera, so I set a goal to save a portion of my salary every month. It took nearly a year, but when I finally bought the camera, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. The process taught me patience and the value of working towards a goal. Using the camera brought me a lot of joy because I knew I had truly earned it.

72 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Last year, I really wanted to buy a new laptop. I saved a little money each month from my job. After almost a year, I finally had enough to buy it. I felt very proud of myself and enjoyed using the laptop because I worked hard for it.

48 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

I wanted a new phone, so I saved my money for months. Finally, I bought it. I was very happy and excited. It felt good to buy something with my own money.

32 words

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