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CELPIP Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading

CELPIP Speaking Task 5 Sample Answer: City Transportation Expansion

By David

Your city is considering expanding its transportation system, and two options have been proposed. After making your decision, you’ll persuade your city council why your choice is better.

Choosing time
60 seconds
Preparation
60 seconds
Speaking
60 seconds

The question

Your city is considering expanding its transportation system, and two options have been proposed. After making your decision, you’ll persuade your city council why your choice is better.

Option 1: Expanding the Bus Network

-Adding more bus routes and increasing frequency

-Accessible to most areas of the city

-More affordable than building a new subway system

-Estimated cost: $30,000 for setup

-Expected completion time: 6 months

Option 2: Building a New Subway Line

-New subway route connecting key city areas

-Fast and efficient, especially for longer distances

-Can handle a higher volume of passengers

-Estimated cost: $80,000 for setup

-Expected completion time: 1 year

Your City Council’s Choice:

-Expanding bicycle lanes and bike-sharing programs

-Promotes eco-friendly transportation

-Limited to short-distance travel

-Estimated cost: $20,000 for setup

-Expected completion time: 4 months

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

While building a new subway line is an exciting prospect, I believe expanding the bus network is the most efficient and effective solution for our city’s transportation needs. The bus network expansion is a more affordable and quicker option that can immediately improve access to various parts of the city. It will serve a larger portion of the population and provide a more flexible and accessible solution than the subway. Additionally, expanding bicycle lanes is a great eco-friendly initiative, but it is limited in its reach and effectiveness for long-distance travel. Given the cost, feasibility, and speed of implementation, the bus network expansion is the best choice for our city's transportation future.

112 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

I believe expanding the bus network is the most practical choice for our city. It offers a cost-effective way to improve transportation across the city, especially in areas that may not have easy access to subway lines. The subway is a great idea but comes with a much higher cost and longer setup time. Expanding bicycle lanes is a positive step for eco-friendly transportation, but it does not serve the city’s long-distance travel needs. The bus network is the best option to ensure that all city areas are connected quickly and affordably.

92 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

I think expanding the bus network is the best choice because it is cheaper and faster to set up. The subway is too expensive and will take too long. The bicycle lanes are good but only for short distances. The bus network is better because it will help more people travel around the city.

54 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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