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CELPIP Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading

CELPIP Speaking Task 5 Sample Answer: Course to Upgrade Job Skills

By David

This prompt asks you to convince your manager that the evening college certificate beats the much cheaper online course he suggests. The tricky part is answering his obvious point, the $600 price, without dismissing it.

Choosing time
60 seconds
Preparation
60 seconds
Speaking
60 seconds

The question

You work as an administrative assistant at a construction company in Burnaby, and you would like to become a project coordinator. Your manager, Mr. Delgado, has offered to pay up to $2,500 for a course that will help you take on more responsibility at work. You have a 9-year-old daughter who plays soccer on Saturdays. You found two suitable options. Using the pictures and information, choose the option that you prefer. In the next section, you will need to persuade Mr. Delgado that your choice is the better choice.

If you do not choose an option, the computer will choose one for you. You do not need to speak for this part.

Evening Certificate at a Local CollegeEvening Certificate at a Local College
  • $2,300 for a 12-week project management certificate
  • two evenings a week in a classroom, 40 minutes from home by bus
  • well known by employers, but includes weekly group assignments
Weekend Training Program in Downtown VancouverWeekend Training Program in Downtown Vancouver
  • $2,500 for four full Saturdays of hands-on training
  • small groups of 10, taught by experienced project managers
  • you would miss your daughter’s soccer games for a month
Online Self-Paced CourseOnline Self-Paced Course
  • $600 for 60 hours of video lessons and quizzes
  • study any time, with up to one year to finish
  • no live teacher; questions are answered by email within 3 days
Mr. Delgado suggests taking the online self-paced course. Persuade Mr. Delgado that the option you chose is more suitable by comparing the two.

How to plan your answer

What they want

  • Pick a course to help you become a project coordinator (budget $2,500; your daughter plays soccer on Saturdays), then persuade Mr. Delgado it beats his idea: an online self-paced course ($600).
  • The evening college certificate ($2,300) is easier to argue: well known by employers, live teachers, and no missed soccer.

Plan (60 sec)

  1. Acknowledge: "Mr. Delgado, the online course is cheaper, I agree."
  2. Value: a recognized certificate shows the company real skills; video quizzes don't.
  3. Learning: a live instructor answers questions right away, not in 3 days by email.
  4. Discipline: 12 weeks with a fixed schedule means I'll finish, not drag it out for a year.
  5. Teamwork: weekly group assignments are exactly what a coordinator does.
  6. Close: "It's still under budget, and you'll see results sooner."

Useful vocabulary

  • certificate, recognized, instructor, hands-on
  • fixed schedule, group work, under budget, worth the investment

Phrases

  • "I see your point, but..."
  • "Compared to the online course,..."
  • "Most importantly,..."

Avoid

  • Only describing your option; compare it with the online course.
  • Ignoring your downside: 40 minutes by bus, two evenings a week.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Mr. Delgado, I really appreciate the company's support, and I understand why the online course seems appealing. It's only $600, and it's very flexible. But I believe the evening certificate at the college would be a much better investment. The online course doesn't have a live instructor, and waiting up to three days for an email reply would really slow me down, especially on topics like budgeting and scheduling that I've never done before. The college program, on the other hand, is a recognized project management certificate that employers know and respect, and at $2,300, it still fits within the budget. I'd also argue that the weekly group assignments are a strength, not a drawback. Coordinating with a team is exactly what I'd be doing here. And with a firm 12-week schedule, I'd be ready to take on new responsibilities by spring.

142 words

Why it scores high

  • Content/Coherence: It concedes the rival's strengths first, "It's only $600, and it's very flexible," then shows why the certificate is "a much better investment."
  • Vocabulary: Persuasive turns like "I'd also argue" and "a strength, not a drawback" reframe the group assignments, turning a listed weakness into a selling point.
  • Task Fulfillment: Linking the course to real needs, "topics like budgeting and scheduling" and being ready "by spring," makes the choice personal and convincing.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Mr. Delgado, I appreciate your suggestion, but I think the evening certificate at the local college is a better choice than the online course. First, the online course has no live teacher, and questions take three days to answer. With the college course, I can ask the instructor right away in class. Second, the college certificate is well known by employers, so it will be more valuable for our company. Also, the weekly group assignments are good practice, because a project coordinator works with teams every day. It costs $2,300, which is still within the $2,500 budget, and I can finish it in just 12 weeks.

106 words

What works, and what's missing

  • Content/Coherence: "First" and "Second" organise a clear contrast, and the three-day email delay versus asking "the instructor right away" is well made.
  • Vocabulary: Phrases like "within the $2,500 budget" and "more valuable for our company" frame the choice in terms the manager cares about.
  • Task Fulfillment: The online course's real appeal, its low price and flexibility, is never acknowledged, so the argument feels one-sided next to a top answer.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Mr. Delgado, thank you for paying for my course. I think the evening certificate at college is better than the online course. Online course is cheap, only $600. But there is no teacher. If I have question, I must wait three days. The college course have teacher in class two evening every week. Also employers know this certificate. The price is $2,300, it is less than $2,500. And there is group work, it is good practice for project coordinator.

79 words

What holds it back

  • Content/Coherence: Points like "there is no teacher" and "employers know this certificate" are listed without explaining why they matter for becoming a project coordinator.
  • Vocabulary: "The college course have teacher in class two evening every week" shows agreement and plural errors right in the main argument.
  • Task Fulfillment: The cost point stops at "$2,300, it is less than $2,500" and never explains why spending far more than $600 is worth it.

These are original CELPass examples written at each level. The CLBs are our estimates, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB

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