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CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

CELPIP Speaking Task 6 Sample Answer: Being Late to Work Due to Traffic

By David

You're en route to work but stuck in heavy traffic from an accident, making you late for a team shift. Your colleague is covering and might be affected. You need to notify them promptly to coordinate.

Preparation
60 seconds
Speaking
60 seconds
Choice
Speak to person A or person B

The question

You're en route to work but stuck in heavy traffic from an accident, making you late for a team shift. Your colleague is covering and might be affected. You need to notify them promptly to coordinate.

Choice:

Either

Talk to the colleague and explain the traffic delay, estimating arrival time and offering to swap shifts later.

OR

Talk to the colleague and explain the accident cause, suggesting they handle key tasks until you arrive.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

I thought it best to alert you immediately—I'm delayed en route owing to extraordinary traffic buildup triggered by a serious collision ahead, which has halted progress entirely despite my early departure. I anticipate this adding roughly 40 minutes to my commute, and I apologize for the ripple effect on our shared responsibilities, as teamwork hinges on punctuality. In the interim, prioritize the client calls if they arise, and upon arrival, I'll dive straight in to alleviate your load, perhaps even extending my hours today. Your understanding bolsters our efficiency, and I'll keep you posted on updates.

96 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Morning, just a heads-up that I'm running late due to severe traffic congestion from a multi-car accident on the highway—it's at a standstill. I estimate arriving in about 45 minutes, and I'm sorry for any strain this puts on you. To help, feel free to delegate any urgent items, and I'll make it up by taking your break later. Appreciate your support in the meantime.

65 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hey, I'll be late to work today because of bad traffic. There's an accident on the road. Sorry about it. I should be there in an hour. Thanks for covering.

30 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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