CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

CELPIP Speaking Task 6 Sample Answer: Moving Furniture Dilemma

By David

You’ve been asked to help a friend move furniture, but you already have plans and can’t fit it in your schedule.

Preparation

60 seconds

Speaking

60 seconds

Choice

Speak to person A or person B

The question

You’ve been asked to help a friend move furniture, but you already have plans and can’t fit it in your schedule.

Choose ONE: EITHER Talk to your friend and explain that you can’t help move the furniture because of your other commitments, but offer to help in another way. OR Talk to another friend and explain why you think you should just cancel your plans to help with the furniture move.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

I understand that my friend really needs help moving the furniture, but unfortunately, I already have other plans that I can’t cancel. I’ll explain this to my friend politely and apologize for not being able to assist. However, I’ll offer to help in another way, such as running errands or offering advice on how to arrange the furniture. I want to be supportive, but I also need to respect my own commitments.

72 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

I feel bad that I can’t help my friend move the furniture, but I already have plans. I’ll talk to them and explain the situation. I’ll offer to help in another way, maybe by coming over afterward to help clean or organize. I want to be helpful, but I need to honor my prior commitments.

55 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

I’m going to tell my friend I can’t help with the move because I already have plans. I’ll apologize and offer to help with something else, like providing lunch or giving advice. I wish I could help more, but I just don’t have time.

44 words

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