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CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

CELPIP Speaking Task 6 Sample Answer: Postponing a Client Meeting

By David

You've scheduled a crucial meeting with a client, but an internal emergency requires your attention, forcing postponement. The client is time-sensitive with their project. You must reschedule diplomatically.

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

The question

You've scheduled a crucial meeting with a client, but an internal emergency requires your attention, forcing postponement. The client is time-sensitive with their project. You must reschedule diplomatically.

Choice:

Either

Talk to the client and explain the internal issue, proposing a new date and offering virtual alternatives if needed.

OR

Talk to the client and explain the urgency of the postponement, committing to preparatory materials in advance.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

I must inform you with sincere regret that today's meeting needs postponement owing to a pressing internal crisis that has arisen unexpectedly, necessitating my full involvement to safeguard ongoing operations. Recognizing the potential setback to your timeline and our collaborative momentum, I extend profound apologies and assure you this is not taken lightly. To mitigate, I suggest reconvening at your earliest convenience next week, ideally Wednesday morning, while providing comprehensive briefing documents in advance for your review. This approach maintains progress, and your accommodation reinforces our productive partnership—please confirm availability.

90 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Good afternoon, I'm reaching out to regrettably postpone our meeting due to an urgent internal matter that demands immediate resolution. I understand the timing is critical for your project, and I apologize for the shift. Let's aim for the same time next Tuesday—does that suit? I'll send over agenda updates beforehand to keep things moving. Thank you for your flexibility.

60 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Hi, we have to postpone the meeting. There's an emergency here. Sorry for that. Can we do it next week? Let me know.

23 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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