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CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

CELPIP Speaking Task 6 Sample Answer: Team Member Leaving Early

By David

This prompt asks you, as team leader, to talk to Felix about leaving early to care for his mother, or to ask your team to support him. The tricky part is being honest about the team's complaints while showing real compassion.

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

The question

You are the team leader in the customer service department of a large insurance company. For the past month, one member of your team, Felix, has been leaving 30 minutes early every day to care for his mother, who has dementia, and he has not told your manager. Other team members have noticed, and they are complaining that they have to answer his calls.

Choose ONE:

EITHER

Talk to Felix. Ask him to tell the manager and arrange an official work schedule.

OR

Talk to your team. Explain why they should support Felix for now.

How to plan your answer

What they want

  • Choose ONE: ask Felix to tell the manager and get an official schedule, OR tell your team why they should support Felix for now.
  • Talking to Felix is easier: an official schedule protects him and stops the complaints.

Plan (60 sec)

  1. Greet: "Felix, can we talk privately? I'm not upset with you."
  2. Empathy: caring for your mother with dementia must be very hard.
  3. Problem: leaving 30 minutes early without telling the manager; others cover your calls and are complaining.
  4. Risk: if the manager finds out another way, you could get in trouble.
  5. Solution: ask for flexible hours, like starting 30 minutes earlier; I'll come with you.
  6. Close: "Let's fix this together, so you can focus on your mom."

Useful vocabulary

  • caregiver, dementia, flexible hours, official schedule
  • cover calls, accommodation, be upfront, support

Phrases

  • "I completely understand, but..."
  • "I think it would be best if..."
  • "I'd be happy to..."

Avoid

  • Sounding like you're punishing him; be kind.
  • Talking about Felix instead of to him by name.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Felix, could we talk privately for a minute? I want to start by saying I know you've been leaving early to look after your mom, and I'm really sorry. Caring for someone with dementia is exhausting. But I have to be honest with you. The rest of the team has noticed, and since they've been picking up your calls at the end of the day, some of them are starting to feel resentful. I think the best thing for you is to bring it to our manager and set up an official arrangement. You could start half an hour earlier, take a shorter lunch, or even look into family caregiver leave. Once it's on the record, nobody can question it, and you won't have to feel like you're sneaking out. If it would help, I'm happy to come to that meeting with you and back you up.

147 words

Why it scores high

  • Content/Coherence: "But I have to be honest with you" moves smoothly from sympathy to the problem, keeping trust while being direct.
  • Vocabulary: Precise words such as "exhausting," "resentful," "family caregiver leave" and "sneaking out" capture both the emotions and the practical options.
  • Task Fulfillment: "Once it's on the record, nobody can question it" shows Felix how an official arrangement protects him, making the request persuasive.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Felix, do you have a minute? I wanted to talk to you privately. I know you've been leaving 30 minutes early every day to take care of your mom, and I'm really sorry about her dementia. That must be so hard. But the rest of the team has noticed, and they're answering your calls at the end of the day, so some of them are getting frustrated. I think the best thing is to tell our manager and ask for an official schedule. Maybe you could start earlier in the morning, or take a shorter lunch. That way, you won't have to worry about getting in trouble, and the team will understand. If you want, I can come with you to the meeting.

123 words

What works, and what's missing

  • Content/Coherence: Asking to talk privately and saying "That must be so hard" before raising the complaints shows good sensitivity and structure.
  • Vocabulary: Phrases like "getting frustrated" and "an official schedule" are clear and appropriate, though the wording stays fairly simple.
  • Task Fulfillment: Two schedule options are offered, but the benefit to Felix is only "you won't have to worry about getting in trouble"; a top answer makes it more concrete.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Felix, can I talk with you a minute? I know you leave 30 minutes early every day to help your mother. I'm very sorry about her sickness. But some people in the team notice and they must answer your calls. They are not happy. I think you should tell the manager. Maybe she can give you a new schedule, like start 30 minutes early in the morning. It is better for you, because now if the manager find out, it can be a big problem. I can go with you if you want.

93 words

What holds it back

  • Vocabulary: "I'm very sorry about her sickness" is vague for dementia, and "if the manager find out" shows a recurring agreement error.
  • Content/Coherence: The talk moves logically from the extra calls to telling the manager, but "They are not happy" is blunt beside the earlier sympathy.
  • Task Fulfillment: Starting earlier is one useful idea, but no other options are offered, and the closing "I can go with you if you want" is brief.

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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