CELPIP Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions

CELPIP Speaking Task 7 Sample Answer: Limits on Short-Term Rentals

The question asks whether cities should limit short-term rentals for tourists. A strong answer must take a clear position and explain the housing issue while acknowledging the benefits of tourism.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Structure

Opinion, reasons, conclusion

The question

Answer the following question.

Question: Do you think cities should limit how many homes and apartments can be rented to tourists for short stays? Explain your reasons.

How to plan your answer

What they want

Give your opinion: should cities limit how many homes and apartments can be rented to tourists for short stays? Explain why.

Plan (90 sec)

State your side clearly, e.g. "Yes, I think cities should limit short-term rentals."
Reason 1: housing shortage; every short-term rental is one less home for local families.
Reason 2: rents go up; owners earn more from tourists, so long-term rents rise.
Reason 3: neighbourhoods change; constant strangers, noise and parties bother residents.
Brief nod to the other side: owners can still rent a room or their own home sometimes, so tourism isn't hurt.
Close by restating your opinion.

Useful vocabulary

short-term rental, housing shortage, affordable housing, rent
tourist, landlord, regulate, permit

Phrases

"In my opinion,..."
"The main reason I feel this way is..."
"For example, in my city,..."
"Some people might argue..., but..."

Avoid

Sitting on the fence; pick one side and stay with it.
Only general statements; give a realistic example.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

I strongly believe cities should put limits on short-term rentals, although I don't think an outright ban is the answer. My main concern is housing. In cities like Vancouver and Toronto, families are struggling to find anywhere affordable, yet whole buildings are run like unofficial hotels, because an owner can earn more from tourists in a week than from a tenant in a month. Every one of those units is a home taken off the market. There's also the effect on neighbourhoods. When the house next to mine became a full-time rental, we suddenly had strangers rolling suitcases in every Friday and parties until two in the morning. That said, these rentals do bring money into a city, and renting out a basement suite now and then helps some homeowners afford their mortgage. So I think the sensible approach is to allow short-term rentals only in a person's principal residence, require a licence, and cap the number of nights per year.

161 words

Why it scores high

Vocabulary: "whole buildings are run like unofficial hotels" and "a home taken off the market" are precise, powerful phrases.
Content/Coherence: the speaker develops each point, from housing to neighbourhoods to "That said", before ending with a detailed policy.
Task Fulfillment: the solution, "require a licence, and cap the number of nights per year", is specific and balances both sides.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

In my opinion, cities should definitely limit short-term rentals for tourists. The main reason is the housing crisis. In many Canadian cities, it's really hard to find an apartment, and rents are very high. When owners rent to tourists, they make more money, so fewer homes are left for people who live there. Another reason is the neighbourhood. When I lived in a condo in Toronto, two units were Airbnbs. There were noisy strangers every weekend. Of course, tourism is important for the economy, and some people rent out a room to pay their mortgage. So I don't think cities should ban it completely. For example, they could allow it only in the owner's own home.

116 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: the answer moves clearly from "the housing crisis" to the neighbourhood, then to the other side and a solution.
Task Fulfillment: the condo example, "two units were Airbnbs", supports the opinion, and allowing rentals "only in the owner's own home" is a clear solution.
Vocabulary: the language is clear, but "noisy strangers every weekend" could be more vivid.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

I think yes, cities should limit the short-term rental. First, now it is very hard to find apartment. Many owner rent to tourist because they make more money. So people who live in city cannot find home, and the rent is very expensive. Second, tourist make noise. In my building, there was Airbnb, and every weekend new people come and they have party late at night. But tourist is good for city too. So city can allow some, but not too many.

82 words

What holds it back

Content/Coherence: the position is clear, "cities should limit", and the speaker gives two reasons, housing and noise, with a personal example.
Vocabulary: "many owner rent to tourist" and "tourist make noise" contain plural errors that repeat throughout the answer.
Task Fulfillment: the other side, "tourist is good for city too", is stated, but "allow some, but not too many" is too vague to be a solution.

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