CELPIP Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions

CELPIP Speaking Task 7 Sample Answer: Parents Tracking Teenagers’ Phones

The question asks whether parents should track their teenagers' phones at all times. A strong answer must take a clear side on constant tracking while recognizing when tracking might be useful.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

90 seconds

Structure

Opinion, reasons, conclusion

The question

Answer the following question.

Question: Do you think parents should use phone apps to know where their teenage children are at all times? Explain your reasons.

How to plan your answer

What they want

Give your opinion: should parents use phone apps to know where their teenagers are at all times? Explain why.

Plan (90 sec)

State your side clearly, e.g. "No, I don't think parents should track teens all the time."
Reason 1: trust; secret tracking makes teens feel spied on and damages the relationship.
Reason 2: independence; teens need to learn to make their own decisions.
Reason 3: it can give a false sense of security; a phone's location doesn't show what's really happening.
Brief nod to the other side: sharing location for emergencies or late nights, with the teen's agreement, is fine.
Close by restating your opinion.

Useful vocabulary

location tracking, privacy, trust, independence
keep tabs on, spy on, peace of mind, open communication

Phrases

"In my opinion,..."
"The main reason I feel this way is..."
"For example, when I was a teenager,..."
"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 don't think parents should be tracking their teenagers at all times, although I can see a place for these apps in certain situations. The biggest argument in favour is safety. If your sixteen-year-old is driving back from a friend's place on an icy highway at midnight, being able to see that they've made it home is a real comfort. But constant monitoring sends a message that you don't trust them, and trust is what teenagers need to learn to make good decisions on their own. In a couple of years, they'll be living independently, and if they've never had the chance to manage their own freedom, that transition is going to be a lot harder. There's also a practical problem. Kids who feel watched usually find a way around it, whether that's leaving their phone at a friend's house or turning off location sharing. So I'd say the healthiest approach is an open agreement. The app is there for specific situations, like late nights or road trips, and everyone in the family knows exactly when it's being used.

179 words

Why it scores high

Content/Coherence: the answer develops several points, safety, trust and a "practical problem", and each one is explained before moving on.
Vocabulary: "sends a message that you don't trust them" and "manage their own freedom" express ideas precisely and naturally.
Task Fulfillment: the opinion ends with a clear solution, "an open agreement", and the example of "an icy highway at midnight" makes the safety point real.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

I think parents can use tracking apps, but they shouldn't check where their teenagers are all the time. On one hand, these apps can be very useful for safety. For example, if a teenager is driving home late at night in winter, it's good for parents to know they arrived safely. On the other hand, teenagers need privacy and freedom to grow up. If parents watch them every minute, they will feel that their parents don't trust them. Some teenagers will even leave their phone at a friend's house and go somewhere else. I think the best way is to be honest. Parents and teenagers should agree on when the app is used, like only for late nights or long trips. That way, everyone feels safe, and there's still trust in the family.

133 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: "On one hand" and "On the other hand" give a clear balance between safety and privacy before the speaker suggests honesty.
Task Fulfillment: the example of a teen who will "leave their phone at a friend's house" shows a real downside of constant tracking.
Vocabulary: "privacy and freedom to grow up" is clear, but phrases like "very useful for safety" stay general and could be more precise.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

I think parents can use app to know where teenager is, but not all the time. First, it is about safety. If something bad happen, parents can find their kid fast. But teenager need some freedom too. If parents check phone all the time, the kid feel they don't trust him. When I was teenager, my parents call me if I was late. It was enough. So I think parents can use it only at night or when kid go far. And they must tell kid about the app.

89 words

What holds it back

Content/Coherence: the position is clear, "not all the time", and the answer uses a personal memory of parents who "call me if I was late".
Vocabulary: "If something bad happen", "the kid feel they don't trust him" and "when kid go far" contain agreement and article errors.
Task Fulfillment: the suggestion "they must tell kid about the app" is sensible but is stated without enough reasoning to be convincing.

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