CELPIP Speaking

Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation

By David

Describe a strange object or scene in a picture to someone who cannot see it, usually on the phone.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

60 seconds

Picture

An unusual object or situation

What happens in Task 8

You explain what you see so the listener can picture it, often to help them decide something.
Shape, size, colour, material and purpose all matter.

Tips for a higher score

Begin with what the object looks like overall, then describe its parts.
Compare it with familiar things: "it's about the size of a suitcase".
Say why it is unusual and end with your recommendation.

Common mistakes

Using vague words like "thing" and "stuff" instead of precise vocabulary.

Task 8 template

Opening. Greet the listener and say what you've found and why you're calling. About 10 seconds.
- Hi Alex, I'm at the store right now and I've found something really unusual.
- You won't believe what I'm looking at.
- I'm calling because I think I found the perfect...
- I need your opinion on something.
Overall appearance. Describe the object as a whole: size, shape, colour and material, compared with something familiar. About 15 seconds.
- It's about the size of a...
- It's shaped like a...
- It's made of...
- It looks a bit like a... but...
Parts and details. Move to the specific parts, saying where each one is and what it does. About 15–20 seconds.
- On the top, there's...
- At the bottom,...
- On each side, it has...
- Attached to the front,...
What makes it unusual. Explain what is strange or special about it and how it's used. About 10 seconds.
- What's really strange is that...
- The funny part is...
- I've never seen anything like it because...
- It seems to be designed for...
Recommendation. Finish with what the listener should do, usually whether to buy it, and ask for their view. About 10 seconds.
- I really think we should get it because...
- Honestly, I'd skip this one.
- What do you think?
- Should I go ahead and buy it?

Task 8 vocabulary and useful phrases

Size and shape

about the size of a · roughly as tall as · rectangular · oval · cone-shaped · tiny · bulky · flat · curved

Colour and pattern

bright orange · pale blue · striped · polka-dotted · see-through · shiny silver · dark green with yellow trim · multicoloured

Materials

made of wood · plastic · metal · glass · rubber · fabric · leather · wicker

Parts and position

a handle on top · wheels at the bottom · a lid that flips open · a strap on each side · a button on the front · built-in · detachable · attached to

Comparing with familiar things

It looks like a cross between a... and a... · It reminds me of · kind of like · similar to · the same shape as · Imagine a..., but...

Recommending

It would be perfect for · I think it's worth it. · It's a bit pricey, but... · I'm not sure it's practical. · We should definitely get it. · Let me know if you want me to grab it.

Sample question and answer

Your friend is looking for a gift for her niece, who loves reading. In a store you see an unusual item. Call your friend, describe it, and tell her whether she should buy it.

The picture shows a bright purple, child-sized armchair shaped like an open book. The seat and back are padded like thick pages, a small reading lamp shaped like a bookmark is attached to one arm, and narrow shelves for books are built into both sides.

Sample answer (transcript): estimated CLB 9–10

Hi Jen, I'm at the bookstore, and I think I just found the perfect gift for your niece. It's a kids' armchair, but it's shaped like a giant open book. It's about the size of a small beanbag chair, so it would fit nicely in the corner of her bedroom, and it's bright purple. The seat and the back are padded to look like thick pages, so it looks really comfy. On one arm, there's a little reading lamp shaped like a bookmark, and on both sides there are narrow built-in shelves where she could keep the books she's reading. What's really unusual is that it's a chair, a lamp and a bookcase all in one. Honestly, for a kid who loves reading, I think it's a great choice. Should I go ahead and grab it for you?

Why it scores well

Task Fulfillment: Describes the object clearly enough to picture and ends with a clear recommendation, as the prompt asks.
Content/Coherence: Goes from overall shape and size to each part, then explains what makes it unusual before recommending it.
Vocabulary: Comparisons and precise words such as "about the size of a small beanbag chair", "padded" and "built-in shelves".
Listenability: Natural phone-call phrasing and accurate grammar, delivered in clear, well-paced sentences.

The same question at a lower level

Sample answer (transcript): estimated CLB 5–6

Hi, I find a very strange chair. It is purple. It looks like a book. It is for kids, it's small. There is a lamp, on the side. And there is a place for books. The chair is soft, I think. It's a very interesting thing. Your niece likes reading, so maybe you buy it. I think it's good. Okay, bye.

What holds it back

Task Fulfillment: Describes the object and gives a recommendation, but in so little detail that the friend couldn't really picture it.
Content/Coherence: No overall size comparison, no explanation of how the parts fit together, and no real reason behind "maybe you buy it".
Vocabulary: Vague words ("thing", "a place for books", "good") where "built-in shelves", "padded" and "bookmark-shaped lamp" would be precise.
Listenability: Short, broken sentences and a tense error ("I find") make the call sound rushed.

These are original CELPass examples. The CLBs are our estimates, not official CELPIP scores.

Task 8 practice questions

Your friend is looking for a birthday gift for her dad, who loves camping. In a store you see an unusual item: a backpack with a small folding chair built into the frame and a solar panel on the front flap. Call your friend, describe the item, and say whether she should buy it.
Your brother wants a new desk for his small apartment. At a furniture store you find a bright yellow desk shaped like a half circle that folds flat against the wall and has a bookshelf on the underside. Call your brother and describe it so he can decide.
Your coworker is planning the office holiday party and asked you to look for decorations. You find a tall, cone-shaped tree made entirely of recycled plastic bottles, with tiny lights inside each bottle. Call your coworker and describe it.
Your sister has a new puppy. At a pet store you see a strange round bed with a clear plastic dome on top, a small fan in the side, and a built-in water bowl. Call your sister, describe it, and say what you think.
Your friend is looking for a way to get around the city without a car. At a bike shop you find a three-wheeled bicycle with a large wooden box in the front, a rain cover and a small motor under the seat. Call your friend and describe it.

Speaking Task 8 questions, answered

How long is CELPIP Speaking Task 8?

CELPIP Speaking Task 8 gives you 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. Use the preparation time to decide the order you'll describe things in and what you'll recommend.

How is Task 8 different from Task 3?

Task 8 focuses on one unusual object or situation, while Task 3 describes a whole busy scene. In Task 8 you need precise details about shape, size, colour, material and purpose, and you usually end with a recommendation. In Task 3 you describe many people and their actions.

What should I describe first in Task 8?

Start with the overall shape and size, compared with something familiar. Then move to the individual parts and what they do. This general-to-specific order helps the listener build a clear picture.

Do I need to make a recommendation in CELPIP Speaking Task 8?

If the prompt asks you to help the listener decide, yes, finish with a clear recommendation. It shows you've completed the task and gives the answer a natural ending. Even when it isn't asked for, a short opinion about the object makes a strong close.

What if I don't know what the object is called?

You don't need its name, because Task 8 objects are usually unusual on purpose. Describe what it looks like and what it seems to be for, for example "it's like a backpack with a chair attached". Precise descriptive words score better than guessing a name.

More CELPIP Speaking

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