CELPIP Speaking Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation

CELPIP Speaking Task 8 Sample Answer: A Streetlamp Trailing Pedestrians Like a Pet

While walking down a street, you notice a streetlamp that seems to follow people as they walk, almost like a pet dog. Describe this strange phenomenon to a friend.

Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking

60 seconds

Picture

An unusual object or situation

The question

While walking down a street, you notice a streetlamp that seems to follow people as they walk, almost like a pet dog. Describe this strange phenomenon to a friend.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

While strolling along a city street, I observed a bizarre phenomenon: a streetlamp that appeared to track and follow pedestrians as they walked. Its light source moved smoothly and deliberately, mirroring the pace and direction of each person, almost as if it were a loyal pet trailing its owner. This unusual behavior defied all expectations about fixed streetlights and created an eerie yet fascinating spectacle.

65 words

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

As I walked down the street, I noticed something very unusual. A streetlamp seemed to follow the pedestrians as they moved. It moved slowly after them, almost like it was a pet walking beside its owner. It was very strange because streetlamps usually stay still.

45 words

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

I see a streetlamp that moves after people when they walk. It follows them like a dog. It is strange because streetlamps don’t move, but this one does.

28 words

The CLBs are estimates of the level each sample was written at, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB