A CELPIP speaking template for each task
Pick a task to see its plan. Each step has a time and one example line that shows how it might sound. Press start, and a timer moves through every step so you feel how long each one lasts.
Task 1: Giving Advice
prep 30 s · speak 90 s- 10 sName the situation“So you’re trying to choose between two job offers.”
- 30 sAdvice 1, with a reason“The first thing I’d do is compare the commute, because an hour a day adds up fast.”
- 30 sAdvice 2, with an example“Another idea is to ask both teams what a normal week looks like. My cousin did that, and it changed her mind.”
- 20 sWrap up and encourage“If you check those two things, I’m sure you’ll pick the right one.”
- If I were you, I’d…
- Have you thought about…?
- It might be worth…
- The main reason is…
- Whatever you decide, …
Task 1: Giving Advice
Prep 30 s · Speak 90 s
- Name the situation10 s
- Advice 1, with a reason30 s
- Advice 2, with an example30 s
- Wrap up and encourage20 s
Ready0:30
Under each plan are two openings. A natural opening answers its prompt straight away. A memorized one could start any answer to any prompt, which is exactly why it sounds learned. Then come five phrases that suit that task: use one or two in an answer, not all five.
Why a plan works better than a memorized script
A script is a set of sentences you learn by heart. A plan is a short list of steps you fill with new words each time. A plan wins for three reasons.
Raters notice memorized speech
Learned lines sound different: faster, flatter and not quite about your prompt. An opening that could fit any task tends to score lower on Task Fulfillment and Content/Coherence.
A script breaks under pressure
Forget one line and the rest falls apart, leaving a silence that hurts more than a simple sentence would. With a plan, you only need to remember your next step.
It hides your real level
Higher levels need precise, natural language that fits the situation. That only shows when you speak freely about whatever prompt is in front of you.
“I think cities should make public transit free, mainly because of cost.”
“This is a very interesting and important topic, and there are many different opinions about it.”
A natural opening gives your opinion and first reason in one sentence. A memorized one uses up several seconds and says nothing about transit.
How to use 30 or 60 seconds of preparation
Most tasks allow 30 seconds to prepare; Tasks 5 and 6 allow 60. Either way, use that time to make choices, not to build full sentences you will then try to remember.
- 0–10 s
Decide your main point
Your advice, your opinion, your choice, or a one-line overview of a picture.
- 10–20 s
Pick two supporting points
Two reasons, two predictions or two parts of a picture, each with one example in mind.
- 20–30 s
Say your first sentence in your head
Recording starts by itself when the time is up, so begin with that sentence straight away, with no silence at the start.
With 60 seconds, do those three things, then spend your extra time on whatever is hardest. In Task 5, decide which two differences to compare and what your listener likes about their option; you pick your own option on an earlier screen, with 60 seconds to decide. In Task 6, decide who to speak to and how to open politely. Our CELPIP test format guide lists every task’s timer.
How to practise a structure until it is automatic
- 1
Learn one task at a time
Start with Tasks 1 and 7. They allow 90 seconds of speaking, longer than any other task, so a weak plan shows quickly.
- 2
Think in steps, not words
Before each try, name your steps in your head, such as “situation, advice, advice, encouragement”. Then answer a new prompt. The steps stay the same; the sentences change every time.
- 3
Use a step timer
Practise with the step timer above until you move to the next step without looking at the clock.
- 4
Change your phrases
Use a different linking phrase each time, so that no single phrase becomes a habit that turns up in every answer.
- 5
Mix tasks up
After a week, practise the tasks in random order, then all 8 in a row in the free mock test.
What to do if you run out of ideas or time
You run out of ideas
Add something from your own life: “When I moved here, I…”. A short personal example fills time with real detail.
You lose your place
Jump to the next step of your plan. A short link such as “Another thing to think about is…” moves you on without a long pause.
Time is running out
Skip to your closing line. One point that is developed and finished usually sounds better than two points cut off.
You finish too early
Explain a consequence (“That would mean…”) or answer the other side (“Some people might say…”). Both add content without repeating yourself.
A pause of a second or two while you think is normal. What makes an answer hard to follow is a long silence, or starting one sentence again and again.
How templates differ from the sample answers
A template is the skeleton: the steps, their timing and one example line for each. The CELPIP speaking sample answers are complete answers to one prompt per task, written to levels 7, 9 and 11, with notes on what raters would notice. Plan with a template, then read a sample answer to see those steps filled in at different levels.
This difference matters when you practise. Reading a sample answer shows what good language looks like. Speaking from a template trains you to produce your own, which is what test day asks of you.
For writing, the writing templates do the same job for the Task 1 email and the Task 2 survey answer. To see whether your structure fits the time, record a try on the speaking checker.
CELPIP speaking templates PDF: all 8 structures
All 8 structures fit on one printable page, with a time for each step. Keep it nearby while you practise, until you no longer need to look at it.
All 8 speaking plans on one sheet
celpip-speaking-templates.pdf · 21 KB · print it and keep it beside you while you practise