CELPIP speaking evaluation: record and check your answer

Record an answer against a task timer

1. 1

   Pick a task and a prompt

   You get one original prompt per task. Tasks 3, 4 and 8 describe their picture in words, since this page shows no image.

2. 2

   Prepare

   A countdown shows your preparation time: 30 or 60 seconds, depending on your task. Our CELPIP test format guide lists every task’s timer.

3. 3

   Speak

   Recording runs for your task’s speaking time, 60 or 90 seconds. On test day, recording starts by itself when preparation ends, so practise starting straight away.

4. 4

   Play it back

   Listen once straight through, as a rater would, before you judge any single sentence.

5. 5

   Read your timing check

   It shows how much of your speaking time you used, and your longest silence.

What this CELPIP speaking checker does and does not do

This checker is a practice recorder with a timing check. It does not listen for grammar or judge your level, and your recording never leaves your device.

• On this page

  Free, with no account

  Countdown, recording, playback and an instant timing check, for any of our prompts. Your recording stays in your browser, and you can record again as often as you like.

• Coming soon

  AI speaking feedback

  An AI estimate of your speaking level, with comments on Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability and Task Fulfillment, is coming soon. Until then, use the self-check below and compare with our sample answers.

• Keep in mind

  Not an official score

  The timing check is not part of the official test, and no practice tool gives an official score. Only the official CELPIP test does.

With a free account you can also practise each speaking task in full, with its real timers. Your practice recordings are saved to your account, so you can replay them later.

How to judge your own recording

Play your recording back and answer these questions honestly. Each group matches one thing raters score, and every “no” tells you what to fix next.

• Content/Coherence

  Did I make my main point in my first sentence or two? Did each point have a reason or an example? Could a listener tell when I moved on to a new point?

• Vocabulary

  Did I use exact words for this situation, such as “refund” instead of “money back”? Did I repeat any word three or more times? Did I link ideas with more than “and” and “but”?

• Listenability

  Would a stranger understand every sentence the first time? Did I stop and restart sentences often? Was my pace steady, neither rushed nor dragging?

• Task Fulfillment

  Did I do what my task asked: advise, describe, predict, persuade or give an opinion? Did I speak to the person my prompt names? Did I use most of my time?

Then compare your answer with our speaking sample answers, which show one prompt per task at levels 7, 9 and 11, with notes on each.

How to use your timing check

The timing check measures two things: how much of your speaking time you used, and your longest silence. Neither is a score, but both show habits a listener notices.

• Time used

  Aim to use nearly all of it. Stopping well before your time is up usually means a point was left undeveloped. If you often finish early, plan one more example for each point.

• Longest silence

  A pause of a second or two between ideas is normal. A much longer one usually means you lost your plan. Keep your next step ready, and move on with a short link such as “Another thing is…”.

• Time is not quality

  A full minute that misses the task still misses it. Use your timing check together with the self-check list above.

For a plan that fits each task’s time step by step, use our speaking templates.

How to improve after each recording

1. 1

   Listen twice

   First for your plan: was your main point clear, and did each point have support? Then for the language: repeated words, restarts and slips.

2. 2

   Choose one fix

   Pick one change that would help most, such as “give an example for my second reason”. Trying to fix everything at once rarely works.

3. 3

   Record again straight away

   Use that prompt again while it is fresh, then compare both timing checks.

4. 4

   Move to a new prompt

   After two or three tries, switch prompts. Your goal is a plan that works on any prompt, not one perfect answer. When single tasks go well, take all 8 in a row in the free mock test.

5. 5

   Keep a short log

   Note the task, the time you used, your longest silence and the one fix you chose. After a week, the log shows which habits have changed and which have not.

For writing, our writing checker runs instant checks on Task 1 emails and Task 2 survey answers, and a free account adds AI writing feedback.