80 CELPIP Speaking Practice Questions for All 8 Tasks

How to use these questions#

Practice only works if it feels like the test. For each question:

1. Set two timers: the preparation time and the speaking time listed for the task.
2. Prepare in keywords, not sentences. Write three or four words for your main ideas.
3. Record yourself and keep talking until the timer ends.
4. Listen back once and check three things: Did you answer every part? Did each idea have a reason or example? Did you use the full time?
5. Answer the same question again, fixing one thing. Then move on to a new question.

Raters score four things: content and coherence, vocabulary, listenability (pronunciation, rhythm and grammar) and task fulfillment. Our speaking guide has a full sample answer for every task if you want to hear what a strong answer looks like first.

These questions were written for this guide in the style of CELPIP. They are not official or leaked test questions.

Task 1: Giving advice#

Time: 30 seconds to prepare, 90 seconds to speak. Structure: greet the person, give two or three pieces of advice with a reason each, close with encouragement.

1. Your friend wants to start exercising but says she never has time. Give her some advice.
2. Your neighbour is moving to Canada in January and has never lived somewhere cold. Give him advice on preparing for winter.
3. Your cousin has just finished high school and can’t decide whether to go to college or start working. Give him some advice.
4. Your coworker spends too much money on takeout coffee and lunches. Give her advice on saving money at work.
5. A friend has been offered a job in another city but is worried about leaving family behind. Give him some advice.
6. Your sister wants to buy her first used car. Give her advice on what to check before buying.
7. Your friend is having trouble sleeping because of stress. Give him some advice.
8. A new coworker feels shy in team meetings and never shares her ideas. Give her some advice.
9. Your friend wants to learn to cook but has never cooked before. Give him advice on how to start.
10. Your neighbour’s teenage son spends most of the day on his phone. Give your neighbour some advice.

Task 2: Talking about a personal experience#

Time: 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Structure: when and where, what happened in order, how it ended and how you felt or what you learned. Tell one story, not three.

1. Talk about a time you helped someone you didn’t know. What happened?
2. Describe a time when a plan you made did not go as expected.
3. Talk about a time you learned a new skill. How did you learn it, and was it difficult?
4. Describe a day you will always remember. Why was it special?
5. Talk about a time you had to make a difficult decision.
6. Describe a time when you got lost or could not find something important.
7. Talk about a time someone gave you advice that turned out to be useful.
8. Describe a time you had a disagreement with a friend or family member. How did you resolve it?
9. Talk about a trip that taught you something about yourself.
10. Describe a time you were proud of something you did at work or school.

Task 3: Describing a scene#

Time: 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Structure: say what the place is, then describe left to right or front to back: who is there, what they are doing, what they look like. On the test you see a picture; here, picture the scene in your mind and describe it as if the listener can’t see it.

1. A busy farmers’ market on a sunny Saturday morning.
2. A family having a picnic in a park, with a dog running nearby.
3. A hospital waiting room with several people waiting.
4. A kitchen during a family dinner party.
5. A bus stop on a rainy evening.
6. A children’s birthday party in a backyard.
7. A hardware store with customers and staff.
8. An airport check-in area during a holiday weekend.
9. A community centre where people are taking a yoga class.
10. A snowy street where neighbours are shovelling their driveways.

Task 4: Making predictions#

Time: 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Structure: two or three predictions about what will most probably happen next, each with a reason from the scene. Use will probably, is going to and might.

Use the same ten scenes from task 3, plus a detail that suggests what comes next:

1. At the farmers’ market, a child is reaching for a pile of apples at the bottom of a display.
2. At the picnic, dark clouds are moving in and the dog is heading for the food.
3. In the waiting room, a nurse is walking in with a clipboard and an elderly man is trying to stand up.
4. At the dinner party, the host is carrying a very full pot and a guest is walking backwards towards her.
5. At the bus stop, the bus is arriving and a man is running from across the street.
6. At the birthday party, a parent is lighting candles and a child is holding a water balloon.
7. In the hardware store, a customer is reaching for a box on the top shelf.
8. At the airport, a traveller is looking at his phone and the screen says his flight is delayed.
9. In the yoga class, a late student is opening the door and the instructor is starting the class.
10. On the snowy street, one neighbour’s car is stuck and another neighbour is watching.

Task 5: Comparing and persuading#

Time: 60 seconds to choose, 60 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Structure: say which option you chose, give two or three advantages of yours, and explain why it beats the other person’s option. Mention their option by name.

1. Your family is buying a pet. You prefer a cat (low cost, independent). Your partner prefers a dog (active, needs walks). Persuade your partner.
2. Your office is choosing a team-building day. You prefer a cooking class ($60 each, indoors, three hours). Your manager prefers a hiking trip (free, all day, weather dependent). Persuade your manager.
3. You and a friend are renting an apartment. You prefer a downtown studio ($1,900, near work, no parking). Your friend prefers a suburban two-bedroom ($1,800, 45-minute commute, parking). Persuade your friend.
4. Your community is spending a grant. You prefer free evening English classes. Your neighbour prefers new benches and lights in the park. Persuade your neighbour.
5. Your family is buying a car. You prefer a used hybrid (good on fuel, 80,000 km). Your spouse prefers a new compact car (warranty, higher price). Persuade your spouse.
6. Your friend is planning a birthday dinner. You prefer a quiet restaurant. Your friend prefers a party at home. Persuade your friend.
7. Your school is choosing a fundraiser. You prefer a bake sale. Another parent prefers a fun run. Persuade the other parent.
8. Your company is replacing laptops. You prefer a cheaper model with a three-year warranty. Your coworker prefers a faster, more expensive model with a one-year warranty. Persuade your coworker.
9. Your family is choosing a summer camp for your daughter. You prefer a sports day camp close to home. Your partner prefers an overnight arts camp two hours away. Persuade your partner.
10. Your sports team is buying new uniforms. You prefer a basic set that everyone can afford. The captain prefers a premium set with custom names. Persuade the captain.

Task 6: Dealing with a difficult situation#

Time: 60 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Structure: choose who to talk to, explain the situation politely, give a reason, and offer a solution or compromise. Tone matters as much as the words.

1. Your friend lent you a camera and you broke it. Either call your friend to explain and offer to pay, or call the repair shop to ask for a quick repair before telling him. Choose one.
2. Your manager asked you to lead a project, but you already have too much work. Either talk to your manager about your workload, or ask a coworker to share the project.
3. Your neighbour plays loud music late every night. Either talk to the neighbour directly, or write to the building manager.
4. Two close friends invited you to events on the same evening. Choose one friend to explain why you can’t come.
5. You found out a coworker has been taking credit for your ideas. Either talk to the coworker, or talk to your supervisor.
6. Your roommate hasn’t paid his share of the rent for two months. Either talk to your roommate, or ask the landlord for more time.
7. Your child’s teacher wants a meeting during your work hours. Either ask the teacher for another time, or ask your boss for time off.
8. You ordered a cake for a party, and it arrived with the wrong name on it. Either call the bakery, or tell the host it can’t be fixed.
9. Your sister wants to borrow your car for a week, but you need it for work. Either explain to your sister, or ask a coworker for rides.
10. You promised to help a friend move on Saturday, but you are now sick. Either call your friend, or ask another friend to go in your place.

Task 7: Expressing opinions#

Time: 30 seconds to prepare, 90 seconds to speak. Structure: state your opinion in the first sentence, give two or three reasons with an example each, then restate your opinion. Pick the side that is easier to support, not the one you “really” believe.

1. Should cities make public transit free for everyone? Explain your opinion.
2. Some people think children should not have smartphones until age 14. Do you agree or disagree?
3. Is it better to work from home or in an office? Explain your opinion.
4. Should high school students have to do community volunteer work to graduate?
5. Some people believe tipping in restaurants should be replaced by higher wages. Do you agree?
6. Should junk food be banned from schools?
7. Is it better to rent or to buy a home? Explain your opinion.
8. Some say people should retire at 60 to give younger workers more jobs. Do you agree?
9. Should every adult learn basic first aid?
10. Is it better to live in a small town or a big city? Explain your opinion.

Task 8: Describing an unusual situation#

Time: 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak. Structure: say what the object is, then describe its size, shape, colour, material and how it works, as if the listener can’t see it. Finish with what you want them to decide.

1. You are in a furniture store and see a sofa that turns into a bunk bed. Call your roommate and describe it.
2. You see a backpack with a built-in folding chair. Call your friend who goes camping and describe it.
3. At a market, you find a teapot shaped like a small house with a chimney for the steam. Call your mother and describe it.
4. You see a bicycle helmet with lights and turn signals. Call your brother, who rides to work, and describe it.
5. In a toy store, you see a children’s raincoat with a built-in umbrella hood. Call your sister and describe it.
6. You see a dog bed shaped like a small car. Call your neighbour, who has a puppy, and describe it.
7. You find a lamp that is also a plant pot. Call your coworker, who is decorating the office, and describe it.
8. You see a suitcase that can be ridden like a scooter. Call your friend, who travels often, and describe it.
9. In an electronics store, you see an alarm clock that rolls away from the bed when it rings. Call your roommate, who always oversleeps, and describe it.
10. At a garage sale, you find a picnic table with a built-in cooler in the middle. Call your father and describe it.

A 20-minute daily routine#

That covers every task at least twice a week. In the week before the test, do all eight tasks in order once a day, so 15 minutes of speaking in a row feels normal. Our four-week study plan shows where speaking fits with the other skills, and our CLB 9 guide shows what moves an answer from 8 to 9.

Sources#

Task names, number of tasks and speaking time: celpip.ca, CELPIP-General LS format and celpip.ca, overview. Rating criteria: celpip.ca, performance standards. Preparation and speaking times per task: Paragon’s official free sample test on celpip.ca. Practice questions written by the MapleSpeak team. Checked October 9, 2026.

Questions