MapleSpeakHow task 7 works#
The CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS speaking tests have the same eight tasks, and task 7 is Expressing Opinions. A question appears on the screen, a preparation timer runs for 30 seconds, then a recording timer runs for 90 seconds while you speak into the microphone. There is no examiner; you speak to the computer.
The question is always about an opinion. Paragon’s own practice sheet for task 7, for example, asks whether reducing pollution is only the government’s responsibility and tells you to explain your reasons. Other prompts ask whether you agree with a statement, whether a plan is a good idea, or which of two options is better. The subjects are everyday ones: work, money, school, technology, family, the neighbourhood.
| Part of task 7 | What happens |
|---|---|
| Preparation, 30 seconds | The question is on the screen. Decide your side and note two or three reasons. |
| Recording, 90 seconds | The microphone records. Speak until the timer runs out. |
| Scoring | Trained raters score the recording on four categories, and the task counts toward your single CELPIP speaking level. |
Ninety seconds is the longest recording time of the eight tasks , shared only with task 1; the other six tasks record for 60 seconds. That is the whole difficulty of task 7: the question is easy to understand, but an answer that stops at 45 seconds has given the raters half of what they need. Our guide to all eight tasks shows how task 7 fits with the others.
What the raters score#
Paragon publishes the four categories raters use for every speaking task:
| Category | What they listen for | In task 7, that means… |
|---|---|---|
| Content and coherence | Number, quality and organisation of ideas; examples and supporting details | a clear position, reasons that are developed with examples, and an order the listener can follow |
| Vocabulary | Word choice, precision, range, suitable use of words and phrases | precise words for your reasons (commute, budget, pressure) rather than good and bad everywhere |
| Listenability | Rhythm, pronunciation and intonation; pauses and self-correction; grammar and variety of sentence structure | few long pauses, sentences that connect (because, which means, even though) and no restarts |
| Task fulfilment | Relevance, completeness, tone, length | you answered this question, with your opinion and your reasons, for the full time |
Notice that length is in the last category and examples and supporting details in the first. Both point the same way: the goal is not more reasons but fuller ones. A reason with a specific example takes 25 to 30 seconds to say well. Two of those, plus an opening and a closing, is 90 seconds.
A four-part structure that fills 90 seconds#
Use the 30 seconds of preparation for two decisions: which side, and which two reasons. Write the reasons as two or three words each on your notepaper. Don’t write sentences; you won’t have time to read them. Then speak in four parts:
| Part | Time | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Position | 5–10 s | Answer the question in one sentence. “I think…”, “I agree that…”, “In my opinion, the better option is…” |
| 2. First reason + example | 25–30 s | Name the reason, then make it real: a person, a place, a number, a time. |
| 3. Second reason + example | 25–30 s | Same again, with a different kind of reason (money and health, for example, not money and money). |
| 4. Other side + close | 15–20 s | Admit one point for the other view, say why your side still wins, and repeat your position in new words. |
Phrases that do the connecting work:
If you have time left after part 4, add a third reason or a second example. If you are running out of time in part 3, skip the concession and go straight to the closing sentence. The one thing to avoid is silence: the timer keeps running, and a pause of five seconds is five seconds of nothing for the raters to score.
Three sample answers#
All three answers were written for this guide to show the structure at different levels. They are not official samples, and the levels are our estimates, not ratings.
Some people think children should be given pocket money only when they do chores at home. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your reasons.
I agree that children should get pocket money for doing chores. The first reason is that it teaches them about work. When I was a child, my parents gave me money for washing the car, and I learned that money comes from working, not from asking. The second reason is that chores help the family. If children do nothing at home, the parents have to do everything after work, and they are tired. When children help, everybody has more free time. Some people say children should help without money, and that is true in some ways, but a small payment makes it more interesting for them. So, in my opinion, pocket money for chores is a good idea for both the children and the parents.
I’d agree with that, mainly because it links money to effort early on. My brother gives his daughter five dollars a week for emptying the dishwasher and feeding the dog, and at nine she already saves for things instead of asking for them, which is more than I could say for myself at that age. The second reason is that it makes chores a normal part of family life rather than a punishment. If the rule is simply “everyone contributes, and you earn something for it”, there’s far less arguing than when parents hand out money for nothing and then complain that nobody helps. I do understand the other view, that family members should help each other without being paid, and I wouldn’t pay a child for every little thing, like putting their own plate away. But for real jobs around the house, a small, regular amount teaches budgeting and responsibility at the same time, so overall I think it’s the right approach.
The second answer is not longer because it is faster; it is fuller. Each reason gets a concrete picture (five dollars, the dishwasher, age nine), the concession is specific (not every little thing), and the sentences connect with mainly because, rather than, which is more than. The first answer does the task correctly with simpler sentences and repeated words (children, money, chores), which is roughly what the difference between CLB 7 and CLB 9 sounds like. Our CLB 9 guide goes deeper into that gap.
Your city has money for one project: free public Wi-Fi in all public spaces, or more frequent buses. Which is the better choice? Explain why.
I think more frequent buses would be the better choice for most people. The main reason is that buses solve a problem that affects everyone every day. In my area the bus comes every 30 minutes, so if you miss one, you’re late for work or you pay for a taxi. If it came every ten minutes, people could leave the car at home, which also means less traffic and cleaner air. Another reason is that free Wi-Fi mostly helps people who are already outside with time to spare. Most of us have data on our phones, and the library and the coffee shops already offer free internet. I understand that Wi-Fi is cheaper to set up and looks modern, and students would use it. But a bus that actually arrives changes how people live, so I would spend the money on buses first and think about Wi-Fi later.
Six mistakes that cost points in task 7#
- Sitting on the fence. “Both sides have good points” for 90 seconds never answers the question. Pick a side in the first sentence; you can be fair to the other side in part 4.
- Listing instead of developing. Four reasons of ten seconds each sound like a shopping list. Two reasons with an example each score better on content and coherence.
- Memorised openings. “This is a very controversial topic in today’s modern society, and people have different opinions about it” is 15 seconds of nothing. Start with your answer.
- Stopping early. Length is part of task fulfilment. If you finish at 50 seconds, add an example or a third reason; never sit in silence.
- Drifting off the question. A question about pocket money for chores is not an invitation to talk about your childhood in general. Every reason should end by pointing back at the question.
- Reading your notes. Two-word notes keep you talking; full sentences make you read in a flat voice, which hurts listenability. Keep your eyes on the screen and your notes for the reasons only.
25 practice questions for task 7#
These questions were written for this guide in the style of the task; they are not official questions. For each one, give yourself 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak, record it, and listen back for the four parts. The 80 practice questions for all eight tasks cover the rest of the test.
Work and money
- Some companies let employees work from home every day. Do you think this is good for employees? Explain why.
- Do you agree that people should change jobs every few years rather than stay with one employer? Explain your reasons.
- Should tipping in restaurants be replaced by higher wages and higher prices? Give your opinion.
- Some people think a four-day work week should be the standard. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
- Is it better to buy a home as soon as possible or to rent and invest the difference? Explain your view.
Technology
- Do you think children under 12 should have their own smartphone? Explain your reasons.
- Some people believe cash will disappear completely. Would that be a good thing? Why or why not?
- Should social media companies verify the age of every user? Give your opinion.
- Do you agree that self-driving cars will make roads safer? Explain why.
- Is online shopping better than shopping in stores? Explain your view.
Education
- Should high school students be required to do volunteer work to graduate? Explain your reasons.
- Do you think university should be free for everyone? Why or why not?
- Some people say learning a trade is a better choice than a university degree. Do you agree? Explain.
- Should schools ban homework in elementary grades? Give your opinion.
- Is it better for students to study abroad or in their home country? Explain your view.
Community and environment
- Do you think cities should ban cars from their downtown areas? Explain your reasons.
- Should people pay more for products that are made locally? Why or why not?
- Some people believe recycling is the individual’s job, others that it is the government’s. What do you think?
- Should new apartment buildings be allowed in neighbourhoods of houses? Give your opinion.
- Is it better to live in a big city or a small town? Explain your view.
Family and daily life
- Do you think adult children should live with their parents until they marry? Explain your reasons.
- Should families eat dinner together every day? Why or why not?
- Some people think pets should not be allowed in rental apartments. Do you agree? Explain.
- Is it better to cook at home or to eat out when you are busy? Give your opinion.
- Do you agree that people should retire at 65? Explain your view.
When you practise, change the side you argue from time to time. In the test, you can’t choose the question, and the fastest way to fill 90 seconds is to be able to argue either side of an everyday topic with one real example each. Our four-week study plan schedules this kind of practice across all four skills.
Sources#
The eight speaking tasks and the 15-minute speaking test: celpip.ca, test format and scoring. Preparation and recording times for task 7: Paragon Testing Enterprises, Test Practice, Speaking Task 7 (CELPIP Focus: Listening and Speaking, 2018). Speaking performance standards and rating: celpip.ca, test results. Checked October 9, 2026.
Questions
How long is CELPIP speaking task 7?
You get 30 seconds of preparation time and 90 seconds of recording time. The whole speaking test, all eight tasks, takes about 15 minutes.
What kind of question is task 7?
A question of opinion. It usually asks whether you agree or disagree with a statement, whether something is a good idea, or which of two options is better, and it asks you to explain your reasons.
Do I have to pick a side in task 7?
The task asks for your opinion and your reasons, so a clear position is the safest way to meet it. You can mention the other side, but spend most of the time supporting your own.
How many reasons should I give?
Two well-developed reasons, each with an example, fit 90 seconds better than four reasons without any. Three short reasons also work if you can give each one a detail.
Is it OK to use a template for task 7?
A structure is useful; a memorised speech is not. Raters score content, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfilment, and a long memorised opening uses time without adding content.
What if my opinion is unpopular or ‘wrong’?
There is no right answer. Raters assess how you express and support your opinion, not what it is. Pick the side you can give the most reasons for.
How many words should I say in 90 seconds?
At a natural pace most people say about 130 to 170 words in 90 seconds. Aim to be still talking when the timer ends, rather than finishing at 50 seconds.