CELPIP General
CELPIP Speaking Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation | Complete Guide
CELPIP Speaking Task 8 at a Glance Aspect Detail Task Describing an Unusual Situation Prep time 30 seconds …
CELPIP Speaking Task 1 at a Glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Task Name | Giving Advice |
| Position | Task 1 of 8 in the CELPIP Speaking section |
| Prep Time | 30 seconds |
| Speaking Time | 90 seconds (tied for the longest task) |
| Format | Read a short scenario on screen, then record into the microphone |
| Key Function | Advising, suggesting, recommending |
| Scoring | Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, Task Fulfilment |
CELPIP Speaking has 8 tasks in about 15 to 20 minutes. You speak into a microphone. No human examiner sits across from you. Each task gives you 30 to 60 seconds to prepare and 60 to 90 seconds to speak.
Task 1 is the first and most familiar task. The situation is personal. The function (giving advice) is something you do in real life every week. That makes it the gentlest start to the section, but it is also where many students lose easy marks by talking generically or running out of ideas at 50 seconds.
What Is CELPIP Speaking Task 1?
In Task 1, you read a scenario where someone has a problem. You have 30 seconds to prepare your response. Then you have 90 seconds to give that person advice.
This is your longest speaking task. Use the time.
The scenarios are everyday, relatable problems: a friend moving to a new city, a coworker struggling with stress, a relative deciding between two job offers. The exam is testing whether you can speak supportively, give concrete suggestions, and develop your ideas with reasons.
Tip
90 seconds is a lot of time. Most students run out of things to say at 50 seconds. The fix is simple: prepare two or three points during your 30-second prep window, with one supporting reason for each. That gives you a clear path to the full 90 seconds.
What Task 1 Is Not
- It is not a personal story task (that is Task 2)
- It is not a debate task (that is Task 7)
- It is not a comparison task (that is Task 5)
You are giving advice, plainly and warmly, directly to the person in the prompt.
The Exact Format with a Worked Sample Prompt
Here is the kind of prompt you will see on screen during Task 1.
Sample CELPIP Task 1 Prompt
Your friend just moved to a new city for work and feels lonely. They have not made any friends yet and are thinking about moving back. Give them advice on how to feel more settled in their new home.
You will hear the same scenario read aloud while you read it on screen. Then a prep timer counts down 30 seconds. Then a record icon appears and you have 90 seconds to speak.
You cannot pause the recording or restart. Once your 90 seconds end, the test moves automatically to Task 2.
How CELPIP Speaking Is Scored
Every speaking task, including Task 1, is scored on the same four dimensions. Knowing what raters listen for changes how you prepare.
| Dimension | What It Means | Examples of High Scores |
|---|---|---|
| Content/Coherence | Did you address the task fully and logically? | Clear structure, relevant points, logical flow |
| Vocabulary | Range and accuracy of words used | Precise word choice, varied vocabulary, topic-appropriate |
| Listenability | How easy is it to follow your speech? | Clear pronunciation, good pace, natural rhythm |
| Task Fulfilment | Did you do what the task asked? | Gave advice when asked to advise, described when asked to describe |
Info
CELPIP uses human raters for Speaking, not AI. This means they can understand your accent, tolerate natural hesitations, and appreciate creative responses. But they also notice when you go off-topic, use memorised scripts, or do not actually address what the task asks.
Detailed Scoring Bands for Task 1
| Dimension | Score 9-12 (CLB 9+) | Score 7-8 (CLB 7-8) | Score 5-6 (CLB 5-6) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content/Coherence | Fully addresses the task with clear, logical structure. Ideas flow naturally. | Addresses most of the task. Generally logical but may lack detail. | Partially addresses the task. May be disorganised or miss key points. |
| Vocabulary | Wide range of precise, topic-appropriate vocabulary. Natural collocations. | Adequate vocabulary for the topic. Some repetition but generally appropriate. | Limited range. Frequent repetition. Some inappropriate word choices. |
| Listenability | Clear pronunciation, natural rhythm, easy to understand without effort. | Generally clear. Some pronunciation issues but meaning is never lost. | Noticeable pronunciation problems. Listener needs to concentrate to understand. |
| Task Fulfilment | Does exactly what the task requires with appropriate tone and register. | Mostly does what is required. Minor issues with tone or completeness. | Partially meets the task requirements. May give advice when asked to persuade. |
For Task 1, the most common drop in scoring is on Task Fulfilment: students start describing the friend’s problem in detail rather than advising them. Stay in advisor mode.
Step-by-Step Approach: 30-Second Prep + 90-Second Speak
This is the structure Marvel Education recommends. It is flexible, not scripted. Use the labels as a map, not a memorised opening line.
The 30-Second Prep Window
You only get 30 seconds. Do not write full sentences. Write two or three keywords per advice point plus one reason for each.
- Read the scenario once. Identify the core problem in your own words (3 to 5 seconds).
- Brainstorm three quick advice ideas. Pick your strongest two (10 seconds).
- For each idea, jot one supporting reason or example (10 seconds).
- Decide your opener and ending phrase (5 seconds).
Warning
Do not waste prep time writing out full advice sentences. You will not look at your notes again once the recording starts. Keywords are enough.
The 90-Second Speaking Window
Marvel’s recommended structure breaks the 90 seconds into four parts:
| Section | Timing | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledge the problem | 10 to 15 sec | Show empathy, restate the situation in your own words |
| Advice 1 with detail | 25 to 30 sec | Give your first suggestion plus a reason or example |
| Advice 2 with detail | 25 to 30 sec | Give your second suggestion plus a reason or example |
| Advice 3 or closing | 15 to 20 sec | Add a third light suggestion or close warmly |
This gives you a clear pace marker every 25 seconds. If you reach the 60-second mark and you are still on Advice 1, you know to wrap it.
Verbatim CLB 10 Sample Response (with Annotations)
Below is a model response to the sample prompt above. It follows Marvel’s four-part structure and would score in the CLB 9 to 10 range.
Model Response: Lonely Friend in a New City
(Acknowledge) I can totally understand why you feel that way. Moving to a new city where you don’t know anyone can feel really isolating, especially in the first couple of months when everything is unfamiliar.
(Advice 1 + reason) First, I’d suggest joining a local community group or sports club. When I moved to a new place a few years ago, I found that having a regular activity with the same people every week helped me make friends quickly. You don’t have to force conversations because you already share an interest, so it feels natural.
(Advice 2 + reason) Another thing you could try is volunteering, even just once a month at a food bank or community centre. Not only does it help you meet people who care about something bigger than themselves, but it also gives you a sense of purpose in your new community, which is exactly what you sound like you are missing right now.
(Closing advice + warm send-off) Finally, don’t be afraid to reach out to coworkers for coffee or lunch. Most people are happy to help a newcomer settle in. Give it time though, honestly. Cities take three to six months to feel like home. Things will get better, and I think moving back would be a decision you’d regret.
Why This Response Scores High
- Content/Coherence: Clear four-part structure. Each advice point has a reason. The response circles back to the friend’s specific worry (thinking about moving back) at the end.
- Vocabulary: Strong collocations (regular activity, sense of purpose, settle in, isolating, community group). No word is repeated more than necessary.
- Listenability: Natural rhythm. Pauses fall at punctuation, not mid-sentence. Conversational fillers like “honestly” and “though” feel human.
- Task Fulfilment: Speaks directly to “you” throughout. Stays in advisor mode. Does not drift into describing the friend’s feelings.
Sentence Stems and Opening Phrases
Memorise these as flexible patterns, not full openings. They give you something to say while your brain catches up.
Acknowledging the Problem
- “I can totally understand why you feel that way…”
- “That sounds really tough, and I’m glad you’re talking about it…”
- “I’ve been in a similar situation, so I know how stressful this can be…”
- “It’s completely normal to feel like this when…”
Introducing Advice
- “First, I would suggest…”
- “One thing you could try is…”
- “Have you thought about…”
- “Another option would be to…”
- “What really helped me in a similar situation was…”
Adding Reasons and Examples
- “…because that way you…”
- “The reason I say this is…”
- “When I did something similar, I found that…”
- “It works because…”
Closing Warmly
- “Honestly, give it time and things will get better.”
- “I really think this will help. Let me know how it goes.”
- “Try one of these and see how you feel in a few weeks.”
- “You’ve got this. It just feels harder than it actually is right now.”
Tip
Mix and match. A good Task 1 response uses three to four of these stems naturally. Reading them all at once sounds robotic. Pick one acknowledgment, two advice intros, two reason markers, and one close.
Common Mistakes That Cost Marks
| Mistake | What It Sounds Like | Score Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Describing instead of advising | “Your friend feels lonely. They moved cities. They have no friends.” | Task Fulfilment drops sharply |
| Generic, vague advice | “You should try to make friends. Talk to people. Be positive.” | Content/Coherence drops, no specifics |
| Stopping at 45 seconds | Long silence after one piece of advice | Content/Coherence drops, sounds under-prepared |
| Memorised opener | “Today I will give advice to my friend who is facing a difficult situation in their life…” | Listenability and Task Fulfilment both drop |
| Repeating the same word | “Good idea. Good thing. Good friend. Good plan.” | Vocabulary score drops |
| Speaking too fast | Words run together, endings dropped | Listenability drops |
| Off-topic personal story | A 30-second story about your own life that never returns to the friend | Task Fulfilment drops |
| Using third person | “He should call his coworkers…” | Task Fulfilment drops slightly, sounds detached |
Warning
The most common Task 1 mistake: running out of things to say at 45 to 60 seconds. If you prepare two or three points during your 30-second window, you will have plenty for the full 90 seconds. The problem is usually not planning enough, not lack of English ability.
CELPIP vs IELTS GT vs PTE Core Speaking
| Aspect | CELPIP General | IELTS General Training | PTE Core Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Recorded into microphone, 8 separate tasks | Face-to-face with examiner, 3 parts | Recorded into microphone, multiple task types |
| Prep time | 30 or 60 seconds per task | None for Part 1 and 3, 1 minute for Part 2 | None or very short prep |
| Speak time | 60 or 90 seconds per task | Variable: 4-5 min Part 1, 2 min Part 2, 4-5 min Part 3 | Short, varies by item type |
| Advice tasks | Task 1 directly tests giving advice | No direct equivalent (some prompts may invite advice in Part 3) | No direct equivalent |
| Examiner | None (recording only) | Yes, live examiner asks follow-ups | None (AI scored) |
| Scoring criteria | Content, Vocabulary, Listenability, Task Fulfilment | Fluency, Lexical Resource, Grammar, Pronunciation | AI multi-trait (content, fluency, pronunciation) |
| Rater type | Trained human rater | Trained human examiner | Automated AI scoring |
Info
Key takeaway: CELPIP Task 1 is unique among the three exams in that it asks you to perform a single, defined communicative function (giving advice) for a full 90 seconds without an examiner prompting you. That makes preparation different. You cannot rely on an examiner to nudge you. You have to fill the time yourself.
How to Practise CELPIP Task 1 Properly
Most informal practice methods are weak: speaking in front of a mirror, reading a model answer aloud, or doing one prompt and stopping. None of these train the actual test behaviour.
What Effective Practice Looks Like
You need to recreate the real test pressure:
- A countdown timer for the 30-second prep window
- A microphone that records and then locks at 90 seconds
- A variety of unfamiliar scenarios (so you cannot memorise)
- Replay of your own response
- Feedback on each of the four scoring dimensions
A Weekly Practice Plan
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 3 fresh Task 1 prompts, recorded, no notes | 15 min |
| Tue | Listen back to Monday’s responses, mark every filler and pause | 15 min |
| Wed | Rebuild Monday’s prompts with sentence stems list open | 15 min |
| Thu | 3 new Task 1 prompts, focus only on hitting 90 seconds | 15 min |
| Fri | Mixed practice: Tasks 1, 2, 3 back to back to build endurance | 25 min |
| Sat | Vocabulary drill: synonyms for “advise”, “suggest”, “should”, “important” | 15 min |
| Sun | Rest, or one timed full Speaking section (8 tasks) | 0 to 25 min |
Practise on the Real CELPIP Interface
The CELPIP Speaking section has a specific look and feel. Practising on a generic recording app does not prepare you for the on-screen prep countdown, the microphone prompt, or the auto-advance to the next task.
Marvel Education’s CELPIP practice software replicates the real test interface:
- Real-style Task 1 prompts written by certified CELPIP teachers
- 30-second prep timer that mirrors the official one
- Microphone capture that auto-stops at 90 seconds
- Replay of your recording with waveform
- AI feedback on all four CELPIP criteria (Content, Vocabulary, Listenability, Task Fulfilment)
- CLB 10 model responses from Marvel Education for every prompt
Start Free Trial of Marvel CELPIP Practice Software
You get the real interface, the real timer, and the real pressure, without paying for a full test attempt.
Three More Sample Prompts with Mini Model Responses
Practise generating your own version of these. Each prompt below is followed by a 30-second prep plan and a partial CLB 10 model response.
Sample Prompt 2: Stressed Coworker
Your coworker is feeling overwhelmed at work and is thinking about quitting. Give them advice on how to manage the stress.
Prep notes (30 sec):
- Acknowledge: overwhelmed is normal at this stage
- Advice 1: talk to manager about workload (concrete, low risk)
- Advice 2: small daily routines (lunch break away from desk, short walk)
- Close: do not quit on a bad week
Opening 25 seconds:
I really get why you are feeling this way. Burnout creeps up on you, especially in the first year of a demanding job, and the worst thing you can do is make a permanent decision while you are exhausted. Before you think about quitting, there are two things I would try first.
Sample Prompt 3: Friend Buying a Car
Your friend is buying their first car and is worried about making the wrong decision. Give them advice on how to choose.
Prep notes (30 sec):
- Acknowledge: big purchase, anxiety is normal
- Advice 1: certified pre-owned, not brand new (saves 20-30%)
- Advice 2: test drive at least three different models
- Close: trust the boring choice, not the exciting one
Opening 25 seconds:
It’s totally normal to feel anxious about a big purchase like this. A car is the second biggest thing most people ever buy after a home, so taking your time is smart. The good news is there are a couple of simple rules that protect you from the most common first-car mistakes.
Sample Prompt 4: Relative Choosing a College
Your younger sister cannot decide between two universities. Give her advice on how to choose.
Prep notes (30 sec):
- Acknowledge: huge decision, both options are valid
- Advice 1: visit both campuses in person
- Advice 2: talk to current students, not just admissions staff
- Close: trust her gut after the visits
Vocabulary Bank for Task 1
Strong Task 1 responses use a wider range of “advice” verbs than just “should”. Practise these so they come out naturally.
| Function | Lower Range | Higher Range |
|---|---|---|
| Suggesting | should, could | might want to, would do well to, could consider |
| Recommending | I recommend | I’d strongly recommend, I’d urge you to, my suggestion would be |
| Acknowledging | I understand | I can completely see why, that’s a really tough spot |
| Reasoning | because | the reason being, given that, in light of the fact that |
| Softening | maybe | you might find that, it could be worth, one option worth exploring |
| Closing | good luck | give it time, things will settle, trust the process |
Tip
Pick one phrase from each row and use it in a real Task 1 attempt. Then swap out one phrase next time. Vocabulary range builds through deliberate substitution, not memorisation.
Recovering from a Bad Start
Even strong test takers sometimes blank in the first 5 seconds of Task 1. Here is a recovery framework so a shaky opening does not sink your whole response.
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| You blank at the start | Use a stall line: “Okay, so the first thing I would say is…” then begin |
| You repeat the same word twice | Pause one second, then use a synonym from your vocabulary bank |
| You realise you misread the scenario | Pivot: “Actually, what I’d really focus on first is…” |
| You finish at 60 seconds | Add a third small piece of advice or a closing reassurance |
| You feel rushed at 80 seconds | Slow down, close warmly, do not cram |
Raters are listening for real speech. Small recoveries actually demonstrate language ability. What hurts your score is silence, panic, or restarting the same sentence three times.
Quick Recap: The Task 1 Playbook
- Read the scenario calmly. Identify the friend’s problem in one sentence.
- Use your 30 seconds to plan two advice points with one reason each.
- Start with empathy: “I can understand why you feel that way…”
- Speak directly to the person (“you should…”, not “he should…”).
- Give your first advice with a reason and a small example. Take 25 to 30 seconds.
- Give your second advice with a reason and an example. Take another 25 to 30 seconds.
- Close warmly with a third quick tip or a “give it time” line.
- Aim to fill all 90 seconds. Silence is the enemy.
- Avoid memorised openers. Use flexible sentence stems instead.
- Trust your instincts. CELPIP raters are trained to hear real people speaking, not robots reciting a script.
Frequently Asked Questions
You get 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak. Task 1 is tied for the longest speaking task in CELPIP, alongside Task 7. Most students run out of things to say at 50 seconds, so planning two or three points during prep is essential.
No. The scenario is hypothetical. You are advising an imagined friend or colleague. Raters score how you give advice, not whether you have lived through the situation. You can invent a brief personal touch like ‘when I moved cities, I joined a sports club’ to add warmth.
Yes. Speak directly to the person in the scenario. Use ‘You should…’, ‘I would suggest you…’, ‘Have you thought about…’. Talking about them in the third person (‘he should…’) usually loses Task Fulfilment marks.
Aim for two strong pieces of advice with reasons and a brief closing, or three lighter pieces. Two well-developed suggestions almost always score higher than four shallow ones. Depth beats quantity.
A short, flexible opener like ‘I can understand why you feel that way’ is fine. But fully memorised intros are flagged by raters as scripted and pull down your Task Fulfilment score. Prepare structures, not scripts.
Mostly present and future. ‘You should call them’, ‘It would help if you tried…’, ‘I think this will work because…’. You can briefly use past tense when sharing a small personal example.
Expand the first one. Add a reason, an example, and a small caution. ‘Joining a class is great because… and if you find it intimidating, you could start with a beginner session…’. Depth fills time naturally and shows vocabulary range.
Each task is scored on four dimensions: Content and Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, and Task Fulfilment. CELPIP uses trained human raters, not AI, so they can follow accents and creative responses, but they also notice off-topic or memorised speech.