CELPIP Speaking Overview, Structure & All 8 Tasks
(with PrepAmigo + AI Scoring)
1) What the CELPIP Speaking Test Looks Like
CELPIP Speaking has 8 tasks in 15-20 minutes (plus practice task):
15-20 minutes total 8 scored tasks computer-delivered recorded & rated
Test interface
- Speak into a headset microphone in a computer lab setting.
- Each task has preparation time and speaking time clearly shown.
- Responses are recorded and scored later by trained raters.
- Practice task at the beginning (not scored) to test your equipment.
Test format: CELPIP official
2) All 8 Speaking Tasks at a Glance
Task 1: Giving Advice
30s prep 90s speak
Give advice to someone facing a specific situation or problem.
Example: Advise a friend on choosing between job offers.
Task 2: Personal Experience
30s prep 60s speak
Share a personal story or experience related to the given topic.
Example: Describe a time you helped someone.
Task 3: Describing a Scene
30s prep 60s speak
Describe what you see in a given image in detail.
Example: Describe a busy street scene or office setting.
Task 4: Making Predictions
30s prep 60s speak
Look at an image and predict what might happen next.
Example: Predict what will happen after a business meeting.
Task 5: Comparing & Persuading
60s prep 60s speak
Compare two options and persuade someone to choose one.
Example: Convince family to choose one vacation destination.
Task 6: Difficult Situations
60s prep 60s speak
Deal with a challenging or uncomfortable situation diplomatically.
Example: Address a conflict with a roommate or colleague.
Task 7: Expressing Opinions
30s prep 90s speak
Express your opinion on a topic and support it with reasons.
Example: Give your opinion on social media's impact.
Task 8: Unusual Situations
30s prep 60s speak
Describe an unusual or hypothetical image and speculate about it.
Example: Explain an unusual scene or strange situation.
3) How Your Speaking Is Scored
| Criterion | What raters listen for | High-score indicators |
|---|---|---|
| Content / Coherence | Relevance, completeness, and logical organization of ideas. | All parts addressed; clear structure; smooth flow; relevant details. |
| Vocabulary | Range, precision, and appropriateness of word choice. | Varied, specific words; natural collocations; minimal repetition. |
| Listenability | Pronunciation, intonation, pace, and overall clarity. | Clear sounds; natural rhythm; appropriate pace; easy to understand. |
| Task Fulfillment | Meeting specific task requirements and time management. | Task completed fully; appropriate tone/register; good time use. |
All tasks scored on same 4 criteria; combined into overall Speaking level (1-12). Performance standards
4) Smart Timing Strategies
Preparation time (30-60 seconds)
- Quick outline: 2-3 main points in order
- Key vocabulary: specific words you'll need
- Opening line: how you'll start confidently
- Examples/details: concrete support for your points
Speaking time (60-90 seconds)
- Strong opening: directly address the task
- Develop 2-3 points: with specific details/examples
- Use transitions: "First," "Moreover," "In conclusion"
- Fill the time: expand with relevant details, don't rush
5) Universal Speaking Strategies (All Tasks)
Content strategies
- Address the task directly don't go off-topic
- Organize clearly intro, main points, conclusion
- Give specific details names, numbers, examples
- Use personal examples when appropriate
Language strategies
- Vary your vocabulary avoid repetition
- Use appropriate register formal vs. informal tone
- Connect your ideas transitions and linking words
- Self-correct naturally fix mistakes smoothly
Delivery strategies
- Speak at natural pace not too fast or slow
- Project confidence clear, strong voice
- Use pauses effectively better than "um," "uh"
- Maintain consistent volume audible throughout
Time management
- Use all preparation time plan thoroughly
- Fill speaking time expand with relevant details
- Have a conclusion ready don't end abruptly
- Practice timing know your speaking pace
6) Common Challenges & Solutions
| Challenge | Impact | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Running out of things to say | Short, underdeveloped responses | Prepare expansion techniques: examples, details, reasons, consequences |
| Speaking too fast or slow | Listenability issues | Practice with timer; record yourself; find natural conversational pace |
| Going off-topic | Content/Task Fulfillment loss | Stay focused on task requirements; use preparation time to outline |
| Repetitive vocabulary | Vocabulary score reduction | Build synonym banks; practice paraphrasing; vary expressions |
| Unclear pronunciation | Listenability problems | Focus on key sounds; practice word stress; speak deliberately |
| Poor organization | Coherence issues | Use clear structure: intro-body-conclusion; practice transitions |
7) Systematic Preparation Plan (3-4 Weeks)
Week 1: Foundation
- Study scoring criteria and task requirements
- Record yourself doing 1-2 tasks daily
- Focus on task completion and time management
- Build basic response templates
Week 2: Development
- Practice all 8 task types systematically
- Work on vocabulary expansion and variety
- Improve organization and coherence
- Get feedback on pronunciation/clarity
Week 3: Refinement
- Focus on weaker task types
- Practice full speaking sections (all 8 tasks)
- Work on natural delivery and confidence
- Time management under pressure
Week 4: Final Preparation
- Complete practice tests under test conditions
- Review and memorize key templates/phrases
- Final pronunciation and clarity check
- Confidence-building exercises
8) Essential Phrases for All Tasks
Opening phrases
- Task 1 (Advice): "I'd recommend that you...", "In my experience..."
- Task 2 (Experience): "I remember when...", "This reminds me of..."
- Task 3 (Description): "In this image, I can see...", "The scene shows..."
- Task 7 (Opinion): "I believe that...", "From my perspective..."
Development phrases
- Adding details: "Specifically...", "For example...", "In particular..."
- Reasoning: "The reason is...", "This is because...", "As a result..."
- Comparing: "Unlike X...", "In contrast to...", "While X is..., Y is..."
- Emphasizing: "Most importantly...", "The key point is...", "What's crucial is..."
Connecting phrases
- Sequencing: "First of all...", "Secondly...", "Finally..."
- Adding information: "Furthermore...", "Additionally...", "Moreover..."
- Contrasting: "However...", "On the other hand...", "Nevertheless..."
- Concluding: "In conclusion...", "To summarize...", "Overall..."
Time-filling techniques
- Elaborating: "Let me explain that further...", "To give more detail..."
- Examples: "For instance...", "A good example would be..."
- Personal connection: "In my experience...", "What I've noticed is..."
- Hypothetical: "If I were in that situation...", "Imagine if..."
9) How PrepAmigo Helps (with AI Scoring)
Complete task simulation. Practice all 8 speaking tasks with realistic timing, recording interface, and immediate feedback exactly like the real test experience.
AI scoring with detailed feedback. Advanced AI analyzes your responses across all 4 scoring criteria (Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, Task Fulfillment) and provides specific, actionable feedback for improvement.
Pronunciation analysis. Detailed feedback on pronunciation, intonation, pace, and clarity issues with specific suggestions for improvement.
Progress tracking & analytics. Track improvement across all task types, identify strengths and weaknesses, and receive personalized study recommendations.
Extensive prompt library. Hundreds of realistic practice prompts for each task type, ensuring comprehensive preparation and variety.
10) Daily Practice Schedule
Beginner (2-3 weeks to test)
- Daily: 2-3 tasks (20-30 minutes)
- Focus: Understanding requirements, basic structure
- Week 1: Tasks 1-4 (shorter tasks)
- Week 2: Tasks 5-8 (longer tasks)
- Week 3: Mixed practice, full sections
Intermediate (4-6 weeks to test)
- Daily: 3-4 tasks (30-40 minutes)
- Focus: Vocabulary development, fluency
- Rotation: Different task types each day
- Weekly: One full 8-task practice session
- Target: Consistent performance improvement
Advanced (maintenance/polish)
- Daily: 2-3 tasks (15-25 minutes)
- Focus: Consistency, confidence, fine-tuning
- Strategy: Target weaker areas
- Simulation: Regular full test conditions
- Goal: Maintain peak performance
11) Test Day Quick Reference
Before each task
- Read/listen to instructions carefully
- Use ALL preparation time to plan
- Organize your main points (2-3 ideas)
- Think of specific examples/details
- Plan your opening and closing lines
During speaking
- Speak directly to address the task
- Use the full speaking time available
- Maintain steady pace and clear pronunciation
- Use transitions between ideas
- Include specific details and examples
- End with a clear conclusion
References & Resources
Use this overview as your foundation, then dive into individual task guides and practice with PrepAmigo's AI-powered speaking feedback to build consistent, high-scoring performance across all 8 speaking tasks.