CELPIP Speaking — Tips & Strategies
The speaking section has 8 parts and takes approximately 15–20 minutes. Each part tests a different communication skill — from giving advice to describing unusual scenes. Choose your part and target CLB level below.
Part 1: Giving Advice
The 3-Step Advice Formula
Stop rambling. This simple framework turns 90 seconds of panic into a confident, structured response.
→Fix Your Generic-Sounding Advice
CLB 7 advice sounds like everyone else's. Here's how to make yours specific and memorable.
→Sound Like a Professional Advisor
CLB 9 speakers don't just give advice — they give advice people actually want to follow.
→Give Advice Like a TED Speaker
CLB 10 advice isn't just helpful — it's compelling, specific, and delivered with impact.
→Effortless Advice at Mastery Level
At CLB 11–12, advice flows naturally as if chatting with a friend. Zero planning needed.
→Part 2: Talking About a Personal Experience
Tell a Memorable Story in 60 Seconds
Your personal experience doesn't need to be exciting — it needs to be STRUCTURED. Here's how.
→Add Emotions — Watch Your Score Jump
Flat stories bore evaluators. Add these emotional hooks and your CLB 8 is locked in.
→The Master Storyteller's Framework
CLB 9 stories captivate listeners. Here's the narrative technique top scorers use.
→Tell Stories Like a Native Speaker
At CLB 10, your stories sound exactly like a native speaker sharing a memory over coffee.
→Stories Like a Podcast Episode
At mastery level, your stories are so engaging they belong on a podcast. Natural, vivid, real.
→Part 3: Describing a Scene
The Left-to-Right Scan Method
Don't know what to say about a picture? This systematic scan fills 60 seconds every time.
→7 Adjective Combos That Pop
Boring descriptions use one adjective. CLB 8 descriptions stack them. Here are the combos.
→Paint Pictures With Words
At CLB 9, your listener should 'see' the image through your description alone. Here's how.
→Describe Like a Documentary Narrator
At CLB 10, your scene descriptions have the polished quality of a nature documentary voiceover.
→Effortless Scene Description
At mastery level, describing a picture is as easy as telling a friend what you see out the window.
→Part 4: Making Predictions
Predict From Any Image in 60 Seconds
Part 4 asks you to predict what happens next. This framework makes predictions easy and detailed.
→Chain Predictions Like a Fortune Teller
CLB 8 predictions don't just say what's next — they chain reactions together. Here's the technique.
→Multi-Layer Predictions That Impress
CLB 9 predictions explore multiple possibilities with sophisticated reasoning. Here's the system.
→Crystal Ball Fluency
At CLB 10, predictions flow naturally with analysis-grade reasoning. No hesitation, pure fluency.
→Predict With Confidence and Charm
At mastery level, predictions are engaging, detailed, and delivered with natural flair.
→Part 5: Comparing and Persuading
Pick a Side and Sell It
Part 5 gives you two options. Stop weighing both — pick one and use this persuasion template.
→The 'Yes, But' Debate Technique
Acknowledge the other option then destroy it. This debating move makes you sound brilliant.
→Persuade Like a Lawyer
CLB 9 persuasion makes the evaluator think: 'That's actually a really good point.' Every time.
→Win Any Comparison Effortlessly
At CLB 10, you could sell ice to an Eskimo. Here's the native-level persuasion framework.
→Effortless Persuasion at Mastery
At mastery level, you construct winning arguments without breaking a sweat.
→Part 6: Dealing With a Difficult Situation
The 'Stay Calm' Script
Part 6 wants you to handle DRAMA. This script keeps you calm, polite, and scoring high.
→Turn Tough Situations Into High Scores
At CLB 8, difficult situations are scoring opportunities. Here's the advanced diplomatic toolkit.
→Handle Conflict Like a Mediator
CLB 9 speakers navigate difficult situations with the skill of a trained mediator. Here's the method.
→Executive-Level Conflict Resolution
At CLB 10, you handle difficult situations with the poise of a seasoned executive.
→Effortless Diplomacy at Mastery
At mastery level, difficult situations are resolved with graceful ease. No stress, all skill.
→Part 7: Expressing Opinions
The Opinion Machine — 90 Seconds
Part 7 is where most people ramble. This opinion framework makes you sound organized and smart.
→From Basic Opinions to Brilliant
CLB 7 opinions are fine. CLB 8 opinions CONVINCE. Here's the intellectual upgrade.
→Sound Like a News Commentator
CLB 9 opinions have the polish and depth of a professional analyst. Here's code for that.
→90 Seconds of TED Talk Quality
At CLB 10, your opinion delivery has the impact and polish of a well-crafted speech.
→Opinions With Mastery-Level Authority
At mastery level, opinions flow with the authority and fluency of a public intellectual.
→Part 8: Describing an Unusual Situation
Make the Unusual Sound Dramatic
Part 8 shows bizarre images. Don't panic — this drama framework turns weird into wonderful.
→Turn Weird Images Into Creative Gold
CLB 8 descriptions don't just state what's unusual — they tell a creative story about it.
→The Showstopper Finish
Your final speaking task should be your most impressive. Here's how to end on a CLB 9 high note.
→Finish Like a Pro — Grand Finale
At CLB 10, your final task showcases everything: creativity, vocabulary, fluency, and flair.
→The Perfect Ending — Mastery in 60 Seconds
At mastery level, your final task is a performance. Natural, creative, unforgettable.
→General Speaking Tips
- Use your prep time wisely. Jot 3–4 keywords, not full sentences. Keywords trigger natural speech.
- Speak for the full time. Stopping 20 seconds early loses content marks. Use speculation or examples to fill time.
- Replace fillers with pauses. A 1-second pause sounds confident; "um" and "uh" do not.
- Energy management matters. Parts 1–4 are warm-up; save peak focus for Parts 5–8 where tasks are more complex.
- You can make things up. Stories don't need to be real. The evaluator scores your LANGUAGE, not your life experiences.
- Vary your sentence length. Mix long explanatory sentences with short emphatic ones for natural rhythm.
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