The Definitive Guide to CELPIP Speaking Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation

Understanding CELPIP Speaking Task 8

In CELPIP Speaking Task 8 (Describing an Unusual Situation), you are shown a bizarre or highly unusual image (e.g., a bicycle made of bananas, a dog driving a bus). You must call someone on the phone who cannot see the image and describe it to them so they can picture it exactly. You have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

Because the image is unusual, you will likely not know the exact vocabulary word for what you are seeing. This is intentional. The test designers want to see if you can use the English language to describe something when you don't know the exact word for it. This skill is called paraphrasing or circumlocution.

The Core Skill: Circumlocution

If you see an object in the picture and freeze because you don't know the English word for it, you will lose points for hesitation. A CLB 9+ speaker knows how to describe the object's shape, material, function, or similarity to other objects. For example, if you don't know the word "stethoscope," you might say: "It's a medical instrument that doctors use to listen to a patient's heartbeat; it has tubes that go into the ears." This is exactly what raters want to hear.

How Raters Score Task 8 Across the Four Dimensions

1. Task Fulfillment

Did you set the context of a phone call? If you just start describing the picture ("There is a dog..."), you lose points because the prompt asks you to call someone. You must also provide enough physical detail (color, shape, size, location) so that the listener can mentally recreate the image.

2. Coherence and Meaning

Your description must be organized logically. Just like in Task 3, you should use a spatial framework (e.g., top to bottom, or main object to background details). You must use transitions like "As for the rest of the object," "Attached to the side," and "What makes it really strange is..."

3. Vocabulary

Your vocabulary score here relies heavily on adjectives related to shape, size, material, and texture. Words like cylindrical, rectangular, metallic, wooden, enormous, miniature, attached, hanging, protruding are high-value vocabulary words for this task. You must also use language that expresses surprise or confusion (e.g., "It's the strangest thing I've ever seen," "I can hardly believe my eyes").

4. Readability and Intelligibility

Grammatically, you will be using a mix of the present simple (to describe facts about the object) and the present continuous (if there is an action occurring). You should also use comparative structures to aid your circumlocution (e.g., "It looks a lot like a normal car, but...").

The "Phone Call" Framework (CLB 9+)

Use this structure to organize your 60-second response:

1. The Phone Greeting & Context (10 seconds)

Start by pretending you are on the phone. State who you are calling, where you are, and why you are calling.

"Hi Mike, it's me. You are not going to believe what I'm looking at right now outside the office window. I just had to call and tell you about it."

2. The General Overview (10-15 seconds)

Give a high-level summary of the bizarre object or situation.

"Essentially, there is a man riding down the street on what looks like a bicycle, but the entire frame of the bike appears to be constructed out of giant, yellow bananas."

3. Detailed Description using Circumlocution (20-25 seconds)

Break down the specific parts of the unusual object using shape, color, and material adjectives.

"Instead of normal metal handlebars, there are two large, curved bananas pointing outward. The wheels are completely normal, made of black rubber with metal spokes, but the seat itself is a massive bunch of green bananas strapped together. It looks incredibly uncomfortable."

4. The Sign-off (5-10 seconds)

End the phone call naturally.

"It's honestly the most bizarre thing I've ever seen. I'm going to try to snap a picture of it to show you later. Talk to you soon!"

30-Second Prep Strategy

During the 30 seconds, do not panic if the image is weird. That's the point. On your notepad, write down the overall object, and then pick two specific, weird details to describe:

1. Overall: Bicycle made of bananas
2. Detail 1: Handlebars (curved, yellow)
3. Detail 2: Seat (green bunch, strapped)

Remind yourself to start with "Hi [Name]..." to ensure you set the phone call context immediately.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting it's a phone call: Always start with a greeting and end with a sign-off.
• Freezing on unknown vocabulary: If you don't know the word for "spokes," say "the metal wires inside the wheel." Raters reward this problem-solving ability.
• Not describing the unusual parts: Do not spend 45 seconds describing the normal wheels. Focus your description on the bananas (or whatever makes the image strange).

Conclusion

Task 8 tests your ability to adapt when you don't have the perfect vocabulary word. By embracing circumlocution, using a structured phone call format, and deploying strong descriptive adjectives, you can turn a bizarre image into a CLB 9+ score.