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Tip: Speaking Task 5: pick one option and stay with it. Comparing both is fine, switching sides isn't.
Tip: Speaking Task 5: pick one option and stay with it. Comparing both is fine, switching sides isn't.
Deliver practical, empathetic advice with strong supporting reasons in 90 seconds.
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Your ability to immediately understand the situation, acknowledge the person's stress or concern, and provide highly relevant, practical advice.
How well you structure your 90 seconds. You need a clear opening, 2-3 distinct pieces of advice with smooth transitions, and a warm, encouraging closing.
Examiners want to see that you do not just list advice. Every suggestion must have a concrete reason, example, or expected benefit attached to it.
Using advanced grammatical structures (e.g., conditionals like 'If I were you...', modals like 'might want to consider') and appropriate tone.
Ready-to-use expressions that help your answer sound natural, organized, and easy to follow.
See how a high-scoring response sounds with clear structure and practical supporting details.
Your friend is extremely nervous about giving a major presentation at work to the executive board. Give advice on how to prepare and effectively manage nervousness.
"Hi Sarah, I can completely understand why you're feeling so anxious about presenting to the executive board. That is a huge milestone, and it's completely normal to feel the pressure! However, I've been in similar situations, and I think there are a few simple strategies you can use to feel completely prepared."
"My first and most important suggestion would be to practice the presentation out loud, ideally recording yourself or doing a run-through with a friend. This will help you identify any awkward transitions and ensure your delivery sounds natural, rather than memorized."
"I would also strongly recommend keeping your presentation slides as simple as possible. Try to use only visual cues and key bullet points rather than paragraphs of text. The benefit of this is that the executives will stay focused entirely on you and your message, rather than reading the screen behind you."
"Finally, another highly practical option is to prepare a short 'emergency outline' on a cue card with just your top three points. This way, if your mind goes blank from nerves, you have a physical safety net to get right back on track."
"I am absolutely confident that if you follow these steps, you will crush the presentation. Remember, even the most seasoned executives get nervous—you've got this!"
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on this task.
Many candidates jump straight into the advice without acknowledging the person's emotional state or specific situation.
"You should practice your presentation so you do better."
"I understand you're feeling incredibly anxious about presenting to the board. Let me suggest a few strategies that have helped me."
Examiners dock points if you just list things to do. You must explain *why* the advice works.
"You should prepare your slides early."
"I'd recommend preparing your slides well in advance because this gives you time to review them, spot any errors, and reduce last-minute technical stress."
Running out of time in the middle of a sentence, or finishing in 45 seconds and leaving 45 seconds of dead air.
Pacing is everything. Aim to complete your opening in 15s, spend 60s on main advice with supporting reasons, and reserve 15s for a strong closing.
While you are talking to a 'friend', this is still a formal language assessment. Avoid heavy slang.
"Yeah, don't sweat it. Just wing it and you'll be fine."
"Try not to let the nerves get the best of you; with a little preparation, you will perform exceptionally well."
Test your understanding of Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice with these quick questions.
You have 90 seconds to speak. A strong answer uses 80-85 seconds. Acknowledge the situation (15s), give 2-3 pieces of advice with deep reasons (60s), and provide a short encouraging closing (10s).
High-scoring responses have a clear structure, highly specific advice (not generic cliches), simple but well-explained reasons, natural linking words (furthermore, additionally, conversely), and deep empathy for the person's situation.
Yes, absolutely! Personal examples strongly reinforce your advice. Saying 'I've faced this exact situation before, and what really worked for me was...' makes your response sound incredibly authentic and memorable.
Start speaking and acknowledge the person's situation to buy yourself time. Then, rely on generic but helpful 'buckets' of advice: preparation, seeking professional support, practicing, doing research online, or taking a break. Even simple advice is better than silence if you explain *why* it helps.
Jump between all 8 CELPIP Speaking templates and review the structure for each task.
Give practical advice with clear reasons.
Tell a clear story with a natural ending.
Describe what you see in an organized way.
Explain what may happen next and why.
Compare two options and persuade clearly.
Handle pressure with a calm solution.
Support your opinion with strong reasons.
Describe an unexpected moment clearly.