Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice
Deliver practical, empathetic advice with strong supporting reasons in 90 seconds.
What They Test
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Content Relevance & Empathy
Your ability to immediately understand the situation, acknowledge the person's stress or concern, and provide highly relevant, practical advice.
Coherence & Flow
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.
Supporting Depth
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.
Language Range
Using advanced grammatical structures (e.g., conditionals like 'If I were you...', modals like 'might want to consider') and appropriate tone.
Template Phrases
Ready-to-use expressions that help your answer sound natural, organized, and easy to follow.
Opening & Acknowledgment
- •"I can completely understand why you're worried about..."
- •"That sounds like a stressful situation, but there are definitely a few strategies you can use."
- •"If I were in your shoes, I would probably feel the exact same way."
Giving Actionable Advice
- •"My very first suggestion would be to..."
- •"You might also want to strongly consider..."
- •"Another incredibly practical option is to..."
- •"Have you thought about..."
Providing Deep Reasons
- •"Doing this will be beneficial because..."
- •"The main advantage of this approach is that..."
- •"By taking this step, you will be able to..."
- •"For instance, if you do this, you avoid..."
Closing & Encouragement
- •"I'm confident that if you try these out, you'll feel much better."
- •"Take a deep breath—you don't have to figure it all out today."
- •"I'm always here if you need more help navigating this!"
Sample Answer (90s speak)
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.
High-scoring Response
"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!"
Why This Response Scores High:
- Establishes an immediate empathetic tone before giving any advice.
- Clear signposting language ('My first suggestion', 'I would also strongly recommend', 'Finally').
- Provides 3 distinct pieces of advice, each paired directly with a specific benefit.
- Uses advanced vocabulary ('milestone', 'awkward transitions', 'seasoned executives').
- Perfect pacing for a 90-second response with a warm, natural closing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on this task.
Mistake 1: Not Addressing the Situation Directly
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."
Mistake 2: Giving Vague Advice Without Reasoning
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."
Mistake 3: Poor Time Management
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.
Mistake 4: Overly Casual Language
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."
Mini Quiz
Test your understanding of Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice with these quick questions.
1. What is the primary purpose of CELPIP Speaking Task 1?
2. Which of the following is a key component of a high-scoring response?
3. Why is it important to have a clear opening?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my response be for Task 1?
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).
What makes a response score a CLB 9+?
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.
Can I use personal examples in Task 1?
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.
What if I can't think of any advice to give?
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.
Choose another task template
Jump between all 8 CELPIP Speaking templates and review the structure for each task.
Giving Advice
Give practical advice with clear reasons.
Personal Experience
Tell a clear story with a natural ending.
Describing a Scene
Describe what you see in an organized way.
Making Predictions
Explain what may happen next and why.
Comparing Choices
Compare two options and persuade clearly.
Difficult Situation
Handle pressure with a calm solution.
Expressing Opinions
Support your opinion with strong reasons.
Unusual Situation
Describe an unexpected moment clearly.