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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.
Paint a clear, organized picture using prepositions of place and continuous verbs.
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Your ability to describe an image systematically (e.g., from left to right, background to foreground) rather than jumping around randomly.
Using precise nouns, descriptive adjectives, and exact prepositions of place (next to, behind, underneath, in the top right corner) to paint a mental picture.
Examiners listen specifically for your mastery of the Present Continuous tense ('The man is walking', 'They are talking') to describe ongoing actions in a still image.
Going beyond the obvious. Don't just say 'There is a man.' Describe his clothing, posture, facial expression, and what he is interacting with.
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.
Describe some things that are happening in the picture as well as you can. The person with whom you are speaking cannot see the picture. (Image: A busy outdoor farmers market on a sunny day).
"This image depicts a very lively scene at an outdoor farmers market on what appears to be a bright, sunny afternoon."
"Right in the foreground, on the bottom left, there is a middle-aged man wearing a green apron who is actively handing a paper bag full of fresh apples to a customer. The customer, a young woman in a yellow sundress, is currently reaching into her purse, presumably to pay him."
"Moving towards the background on the right side, I can see a large white tent where several people are lining up. Directly underneath the tent, two vendors are hurriedly organizing loaves of bread on a wooden table. Just behind them, a small dog is tugging playfully at its owner's leash."
"Overall, the atmosphere seems incredibly cheerful and bustling with weekend activity. That covers the main elements of this scene."
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on this task.
Jumping erratically from the left side to the right side, then to the background, and back to the front. This completely confuses the listener.
"There's a dog. And a man selling apples. Behind the dog is a tent. The woman is paying."
"Starting in the foreground, there is a man selling apples. Moving to the background directly behind him, I can see a tent."
Describing the image using the simple present or past tense instead of the present continuous.
"The man sells apples. The dog barked."
"The man is selling apples. The dog is barking."
Simply listing objects (like a shopping list) instead of describing them in detail.
Use the 'Noun + Adjective + Action' rule. Instead of 'There is a car', say 'There is a red sports car speeding down the road.'
Stalling because you don't know the exact English word for an obscure object.
"Uhh, he is holding a... a... I don't know the word... a round thing."
"He is holding what looks like a circular tool used for gardening."
Test your understanding of Speaking Task 3: Describing a Scene with these quick questions.
You do not need to describe every single tiny detail. In 60 seconds, you can comfortably describe the main setting, 2 or 3 primary actions/people in detail, and the general background.
The prompt says 'The person with whom you are speaking cannot see the picture'. You don't need to explicitly say 'Since you are blind...' but you MUST describe spatial locations (left, right, behind) because the listener cannot see where things are.
Even 'boring' pictures have details. Describe the weather, the expressions on people's faces, their posture, what they are wearing, or what you think might happen next.
No. Spend exactly 5-10 seconds on a one-sentence summary of the entire scene ('This is a busy office'), then immediately move into describing specific actions.
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.