Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
Acknowledge the other option, but prove yours is better using strong comparatives.
What They Test
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Persuasive Tone
Your ability to disagree politely but firmly. You must convince the other person to change their mind without sounding aggressive or rude.
Comparatives & Superlatives
Examiners are actively counting how many comparative adjectives (cheaper, more durable, significantly better) you use correctly.
Feature Translation
You are given a chart of features (e.g., 'Cost: $50'). You must translate these raw facts into persuasive benefits ('It will save us $50 which we can spend on dinner').
Concession
Acknowledging a good point about the other person's choice before proving why yours is still superior (e.g., 'While your option is newer, mine is...').
Template Phrases
Ready-to-use expressions that help your answer sound natural, organized, and easy to follow.
Polite Disagreement
- •"I see why you like that option, but hear me out..."
- •"Your choice is definitely great, however..."
- •"I was looking at the other option, and I actually think..."
Strong Comparatives
- •"It is significantly more cost-effective because..."
- •"Compared to your choice, this one offers far better..."
- •"Not only is it cheaper, but it is also much more..."
Translating Features to Benefits
- •"Since it comes with a warranty, we won't have to worry about..."
- •"Because it is located downtown, it will save us hours of commuting..."
- •"The fact that it is larger means we can..."
Call to Action (Closing)
- •"What do you think? Should we go with this one?"
- •"Does that make sense to you?"
- •"Let's go with this option—I promise you won't regret it!"
Sample Answer (60s speak)
See how a high-scoring response sounds with clear structure and practical supporting details.
You and your colleague are choosing a venue for the office holiday party. Your colleague wants to book a fancy downtown restaurant (Expensive, 1 hour away, No dancing). You selected a local banquet hall (Affordable, 15 mins away, Large dance floor). Persuade your colleague.
High-scoring Response
"Hey Mark, I completely understand why you want to book the downtown restaurant. The food there is incredible, but I actually think the local banquet hall I found might be a much better fit for our office party."
"First of all, the banquet hall is significantly more affordable than the restaurant. Since we have a strict company budget this year, booking the hall means we will have plenty of extra money left over to hire a great DJ and buy door prizes for the team."
"Secondly, compared to the restaurant which is an hour away, the hall is only a 15-minute drive from our office. This is vastly more convenient for everyone, meaning more people will actually attend. Plus, unlike the restaurant, the hall has a massive dance floor so we can actually celebrate properly!"
"Considering the cost and the convenience, I really think the banquet hall will be way more fun. What do you think, should we book it?"
Why This Response Scores High:
- Opens with a 'Concession' (acknowledging the restaurant has incredible food) which makes the persuasion sound extremely natural and polite.
- Heavy use of strong comparatives ('significantly more affordable', 'vastly more convenient', 'way more fun').
- Brilliantly translates raw features into benefits (Affordable = money for a DJ; 15 mins away = more people will attend).
- Ends with a natural question ('Call to Action') to involve the colleague.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on this task.
Mistake 1: Being Too Aggressive
Forgetting that you are talking to a friend or colleague. Sounding like a dictator instead of a persuader.
"Your choice is terrible and too expensive. We are picking my choice."
"I like your choice, but considering our budget, mine is a much safer option."
Mistake 2: Reading the Chart Like a Robot
Simply reading the bullet points from the screen without adding any conversational flow or benefits.
"My choice is $50. Your choice is $100. My choice has a pool. Your choice has no pool."
"My choice is fifty dollars cheaper than yours, which means we can spend that saved money on drinks by the pool!"
Mistake 3: Forgetting to Compare
Only talking about your option and completely ignoring the colleague's option. You MUST use comparatives.
Always use the formula: 'Unlike your option which is [X], my option is [Y]'
Mistake 4: Not Ending with a Question
Ending abruptly instead of asking for their final opinion.
"So my choice is better. Goodbye."
"Given all these benefits, don't you agree my choice is the better deal?"
Mini Quiz
Test your understanding of Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading with these quick questions.
1. What is a 'Concession' in Speaking Task 5?
2. How should you handle the bullet points provided on the screen?
3. Which of these is the best closing sentence for Task 5?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get to choose which option I want?
Yes! In the 60 seconds before this task starts, you are given two options. You click the one you prefer. Then, the computer reveals the option 'your friend' chose, and you have 60 seconds to prepare your argument.
What if I actually think the computer's choice is better?
You cannot change your mind! You are locked into the choice you made in the previous screen. You must defend your choice, even if you internally prefer the other one.
How many points of comparison should I make?
Aim for 2 to 3 strong comparisons. It is better to deeply explain 2 reasons (translating the features into benefits) than to rapidly list 5 reasons with no explanation.
Is it okay to lie about features?
Yes, you can invent minor details to strengthen your argument! If your option says 'Near the park', you can say 'It's right near that beautiful park where we love to walk the dog.' Adding personal flavor is highly encouraged.
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.