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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.
Call a store or a friend to vividly describe a bizarre object using precise, literal details.
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Your ability to describe something when you do not know the exact word for it. Examiners want to hear you describe its shape, size, color, and function.
Using highly specific adjectives (e.g., 'cylindrical', 'metallic', 'translucent', 'textured') instead of basic ones like 'big' or 'nice'.
You are always asked to call someone (like a store clerk or a friend). You must maintain the illusion of a phone call from start to finish.
Comparing the bizarre object to something familiar (e.g., 'It looks exactly like a normal bicycle, except...').
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.
You are at a furniture store and see a very unusual chair that you want to buy, but there is no price tag. Call the store clerk (who is in the warehouse) to describe the chair so they can look up the price. (Image: A chair shaped like a giant, neon-pink human hand).
"Hello! I am currently in the main showroom of your store, and I am interested in purchasing a highly unusual chair I found, but it is missing a price tag. I was hoping you could look it up for me."
"At first glance, the overall dimensions are similar to a standard armchair, but the design is completely bizarre. It is shaped exactly like a giant, oversized human hand with the palm facing upward."
"The entire piece is made out of a glossy, neon-pink plastic material. Where you would normally sit is the actual palm of the hand, and the backrest is made up of the five giant fingers pointing straight up toward the ceiling. It doesn't have regular legs; instead, it rests flat on what looks like a wrist."
"Does that description ring any bells for you? If you could check the system and let me know the price, I would really appreciate it!"
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on this task.
Describing the image like you did in Task 3, completely forgetting that you are supposed to be on the phone with someone.
"This is a picture of a pink chair. It looks like a hand."
"Hi, I am calling from your showroom about a pink chair shaped like a hand."
Relying on words like 'thing', 'stuff', 'weird', and 'big' instead of using specific geometry and colors.
Pretend the person on the other end of the phone has to draw the object based solely on your description. 'Big' isn't helpful. 'The size of a refrigerator' is.
The image is bizarre on purpose! You are not supposed to know what it is. Do not apologize for not knowing the word.
"I don't know what this is called. Sorry."
"It consists of three cylindrical tubes arranged in a triangle."
Running out of things to describe and just stopping.
Test your understanding of Speaking Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation with these quick questions.
Yes! Do not panic if the image makes no sense. It is deliberately bizarre (like a clock melting, or a car with square wheels) to force you to use descriptive language.
If you finish early, start inventing details about its texture, its weight, or why you want to buy it. 'I think it would look perfect in my living room because it matches my pink curtains.'
If you finish early, start inventing details about its texture, its weight, or why you want to buy it. 'I think it would look perfect in my living room because it matches my pink curtains.'
Yes. Treat it exactly like a real voicemail or phone call. State who you are calling, why you are calling, describe the object, and end the call naturally.
No. While saying 'it looks like a hand' is a great starting point, you must elaborate. What material is it? What color is it? Is it a left hand or a right hand?
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.