CELPIP Vocabulary for Problem-Solving and Opinions

The Celpip Plus team

Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria

Updated October 4, 202614 min read

Problem-Solving & Opinions collocations for CELPIP

Almost every CELPIP Writing and Speaking task asks you to describe a problem, suggest a solution or give an opinion. Writing Task 1 may ask you to email a building manager about a noisy neighbour and propose a fix. Writing Task 2 is always a survey where you choose an option and defend it. In Speaking, Task 5, Comparing and Persuading, asks you to choose between two options; Task 6, Dealing with a Difficult Situation, asks you to solve a problem with someone; and Task 7, Expressing Opinions, asks for your view on a public question. These collocations help you name problems precisely, weigh solutions and state a clear position.

Verb + noun collocations

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
identify a problem	recognize and clearly name an issue	The team quickly identified the problem with the new schedule.
weigh the options	carefully compare possible choices	Before deciding, it's worth weighing the options honestly.
weigh the pros and cons	consider the advantages and disadvantages	We weighed the pros and cons of moving before we signed the lease.
reach a conclusion	arrive at a final decision or judgment	After a long discussion, the group reached a conclusion together.
draw a comparison	point out similarities or differences	It's useful to draw a comparison between the two proposals.
consider the consequences	think about the likely results of an action	You should consider the consequences before you quit your job.
propose a solution	suggest a way to solve a problem	She proposed a solution that satisfied both departments.
tackle a problem	start dealing with a difficult problem	The city finally tackled the problem of potholes on Main Street.
raise a concern	mention a worry or possible issue	Several employees raised a concern about the new policy.
form an opinion	develop a personal view on an issue	It takes time to form an opinion on such a complex topic.
make a case for	give reasons in support of something	He made a strong case for switching suppliers.
take a stance	adopt a clear position on an issue	The committee took a firm stance against the proposal.
assess the situation	look at the facts before deciding what to do	Before acting, the manager assessed the situation carefully.
strike a compromise	reach an agreement that partly satisfies both sides	The two sides eventually struck a compromise everyone could accept.

Adjective + noun collocations

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
a pressing issue	a problem that urgently needs attention	Traffic congestion remains a pressing issue in the downtown core.
a viable option	a realistic, workable choice	Working from home is a viable option for many office employees.
a compelling argument	a very convincing reason	She made a compelling argument for extending the deadline.
a minor drawback	a small disadvantage	The plan has one minor drawback: it takes longer to set up.
mutual benefit	an advantage shared by both sides	The new arrangement is of mutual benefit to both departments.
an unintended consequence	an unplanned, often negative, result of a decision	The new parking rules had an unintended consequence for local shops.
a valid point	a reasonable, well-supported observation	He raised a valid point about the cost of the proposal.
a practical solution	a realistic fix that can actually be carried out	We need a practical solution, not just an ideal one.
a widespread problem	an issue affecting many people or places	Food waste is a widespread problem in large cities.
a balanced perspective	a view that considers several sides fairly	Her essay offered a balanced perspective on the debate.
a short-term fix	a solution that works only for a while	Hiring temporary staff was only ever a short-term fix.
a long-term impact	an effect that lasts well into the future	Few people consider the long-term impact of their spending habits.

Phrasal verbs

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
figure out	understand or solve something by thinking	It took a while to figure out what was causing the delay.
come up with	produce an idea, plan or solution	The team came up with a solution overnight.
sort out	resolve a problem or a confusing situation	We finally sorted out the scheduling conflict.
work out	find an answer or arrangement through effort	We worked out a fair way to split the costs.
think through	consider something carefully before deciding	You should think through the risks before signing anything.
get to the bottom of	discover the real cause of a problem	The landlord promised to get to the bottom of the leak.
look into	investigate or examine a problem	The city said it would look into our complaint about the noise.
point out	draw attention to a fact or detail	She pointed out a flaw in the original plan.
back up (an opinion)	support a claim with evidence or reasons	You need to back up your opinion with real examples.
bring up	introduce a topic in a conversation	He brought up an interesting counterargument during the meeting.
rule out	decide that something is not possible or not the cause	We can probably rule out cost as the main issue here.
settle on	finally choose one option	After much debate, the group settled on the second proposal.

Formal and spoken phrases for problem-solving and opinions

These phrases are about stating a problem, proposing a fix and taking a position. Use the formal ones in a Writing Task 2 survey response or a Writing Task 1 complaint email, and the spoken ones when you choose, persuade or give your view in Speaking.

Formal phrases for Writing

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
it is my firm belief that	introduces a strong personal opinion formally	It is my firm belief that public transit should be free for students.
from my perspective	introduces a personal viewpoint formally	From my perspective, a four-day week would benefit both staff and employers.
I am strongly in favour of	I fully support	I am strongly in favour of installing speed bumps on Elm Street.
I am opposed to	I do not support	I am opposed to closing the library on Sundays.
the underlying issue is	names the deeper problem behind the visible one	The underlying issue is a lack of investment, not a lack of ideas.
the root cause of	the main, deepest reason for a problem	The root cause of the delays is a shortage of drivers.
address the issue	deal with a problem	The building manager needs to address the issue before winter.
a workable compromise	an agreement both sides can accept and carry out	A shared schedule for the meeting room would be a workable compromise.
the most effective solution would be	introduces the fix you recommend	The most effective solution would be to add a second bus at rush hour.
the benefits outweigh the drawbacks	the advantages are greater than the disadvantages	Although the plan is expensive, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Spoken phrases for Speaking

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
if I had to choose	introduces a choice between options	If I had to choose, I'd say the smaller apartment makes more sense.
my gut feeling is	introduces an instinctive opinion	My gut feeling is that the cheaper option will cause problems later.
I'm leaning towards	I'm starting to prefer one option	I'm leaning towards the second option, honestly.
I'm on the fence	I haven't decided yet	I'm on the fence about the new parking rules.
I'm torn between	I can't choose between two things	I'm torn between the bigger apartment and the shorter commute.
I see where you're coming from	I understand your view, often before disagreeing	I see where you're coming from, but I think the cost is too high.
that's a fair point	you are right about that	That's a fair point. I hadn't thought about parking.
it's a no-brainer	the decision is very easy	Taking the job closer to home was a no-brainer.
the lesser of two evils	the less bad of two bad options	Paying for parking is the lesser of two evils.
it's a win-win	it is good for both sides	Working from home on Fridays is a win-win for staff and the company.
we'll figure something out	we'll find a solution	Don't worry about the car. We'll figure something out.
let's sleep on it	let's wait until tomorrow to decide	It's a big decision, so let's sleep on it.

Connectors such as "in addition" and "whereas" fit any argument, so they are collected on two shared pages: Formal Phrases for CELPIP Writing and Natural Spoken Phrases for CELPIP Speaking.

Worked examples

Writing Task 2: Slowing down traffic on a residential street

Prompt: Drivers often speed on a residential street in your neighbourhood, close to a primary school. The city is asking residents which solution they prefer. Choose the option you prefer and explain why.

Option A: Install three speed bumps along the street.
Option B: Increase police patrols on the street during school hours.

I am strongly in favour of Option A, because speed bumps would slow drivers down every hour of the day, not only when police are present.

First, speeding on Elm Street is a pressing issue. Children walk to school along it every morning, and my neighbour's cat was hit by a car last spring. The underlying issue is that the street is long and straight, so drivers use it as a shortcut. Speed bumps would change that permanently.

Second, police patrols are only a short-term fix. Officers cannot stay on one street every day, and drivers would quickly learn when they are not there. Speed bumps, on the other hand, are a practical solution that costs money once and works for years.

I understand that some residents have raised a concern about noise and slower emergency vehicles. However, after we weighed the pros and cons at our community meeting, most of us agreed that the safety of children matters more.

For these reasons, I believe Option A is the better choice.

The answer states its choice at once, names the real cause of the problem, and answers the main objection before concluding.

Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions

Prompt: Some people think neighbours should solve problems such as noise by talking to each other first. Others think it is better to go straight to the landlord or the city. What is your opinion? Explain why.

In my opinion, neighbours should try talking to each other first, and I have two reasons.

First, most problems are simple misunderstandings. When I moved into my apartment, the man upstairs played music late almost every night. I was angry, but instead of complaining to the landlord, I knocked on his door. It turned out he worked nights and had no idea the sound travelled. We sorted it out in five minutes. He bought a rug, and I gave him my number in case there was ever a problem on my side.

Second, going straight to the landlord can have an unintended consequence. Your neighbour feels attacked, and a small problem becomes a long fight. Talking first lets you get to the bottom of the problem and come up with a solution together. Often you can strike a compromise, like quiet hours after ten.

Of course, some people make a case for calling the city straight away, for example when a neighbour is dangerous. That's a valid point, and in that situation I'd agree. But for everyday issues, a friendly conversation is usually a practical solution, and it keeps the building a nicer place to live.

A clear opinion, two reasons with a personal example, and a fair answer to the other side fill the 90 seconds.

CLB 7 vs CLB 9: one sentence, two ways

CLB 7 version: I think this idea is good for now, but it will not fix the problem forever.

CLB 9 version: From my perspective, it's a useful short-term fix, but it doesn't address the underlying issue.

What changed: "I think" became the opinion phrase "from my perspective", "good for now" became "a short-term fix", and "fix the problem forever" became "address the underlying issue".

Common mistakes

"According to me, the plan is too expensive" → in my opinion, or I think, the plan is too expensive. "According to" introduces someone else's view, such as "according to the city".
"I am agree with you" → I agree with you. "Agree" is a verb, so it doesn't need "am".
"In my opinion, I think the plan will work" → in my opinion, the plan will work or I think the plan will work. Use one opinion marker, not two.
"We discussed about the problem" → we discussed the problem. "Discuss" takes a direct object; you talk about a problem, but you discuss it.
"On my point of view" → from my point of view.
"Several tenants rised a concern" → several tenants raised a concern. "Raise" takes an object; "rise" does not, and its past is "rose".
"We did a compromise" → we reached a compromise, made a compromise or struck a compromise.
"We need to solve out this problem" → we need to sort out this problem or solve this problem. "Solve" never takes "out".
"She said her opinion at the meeting" → she gave her opinion or expressed her opinion.
"It depends of the price" → it depends on the price.
"Can you explain me the problem?" → can you explain the problem to me? "Explain" needs "to" before the person.
"I want to emphasize on safety" → I want to emphasize safety or put an emphasis on safety. The verb takes a direct object.
"After a long debate, we chose on the second option" → we settled on the second option or we chose the second option.
"My gut feeling is that Option A is better" in a Writing Task 2 survey response → it is my firm belief that Option A is better. Spoken chunks such as "my gut feeling is" and "it's a no-brainer" belong in Speaking.

Practise

Vocabulary flashcards and quizzes: review these collocations until they come to mind without effort.
Writing Task 2 practice: choose an option in a survey and use at least five collocations from this page.
Speaking Task 7 practice: give your view on a public question using "a practical solution", "a valid point" and "come up with".
Speaking Task 5 practice: choose between two options using "weigh the pros and cons" and "if I had to choose".
Speaking Task 6 practice: solve a problem with someone using "sort out", "strike a compromise" and "we'll figure something out".

vocabulary

CELPIP Vocabulary for Problem-Solving and Opinions

The Celpip Plus team

Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria

Updated October 4, 202614 min read

Problem-Solving & Opinions collocations for CELPIP

Verb + noun collocations

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
identify a problem	recognize and clearly name an issue	The team quickly identified the problem with the new schedule.
weigh the options	carefully compare possible choices	Before deciding, it's worth weighing the options honestly.
weigh the pros and cons	consider the advantages and disadvantages	We weighed the pros and cons of moving before we signed the lease.
reach a conclusion	arrive at a final decision or judgment	After a long discussion, the group reached a conclusion together.
draw a comparison	point out similarities or differences	It's useful to draw a comparison between the two proposals.
consider the consequences	think about the likely results of an action	You should consider the consequences before you quit your job.
propose a solution	suggest a way to solve a problem	She proposed a solution that satisfied both departments.
tackle a problem	start dealing with a difficult problem	The city finally tackled the problem of potholes on Main Street.
raise a concern	mention a worry or possible issue	Several employees raised a concern about the new policy.
form an opinion	develop a personal view on an issue	It takes time to form an opinion on such a complex topic.
make a case for	give reasons in support of something	He made a strong case for switching suppliers.
take a stance	adopt a clear position on an issue	The committee took a firm stance against the proposal.
assess the situation	look at the facts before deciding what to do	Before acting, the manager assessed the situation carefully.
strike a compromise	reach an agreement that partly satisfies both sides	The two sides eventually struck a compromise everyone could accept.

Adjective + noun collocations

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
a pressing issue	a problem that urgently needs attention	Traffic congestion remains a pressing issue in the downtown core.
a viable option	a realistic, workable choice	Working from home is a viable option for many office employees.
a compelling argument	a very convincing reason	She made a compelling argument for extending the deadline.
a minor drawback	a small disadvantage	The plan has one minor drawback: it takes longer to set up.
mutual benefit	an advantage shared by both sides	The new arrangement is of mutual benefit to both departments.
an unintended consequence	an unplanned, often negative, result of a decision	The new parking rules had an unintended consequence for local shops.
a valid point	a reasonable, well-supported observation	He raised a valid point about the cost of the proposal.
a practical solution	a realistic fix that can actually be carried out	We need a practical solution, not just an ideal one.
a widespread problem	an issue affecting many people or places	Food waste is a widespread problem in large cities.
a balanced perspective	a view that considers several sides fairly	Her essay offered a balanced perspective on the debate.
a short-term fix	a solution that works only for a while	Hiring temporary staff was only ever a short-term fix.
a long-term impact	an effect that lasts well into the future	Few people consider the long-term impact of their spending habits.

Phrasal verbs

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
figure out	understand or solve something by thinking	It took a while to figure out what was causing the delay.
come up with	produce an idea, plan or solution	The team came up with a solution overnight.
sort out	resolve a problem or a confusing situation	We finally sorted out the scheduling conflict.
work out	find an answer or arrangement through effort	We worked out a fair way to split the costs.
think through	consider something carefully before deciding	You should think through the risks before signing anything.
get to the bottom of	discover the real cause of a problem	The landlord promised to get to the bottom of the leak.
look into	investigate or examine a problem	The city said it would look into our complaint about the noise.
point out	draw attention to a fact or detail	She pointed out a flaw in the original plan.
back up (an opinion)	support a claim with evidence or reasons	You need to back up your opinion with real examples.
bring up	introduce a topic in a conversation	He brought up an interesting counterargument during the meeting.
rule out	decide that something is not possible or not the cause	We can probably rule out cost as the main issue here.
settle on	finally choose one option	After much debate, the group settled on the second proposal.

Formal and spoken phrases for problem-solving and opinions

Formal phrases for Writing

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
it is my firm belief that	introduces a strong personal opinion formally	It is my firm belief that public transit should be free for students.
from my perspective	introduces a personal viewpoint formally	From my perspective, a four-day week would benefit both staff and employers.
I am strongly in favour of	I fully support	I am strongly in favour of installing speed bumps on Elm Street.
I am opposed to	I do not support	I am opposed to closing the library on Sundays.
the underlying issue is	names the deeper problem behind the visible one	The underlying issue is a lack of investment, not a lack of ideas.
the root cause of	the main, deepest reason for a problem	The root cause of the delays is a shortage of drivers.
address the issue	deal with a problem	The building manager needs to address the issue before winter.
a workable compromise	an agreement both sides can accept and carry out	A shared schedule for the meeting room would be a workable compromise.
the most effective solution would be	introduces the fix you recommend	The most effective solution would be to add a second bus at rush hour.
the benefits outweigh the drawbacks	the advantages are greater than the disadvantages	Although the plan is expensive, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Spoken phrases for Speaking

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
if I had to choose	introduces a choice between options	If I had to choose, I'd say the smaller apartment makes more sense.
my gut feeling is	introduces an instinctive opinion	My gut feeling is that the cheaper option will cause problems later.
I'm leaning towards	I'm starting to prefer one option	I'm leaning towards the second option, honestly.
I'm on the fence	I haven't decided yet	I'm on the fence about the new parking rules.
I'm torn between	I can't choose between two things	I'm torn between the bigger apartment and the shorter commute.
I see where you're coming from	I understand your view, often before disagreeing	I see where you're coming from, but I think the cost is too high.
that's a fair point	you are right about that	That's a fair point. I hadn't thought about parking.
it's a no-brainer	the decision is very easy	Taking the job closer to home was a no-brainer.
the lesser of two evils	the less bad of two bad options	Paying for parking is the lesser of two evils.
it's a win-win	it is good for both sides	Working from home on Fridays is a win-win for staff and the company.
we'll figure something out	we'll find a solution	Don't worry about the car. We'll figure something out.
let's sleep on it	let's wait until tomorrow to decide	It's a big decision, so let's sleep on it.

Connectors such as "in addition" and "whereas" fit any argument, so they are collected on two shared pages: Formal Phrases for CELPIP Writing and Natural Spoken Phrases for CELPIP Speaking.

Worked examples

Writing Task 2: Slowing down traffic on a residential street

Option A: Install three speed bumps along the street.
Option B: Increase police patrols on the street during school hours.

I am strongly in favour of Option A, because speed bumps would slow drivers down every hour of the day, not only when police are present.

First, speeding on Elm Street is a pressing issue. Children walk to school along it every morning, and my neighbour's cat was hit by a car last spring. The underlying issue is that the street is long and straight, so drivers use it as a shortcut. Speed bumps would change that permanently.

Second, police patrols are only a short-term fix. Officers cannot stay on one street every day, and drivers would quickly learn when they are not there. Speed bumps, on the other hand, are a practical solution that costs money once and works for years.

I understand that some residents have raised a concern about noise and slower emergency vehicles. However, after we weighed the pros and cons at our community meeting, most of us agreed that the safety of children matters more.

For these reasons, I believe Option A is the better choice.

The answer states its choice at once, names the real cause of the problem, and answers the main objection before concluding.

Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions

In my opinion, neighbours should try talking to each other first, and I have two reasons.

First, most problems are simple misunderstandings. When I moved into my apartment, the man upstairs played music late almost every night. I was angry, but instead of complaining to the landlord, I knocked on his door. It turned out he worked nights and had no idea the sound travelled. We sorted it out in five minutes. He bought a rug, and I gave him my number in case there was ever a problem on my side.

Second, going straight to the landlord can have an unintended consequence. Your neighbour feels attacked, and a small problem becomes a long fight. Talking first lets you get to the bottom of the problem and come up with a solution together. Often you can strike a compromise, like quiet hours after ten.

Of course, some people make a case for calling the city straight away, for example when a neighbour is dangerous. That's a valid point, and in that situation I'd agree. But for everyday issues, a friendly conversation is usually a practical solution, and it keeps the building a nicer place to live.

A clear opinion, two reasons with a personal example, and a fair answer to the other side fill the 90 seconds.

CLB 7 vs CLB 9: one sentence, two ways

CLB 7 version: I think this idea is good for now, but it will not fix the problem forever.

CLB 9 version: From my perspective, it's a useful short-term fix, but it doesn't address the underlying issue.

What changed: "I think" became the opinion phrase "from my perspective", "good for now" became "a short-term fix", and "fix the problem forever" became "address the underlying issue".

Common mistakes

"According to me, the plan is too expensive" → in my opinion, or I think, the plan is too expensive. "According to" introduces someone else's view, such as "according to the city".
"I am agree with you" → I agree with you. "Agree" is a verb, so it doesn't need "am".
"In my opinion, I think the plan will work" → in my opinion, the plan will work or I think the plan will work. Use one opinion marker, not two.
"We discussed about the problem" → we discussed the problem. "Discuss" takes a direct object; you talk about a problem, but you discuss it.
"On my point of view" → from my point of view.
"Several tenants rised a concern" → several tenants raised a concern. "Raise" takes an object; "rise" does not, and its past is "rose".
"We did a compromise" → we reached a compromise, made a compromise or struck a compromise.
"We need to solve out this problem" → we need to sort out this problem or solve this problem. "Solve" never takes "out".
"She said her opinion at the meeting" → she gave her opinion or expressed her opinion.
"It depends of the price" → it depends on the price.
"Can you explain me the problem?" → can you explain the problem to me? "Explain" needs "to" before the person.
"I want to emphasize on safety" → I want to emphasize safety or put an emphasis on safety. The verb takes a direct object.
"After a long debate, we chose on the second option" → we settled on the second option or we chose the second option.
"My gut feeling is that Option A is better" in a Writing Task 2 survey response → it is my firm belief that Option A is better. Spoken chunks such as "my gut feeling is" and "it's a no-brainer" belong in Speaking.

Practise

Vocabulary flashcards and quizzes: review these collocations until they come to mind without effort.
Writing Task 2 practice: choose an option in a survey and use at least five collocations from this page.
Speaking Task 7 practice: give your view on a public question using "a practical solution", "a valid point" and "come up with".
Speaking Task 5 practice: choose between two options using "weigh the pros and cons" and "if I had to choose".
Speaking Task 6 practice: solve a problem with someone using "sort out", "strike a compromise" and "we'll figure something out".