Problem-Solving & Opinions — Part 1
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: the verb + noun collocations native speakers use when identifying a problem, working through options, and arriving at a conclusion — vocabulary that underpins nearly every CELPIP opinion and problem-solving task.
Why verb + noun pairs matter first
Problem-solving and opinion-giving are not confined to one CELPIP section — they appear in Speaking Task 5 (comparing and persuading), Task 7 (giving opinions), and Writing Task 2 (essay writing). Across all of these, the same small set of verb + noun collocations does most of the work: you identify a problem, weigh the options, reach a conclusion, and draw a comparison. Mastering these pairs first gives you a reusable skeleton for almost any opinion-based response, regardless of topic.
How these collocations get built
These collocations follow the natural arc of reasoning through a problem: first you identify an issue and assess the situation, then you weigh the options and consider the consequences, and finally you reach a conclusion or propose a solution. Practicing them in this order mirrors how a well-organized opinion response is actually built, from noticing a problem to resolving it.
Word bank: core problem-solving & opinion collocations
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| identify a problem | recognize and clearly state an issue | The team quickly identified the problem with the original schedule. |
| weigh the options | carefully compare possible choices | Before deciding, it's worth weighing the options honestly. |
| reach a conclusion | arrive at a final decision or judgment | After much 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 through the likely results of an action | Any good decision requires considering the consequences first. |
| propose a solution | suggest a way to solve a problem | She proposed a solution that satisfied both departments. |
| raise a concern | mention a worry or potential issue | Several employees raised a concern about the new policy. |
| form an opinion | develop a personal viewpoint on an issue | It takes time to form an opinion on such a complex topic. |
| make a case | present an argument 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 | evaluate the current state of things | 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. |
Worked example — Speaking Task 5
Prompt: Compare two solutions to a problem and recommend one.
"When our neighbourhood identified a problem with parking shortages, the community association had to assess the situation carefully before acting. Two options came forward: building a new lot or introducing permits. After weighing the options, most residents began to form an opinion in favour of permits, since they seemed cheaper. However, some raised a concern about fairness for visitors. I think it's worth drawing a comparison between the long-term cost of each option before reaching a conclusion. Personally, I would make a case for a hybrid approach — a smaller new lot combined with limited permits — because it lets the association strike a compromise without ignoring anyone's needs."
This response uses eight collocations to move logically from problem to recommendation, which is exactly the structure CELPIP Speaking Task 5 is designed to assess.
Common mistakes
- "Find a problem" instead of identify a problem — "find" suggests something accidental, while "identify" correctly signals a deliberate recognition of an issue.
- "Think about the options" instead of weigh the options — "weigh" specifically implies careful comparison, which "think about" leaves vague.
- "Come to a conclusion" is acceptable, but many learners overuse it — vary with reach a conclusion for the same meaning without repetition.
- "Do a compromise" instead of strike a compromise — "strike" is the fixed verb for this collocation; "do" is a common but incorrect substitute.
Recap
Verb + noun collocations for problem-solving and opinions give you a reusable framework — identify, weigh, decide, resolve — that applies across nearly every CELPIP speaking and writing task. Practice by picking a small everyday decision and narrating it out loud using at least four collocations from the table above.