Problem-Solving & Opinions — Part 5
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: natural spoken fluency chunks for expressing, comparing, and defending opinions on the spot — the connective phrases that make CELPIP Speaking Task 5 and Task 7 responses sound spontaneous rather than rehearsed.
Why fluency chunks matter in speaking
Speaking Task 5 (comparing options) and Task 7 (giving an opinion) both demand quick, confident reasoning within a short prep time. Fluency chunks — short, ready-made phrases like "if I had to choose" or "the way I look at it" — let you signal a comparison or opinion instantly, without pausing to construct a formal sentence from scratch. This lesson gathers the chunks most useful for weighing two options and defending a personal opinion out loud.
Three jobs these chunks do
The chunks below serve three functions: stating a preference (if I had to choose, my gut feeling is), comparing two things (compared to, whereas), and defending or softening an opinion (I could be wrong, but; at the same time). Mixing all three across a response, rather than relying on just one, is what makes a spoken opinion sound natural instead of formulaic.
Word bank: spoken fluency chunks for comparing opinions
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| if I had to choose | signals a decision made under forced comparison | If I had to choose, I'd say the smaller option makes more sense. |
| my gut feeling is | introduces an instinctive, less analytical opinion | My gut feeling is that the cheaper option will cause problems later. |
| compared to | directly contrasts two things | Compared to public transit, driving feels faster but costs more. |
| whereas | formally signals a contrast between two ideas in speech | Option A saves money, whereas option B saves time. |
| at the same time | introduces a balancing or contrasting point | It's convenient, but at the same time, it's quite expensive. |
| I could be wrong, but | softens an opinion while still stating it confidently | I could be wrong, but I think the first plan is more realistic. |
| when you think about it | introduces a point that becomes clearer on reflection | When you think about it, both options solve the same core problem. |
| leaning towards | signals a developing but not yet final preference | I'm leaning towards the second option, honestly. |
| there's no denying that | acknowledges an undeniable fact before adding a view | There's no denying that both choices have real trade-offs. |
| all in all | signals an overall, wrap-up judgment in speech | All in all, I'd go with whichever option saves more time. |
| it really depends on | signals that the answer varies by situation | It really depends on your budget, to be honest. |
| for what it's worth | softly introduces a personal opinion, slightly modest | For what it's worth, I'd pick the option that's easier to reverse. |
Worked example — Speaking Task 5
Prompt: Compare two apartments and say which one you would choose.
"If I had to choose, I'd probably go with the smaller apartment downtown. Compared to the larger one in the suburbs, it's more expensive per square foot, but when you think about it, the shorter commute saves a lot of time every week. My gut feeling is that time matters more to me right now than space. There's no denying that the suburban apartment offers more room, whereas the downtown one is closer to everything I need. At the same time, I know it really depends on what stage of life you're at — someone with a family might choose differently. I could be wrong, but I think most young professionals would lean the same way I'm leaning towards. For what it's worth, all in all, convenience wins out for me over extra space."
This response uses ten fluency chunks to compare two options in a natural, back-and-forth way, giving the delivery the spontaneous quality CELPIP Speaking Task 5 is designed to assess.
Common mistakes
- Overusing "I prefer" alone — relying on one flat statement of preference misses the chance to show range; alternate with if I had to choose or leaning towards.
- Confusing "whereas" with "because" — "whereas" signals contrast between two things, not a cause-and-effect relationship.
- Dropping "at the same time" mid-sentence incorrectly — it should introduce a genuine balancing point, not just any additional detail.
- Skipping a softening chunk before a strong claim — stating an opinion too bluntly can sound abrupt in speech; I could be wrong, but or for what it's worth keep the tone conversational.
Recap
Spoken fluency chunks give comparison and opinion responses the natural, back-and-forth rhythm CELPIP Speaking Task 5 and Task 7 raters are listening for, letting you state a preference, contrast it, and soften it without breaking flow. Practice by comparing two everyday options out loud — two routes, two routines, two products — using at least five chunks from the table above.