CELPIP Speaking
Task 1 of 8
Giving Advice
You're given a situation in which someone needs help, and you record advice for them. You get a short time to prepare and a fixed time to speak, so a quick plan matters more than a perfect one.
- to prepare
- 30 s
- to speak
- 90 s
- criteria scored
- 4
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What a Task 1 prompt looks like
An example written by Celpip Plus in the same shape as the real speaking task, with notes on how to read it.
Your coworkernote 1 has been asked to lead a new project, but she's worried it will take time away from her familynote 2. Give her advice about whether she should acceptnote 3.
- 1 Who you're talking to: a coworker. Friendly, but not too casual.
- 2 The worry to acknowledge: family time. Mention it before you give reasons.
- 3 The decision: accept the project or not. Your advice must answer this.
How to prepare for Giving Advice
- Use your short prep time to pick two or three concrete pieces of advice rather than one vague suggestion, so your response has enough Content.
- Phrase your advice with clear recommendation language so the listener knows exactly what you think they should do.
- Briefly explain why each piece of advice helps, since reasons strengthen your Content and make the response more persuasive.
What raters listen for in Task 1
- Content/CoherenceA clear recommendation with reasons that each have a detail, linked with signposts like "That said".
- VocabularyAdvice language beyond "you should": "I'd suggest", "it might be worth".
- ListenabilityClear pronunciation, natural rhythm, accurate grammar in your advice ("If I were you, I'd…"), and few long pauses.
- Task FulfillmentAdvice, not a story. The right tone for the person, and you fill the 90 seconds.
For how the four criteria turn into a CELPIP level from 1 to 12, read How CELPIP Speaking is scored.
Keep going with Speaking Task 1
Practise on the real interface
The same screen, timer and controls as test day — rebuilt so nothing on the exam is a surprise.
Giving Advice: frequently asked questions
Offer a few clear, specific suggestions with short reasons rather than a single tip, so you fill the response time with useful Content.
Use recommendation phrasing such as suggesting, recommending, or saying what the person should consider doing, which makes your advice direct and easy to follow.
You get 30 seconds to prepare, then 90 seconds to speak in CELPIP Speaking Task 1, so plan quickly and start with a clear direction.
The rest of the Speaking test
- Giving Advice, 30 s to prepare, 90 s to speak
- Talking about a Personal Experience, 30 s to prepare, 60 s to speak
- Describing a Scene, 30 s to prepare, 60 s to speak
- Making Predictions, 30 s to prepare, 60 s to speak
- Comparing and Persuading, 60 s to choose, 60 s to prepare, 60 s to speak
- Dealing with a Difficult Situation, 60 s to prepare, 60 s to speak
- Expressing Opinions, 30 s to prepare, 90 s to speak
- Describing an Unusual Situation, 30 s to prepare, 60 s to speak