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CELPIP Speaking Task 1 questions with sample answers
Good Task 1 answers give the listener practical suggestions and explain how each fits their problem. You have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak.
How to use these Task 1 samples
These advice samples turn a broad concern into decisions the listener can act on. Notice how the speaker identifies a constraint before recommending anything: Kenji cannot test the machine before his fabric arrives, while Tala needs a lunch routine she can repeat. The advice has an order because some decisions affect later ones. Testing the machine matters before choosing it; checking ingredients comes before shopping.
Read a question and make your own attempt before opening its answer. Use the timer for the unseen question below first if you want to avoid reading ahead. During preparation, jot down an action and a reason beside it. After speaking, compare your reasoning with the sample: did you explain what your suggestion would change for this particular person? A different recommendation can work when you support it.
Listen to your recording for the tone of the conversation. Repeated commands can sound abrupt, while too many cautious phrases can obscure the recommendation. Practise saying one suggestion plainly and then explaining its benefit. Do not memorize these answers. On a second attempt, change one constraint, such as the available time, and rebuild the advice around it. The estimated levels help discuss the examples; delivery still needs a separate listen.
Task 1 (Giving Advice) gives you 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak. Every question and answer below is original and unofficial, written for CLB Mock; none is taken from a real test. For format and strategy, read the Task 1 guide.
Question 1: Choosing a Study Format
Your classmate Linh is deciding between an evening classroom course and a course she can complete online at her own pace. Both teach the same spreadsheet skills. Give Linh advice on choosing a format.
Linh, I'd base this decision on how you learn when nobody's reminding you about a deadline. Think back to your last assignment: did you start early on your own, or did a scheduled study session get you moving? If regular contact helps you stay on track, the evening classroom course probably deserves the edge. You'd also be able to ask questions as soon as a formula goes wrong. Before you enrol, though, compare an actual week from each course. Ask for a sample lesson and find out how much practice is expected outside class. An online course that sounds flexible could still require six hours every week, and you need somewhere realistic to put those hours. I'd sketch both schedules on paper, including time to review mistakes. Finally, check what support the online option includes. Having someone answer questions within a day is quite different from watching recordings with no feedback. You could try a free introductory exercise and see whether the explanations make sense to you. Given that you want to use these skills confidently, I'd choose the format that gets you practising consistently. A convenient timetable only helps if you actually finish the course and remember what you've learned.
What the answer covers: Match the format to learning habits; Compare realistic weekly workloads; Investigate feedback and try a sample lesson.
Why it works: Content/Coherence develops the choice through learning habits, workload and support. “sketch both schedules on paper” makes the comparison actionable. Vocabulary such as “scheduled study session” identifies the kind of structure Linh might need, while “practising consistently” gives the final recommendation a clear criterion. Try changing: Make Linh’s evenings unpredictable and explain how that affects your recommendation.
Question 2: A Refurbished Sewing Machine
Your friend Kenji is choosing between a refurbished sewing machine from a local shop and a new basic machine. The refurbished model has more features but a short return period, and he cannot test it until his fabric arrives next week. Give Kenji advice.
Kenji, those extra features are tempting, but they're only valuable if the machine handles the projects you actually want to make. I'd list your essential tasks first, such as sewing thick hems and making buttonholes. Then compare both machines against that list. You might find the new basic model covers everything, which would make the refurbished machine's impressive feature list less relevant. The timing of the return period is the next thing I'd tackle. Ask the shop whether it can start when you collect the machine next week or whether they'll extend it in writing. If they won't, bring some borrowed fabric scraps and ask for a demonstration before buying. Include different thicknesses rather than watching it stitch a single easy sample. Finally, find out what support comes with each purchase. Check the warranty terms, the availability of replacement parts, and the price of an initial service. A lower sticker price can lose its appeal if repairs are difficult to arrange. I'd choose the refurbished machine only if you can properly test its essential functions and the overall cost still makes sense. Otherwise, the simpler new model is a reasonable starting point. You can develop your skills now and upgrade when a specific limitation actually holds you back.
What the answer covers: Compare features against intended projects; Resolve the testing and return-period conflict; Assess service support and total ownership cost.
Why it works: Task Fulfillment addresses the awkward return deadline with “extend it in writing” and a demonstration using borrowed scraps. Content/Coherence connects that test to a conditional buying decision. “replacement parts” adds precise Vocabulary for the later cost discussion without treating extra features as an automatic benefit. Try changing: Assume the shop refuses an extension and develop your next step.
Question 3: Lunches for the Coming Week
Your roommate Tala wants to prepare lunches at home for the coming week instead of buying them each day. She has basic cooking skills and is unsure where to start. Give Tala advice on preparing simple lunches.
Tala, I'd keep your first week simple enough that you'll actually want to do it again. Choose two lunches you already enjoy rather than trying five unfamiliar recipes. For example, you could prepare a lentil salad and some roasted vegetables to use in wraps. Reusing ingredients will cut down on preparation and stop half a bag of something sitting untouched in the fridge. Before you shop, check what we already have and write a list with quantities. Think about how many lunches you'll genuinely need, too. If you're meeting someone on Thursday, there's no reason to prepare an extra portion that won't get eaten. Set aside an hour on Sunday and get your containers ready before you start chopping. I'd also plan how to store and carry everything. Keep dressings separate so the salad stays crisp, label containers with the preparation date, and freeze suitable portions for later in the week. Use an insulated bag with an ice pack if lunch won't go straight into a fridge. After the first few days, notice what travelled well and what you still looked forward to eating. Then you can adjust next week's plan. Two dependable lunches are a much better starting point than an elaborate routine that wears you out.
What the answer covers: Choose simple meals with overlapping ingredients; Plan quantities and a preparation session; Arrange suitable storage and transport.
Why it works: “two lunches you already enjoy” fits Tala’s limited experience, supporting Task Fulfillment. Content/Coherence follows preparation from choosing meals to reviewing what travelled well. “write a list with quantities” makes the shopping step concrete; the Thursday example explains why quantities matter. Try changing: Give Tala only half an hour to prepare and simplify the plan accordingly.
Question 4: Getting Comfortable with a Rescue Cat
Your friend Pilar has adopted an adult cat in Trois-Rivières. The cat hides whenever visitors arrive, and Pilar wants to help it settle in. Give her advice on arranging the home and managing visitors.
Pilar, I'd give the cat permission to be shy for a while. A new home contains unfamiliar smells and sounds, so inviting everyone over to meet it immediately could be overwhelming. Set aside a quiet room with its familiar bedding and an accessible hiding place. Arrange food, water, and the litter tray in suitable separate spots, following the shelter's guidance. Let the cat explore more of the apartment at its own pace. Ask visitors to sit quietly and avoid reaching underneath furniture to pull it out. If it approaches, they can let it investigate without immediately picking it up. You might limit visits to one calm person initially instead of having several friends arrive together. Keeping feeding and play times fairly predictable could also help the place feel familiar. Contact the shelter for any information about routines the cat already knows. You don't need an expensive collection of toys before discovering what it enjoys; a couple of appropriate options should be enough. Watch for changes in eating or other concerning behaviour and contact a veterinarian if you're worried. I'd measure progress through small moments, such as choosing to sit nearby. A cat that feels free to retreat may gradually become more willing to join you.
What the answer covers: Provide a quiet retreat and consistent routine; Let the cat control contact with visitors; Use shelter guidance and seek help for concerning changes.
Why it works: Task Fulfillment covers both the home and visitors through “an accessible hiding place” and “one calm person initially”. Content/Coherence moves from arranging space to managing contact, then observing changes. The closing “small moments” defines progress without promising an immediate change in behaviour. Try changing: Explain how Pilar could brief a visitor before they arrive.
Question 5: Caring for Plants at the Office
Your coworker Kai has offered to care for the office houseplants in Yellowknife while their usual caretaker is away for two weeks. Give Kai advice on preparing for this responsibility.
Kai, get the usual caretaker to walk around the office with you before they leave. Plants that look similar can have quite different routines, so guessing from appearance could create unnecessary trouble. Take a quick photograph of each plant and record the instructions beside it. Ask which ones need attention during those two weeks and which are better left alone. Find out where the watering container is kept and whether anyone else has agreed to help. A note beside the plants could prevent several well-meaning colleagues from watering the same pot. You could mark the dates you've checked them on a small sheet, but follow the caretaker's instructions about checking the soil rather than automatically adding water every morning. I'd leave the plants in their usual positions unless you've specifically been asked to move one. A sunnier window might seem helpful without actually suiting that plant. Keep water away from nearby computers and put the container somewhere it won't become a tripping hazard. Before the caretaker leaves, agree on what to do if a plant suddenly looks unhealthy. You can send a photograph and ask instead of trying several remedies. With clear instructions and one responsible person, this should be a manageable favour.
What the answer covers: Record plant-specific care instructions; Prevent duplicate watering by colleagues; Keep locations stable and clarify when to ask for help.
Why it works: Content/Coherence anticipates a coordination problem: “well-meaning colleagues” might water the same plant. “record the instructions beside it” connects the photographs to a useful record. Task Fulfillment stays within Kai’s temporary responsibility by recommending that he ask for help rather than experiment with remedies. Try changing: Add a second helper and explain how they would share updates.
The same question at about CLB 7
Here is an answer to Question 1 (“Choosing a Study Format”) at a lower level, written for comparison.
Linh, I think you should visit the evening classroom before you decide. You could ask the teacher to show you one spreadsheet exercise. If you understand the explanation and feel comfortable asking questions, that is a very good sign.
I think learning with other people would be very good for you. When you get stuck, you can ask someone beside you. There is also a fixed time to study, so you will remember to go. The teacher can gives you help when a calculation does not work.
But think about getting home afterwards. If the class finishes late and you have a long trip, you might feel tired. In that case, the online course could be easier. You could study after dinner on two evenings each week. Make sure you have a quiet place and a computer that work properly.
My advice is to visit the classroom first, then decide whether the trip is worth it. I can come with you if you want.
- Content/Coherence: the comparison gives reasons for classroom study and considers travel, but the CLB 10 sample tests the choice against Linh’s past study habits and a realistic weekly workload.
- Vocabulary: repeated “very good” leaves the benefit broad; “scheduled study session” and “time to review mistakes” identify more precise needs in the CLB 10 sample.
- Listenability: “can gives” and “a computer that work” are grammar slips in otherwise understandable sentences. The CLB 10 sample controls its verb forms while using questions and conditional sentences; pronunciation still needs audio.
- Task Fulfillment: both speak directly to Linh and offer a next step. The CLB 10 sample also asks what support the online option includes, making the comparison more balanced.
The most useful change would be to develop the online option with one specific support question. Asking how Linh would get help with a failed formula would make the final recommendation better informed.
Task 1 checklist before you record
- Identify the person’s actual decision or worry before planning advice.
- Address the listener directly by name or with “you”.
- Choose suggestions that fit the stated time, experience or practical constraint.
- Attach a reason or consequence to each main suggestion.
- Use considerate recommendation language without hiding your advice.
- Leave room to name a useful first action before 90 seconds ends.
Your turn: an unseen Task 1 question
Use the timer below with this question. There is no sample answer for it on this page, so you cannot read ahead.
Try it now: timed practice
Your friend Inês in Penticton has bought second-hand trousers that are too long. She has never visited an alterations shop. Give her advice on preparing for the appointment and explaining the result she wants.
Press Start. Speak out loud when the speaking timer begins, as on test day, where recording starts automatically.
Nothing is recorded on this page. To get an AI-estimated level for an answer, use the app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reuse a Task 1 sample as a template?
Reuse an outline such as concern, suggestion, reason and next step. Replace the advice itself so it responds to the new listener’s circumstances.
How many words should my Task 1 answer contain?
Use the 90-second response time to judge length. The displayed word counts describe these examples; they are not a prescribed Speaking word target, and rushing to match them can make your answer harder to follow.
Must I recommend the same option as the sample?
No. For Linh, either format can be a reasonable recommendation if you explain how it fits her learning needs and practical schedule. Compare the quality of your reasons rather than whether your choice matches.
What should I do if the timer is nearly finished?
Complete the suggestion you are explaining and give a brief next step. In your next attempt, shorten the opening or remove a less useful suggestion so your strongest advice has enough support.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026. Rules and fees change: check the official page before you act. celpip.ca pages were read from public archive snapshots because the site blocks automated access.