CELPIP Speaking Task 3 Sample Answer (Describing a Scene)

How Task 3 works

Task 3 is the describing-a-scene task. In real practice you see a picture and say what you see in it. Our speaking tasks guide gives the shape: big picture first, then left to right. Speaking is recorded on the computer and there is no examiner in the room.

In the prep window, decide where you will start and note two or three things on each side. The prep and speaking times change by task, so check them in the speaking practice prompts.

The invented task prompt

Invented task prompt: You will describe a picture for someone who cannot see it. Say what is happening and give as much detail as you can.

The invented scene (described in words here; on the day you would see it as a picture): It is a bright Saturday morning at the fictional Tamsin Lake farmers' market. On the left, a woman in a green apron arranges jars of honey on a wooden table, and a small chalkboard beside her shows the price. In the centre, a tall man holding a paper bag is talking with a girl of about ten who is pointing at a basket of apples. A dog on a red lead sits at his feet. On the right, a musician with a guitar plays near a tent, and two older people are sitting on a bench with coffee cups. In the background there are trees, a few more stalls and a banner that reads "Open Every Weekend".

Sample answer

This is a transcript of what a test taker could say. It is original and written for practice. Read it once, then cover it and record your own answer to the same prompt.

This picture shows a busy farmers' market on a sunny morning. It looks like a relaxed weekend, and a lot of people are enjoying themselves.

On the left side, a woman in a green apron is putting jars of honey on a wooden table. There is a little chalkboard next to her, probably showing the prices.

In the middle of the picture, a tall man is holding a paper bag, and he is talking to a young girl. The girl is pointing at a basket of red apples, so I think she is asking about them. There is also a dog with a red lead sitting calmly by the man's feet.

On the right side, a musician is playing a guitar near a tent. Beside him, two older people are sitting on a bench and drinking coffee. They seem to be listening to the music.

In the background, I can see some trees and a few more stalls. Above them there is a banner that says Open Every Weekend. Overall, the market looks friendly and full of life.

Why this answer earns its level

The structure is the main reason this answer works.

• "This picture shows a busy farmers' market on a sunny morning" gives the big picture before any detail. A listener who cannot see the scene now knows where they are.
• "On the left side", "In the middle of the picture", "On the right side", "In the background" are location phrases that turn a pile of objects into a map the listener can follow.
• "is putting jars of honey", "is pointing at a basket", "are sitting on a bench" use the present continuous for actions happening in the picture, and the speaker keeps it consistent.
• "probably showing the prices" and "so I think she is asking" are cautious inferences that stay close to what can be seen. They add meaning without inventing a story.
• "Overall, the market looks friendly and full of life" closes with a summary line, so the answer ends cleanly.

Marking table

This answer is written to show the features of a CLB 8 to 9 response. It is a practice estimate from our own marking guide. Every row uses one of the four speaking dimensions.

Common mistakes

• Jumping around the picture. Pick an order before you speak and stick to it.
• Listing objects with no actions. Say what people are doing, not only who is there.
• Guessing about things you cannot see. Keep predictions for Task 4.
• Using "there is" for everything. Mix in verbs such as holding, pointing and sitting.
• Spending the whole time on the left side and running out before you reach the background.

To practise without a picture bank, pause any street scene on a video or look out of a window for ten seconds, then describe it left to right. When you are ready for the next task, see the Task 4 sample answer, which asks you to say what happens next.

Questions