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The short version
Say your point early. Give two reasons or details. Finish before the time runs out. Practise out loud with a timer, because what sounds fine in your head often runs long.
The eight tasks
| Task | What it wants | A shape that works |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Giving advice | Help someone with a choice or problem | Advice, why, a second piece of advice, why |
| 2 Personal experience | A short story from your life | When and where, what happened, how it ended |
| 3 Describing a scene | Say what you see in a picture | Big picture first, then left to right |
| 4 Making predictions | Say what happens next in the same picture | Two predictions, each with a reason |
| 5 Comparing and persuading | Pick an option and convince someone | Your choice, two reasons it's better |
| 6 Difficult situation | Handle an awkward choice | Who you'd talk to, what you'd say, why |
| 7 Expressing opinions | Agree or disagree and support it | Opinion, reason, example, reason |
| 8 Unusual situation | Describe something strange to someone | What it is, what it looks like, what it's for |
Use the prep time well
You get a short prep window before each task. Don't write sentences. Write three or four words: your choice and your reasons. For the picture tasks, decide where you'll start. The prep and speaking times change by task, so practise with the real ones. Our speaking timer has them built in.
Sound clear under pressure
- Use signposts: first, another reason, so.
- Forgot a word? Describe it in simpler words and keep going.
- A short pause is fine. Going silent for five seconds hurts more.
- Memorise useful phrases, not whole answers. A memorised answer that misses the question scores badly.
Questions
Is speaking an interview?
No. You speak to the computer and it records you. There's no examiner in the room.
What if I run out of time mid-sentence?
The recording stops. It's better to finish a little early with a clear last line.
Should I use a template?
A loose shape, yes. A word-for-word script, no.
Sources (checked 26 October 2026)
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
Independent practice. Not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises or the CELPIP test.
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