CELPIP, Speaking
CELPIP Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
You choose between two options and persuade someone that your choice is better.
Format and scoring
| Skill | Speaking |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 60 seconds |
| Response time | Up to 60 seconds |
| How it's scored | Scored on content and coherence, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfillment. |
| Weight (estimate) | About 13% of your speaking score |
How to answer Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
- 1State your choice.
- 2Compare it with the other option on two points.
- 3Persuade with a clear benefit.
Common mistakes
- Describing both options without a comparison.
- Choose fast, then commit: There is no right answer, so pick the option with the most details you can talk about. Spend your preparation time on reasons, not on changing your mind.
- Open with the listener and your choice: Speak to the person in the prompt, name both options, and say which one you prefer in your first sentence.
Sample question
Lake cabin or Quebec City apartment?
Your family is planning a one-week summer holiday and has narrowed the choice down to two rentals. Lakeside cabin, Muskoka: $1,400 for the week, 2.5-hour drive from home, Free canoe and two kayaks; private dock, No Wi-Fi; two bedrooms plus a sofa bed. Apartment in Old Quebec: $1,650 for the week, 8-hour drive or 5-hour train ride, Walking distance to museums, restaurants and festivals, Three bedrooms and a rooftop terrace.
Choose the option you prefer. Then persuade your sister, who prefers the other option, that your choice is better. Speak as if you are talking to her, and compare the two options.
Show a model answer (Level 12)
Maya, I know you've got your heart set on Quebec City, but hear me out, because I really think the lake cabin is the better choice for us this year. First, think about the cost. The cabin is two hundred and fifty dollars cheaper, and since it's only a two-and-a-half-hour drive, we'd save a lot on gas or train tickets compared with an eight-hour trip. Second, we all need a real break. With no Wi-Fi, Dad can't check his work email every ten minutes, and we can spend our evenings on the dock instead of staring at our phones. And don't forget the free canoe and kayaks. That's a whole week of activities without paying for a single museum ticket. I know the apartment has an extra bedroom, but we could easily take turns on the sofa bed. Quebec City will still be there next year, and I promise we'll plan it together.