CELPIP · Speaking

CELPIP Speaking Test: All 8 Tasks Explained

The CELPIP Speaking test is the last section of CELPIP-General. It has 8 tasks, from giving advice to describing an unusual picture, and takes about 15 minutes. You speak to a computer, which records each response under strict timers. Raters score content, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfillment, giving a Speaking level from 1 to 12.

Tasks: 8 scored tasks, after an unscored practice task
Time: About 15 minutes
Speaking time: 60 seconds per task, except 90 seconds for Tasks 1 and 7
Preparation: 30 seconds for most tasks; 60 seconds for Tasks 5 and 6
Scoring: CELPIP level 1 to 12 for Speaking

How CELPIP Speaking works

Speaking is computer-delivered: you read or see each prompt on screen, prepare while a timer counts down, and then speak into a microphone. Recording starts automatically and stops when the time runs out. The eight tasks are Giving Advice, Talking About a Personal Experience, Describing a Scene, Making Predictions, Comparing and Persuading, Dealing with a Difficult Situation, Expressing Opinions, and Describing an Unusual Situation.

Timings differ by task. Tasks 1 and 7 give 30 seconds to prepare and 90 to speak. Tasks 2, 3, 4 and 8 give 30 seconds to prepare and 60 to speak. Task 5 gives 60 seconds to choose an option, then 60 to prepare and 60 to speak. Task 6 gives 60 seconds to prepare and 60 to speak. Tasks 3 and 4 use the same picture.

Raters judge content and coherence, vocabulary, listenability, and task fulfillment. Together the eight responses give your Speaking score on the CELPIP level scale from 1 to 12, aligned with CLB levels.

CELPIP Speaking tasks

Tips that work

Practise with a timer that matches each task, so 60 and 90 seconds feel familiar.
Use preparation time for a plan of two or three points, not a script.
Keep talking steadily; a short pause is fine, but long silences cost you content.
Speak to the person in the prompt when the task gives you one (a friend, a neighbour, a manager).

Questions candidates ask

How long is the CELPIP Speaking test?

About 15 minutes for 8 tasks, plus a short unscored practice task. Each task has its own preparation and speaking timers, and the recording starts and stops automatically.

Which CELPIP Speaking tasks have the longest responses?

Task 1 (Giving Advice) and Task 7 (Expressing Opinions) each allow 90 seconds of speaking. All other tasks allow 60 seconds, so plan more content for those two tasks.

Do I speak to a person or a computer?

To a computer. Your answers are recorded and scored later by raters. The prompts often ask you to imagine speaking to a specific person, so talk as if they were listening.

Can I practise speaking with feedback?

Yes. EnglishHub records your answers with the real task timers and gives AI feedback on content, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfillment for every speaking task.

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