CELPIP · Speaking · S7
CELPIP Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions
CELPIP Speaking Task 7, Expressing Opinions, gives you a question on an everyday social issue, such as a school or community policy. You have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to state your opinion and support it with reasons and examples. It is one of the two longest speaking responses.
- Preparation time
- 30 seconds
- Speaking time
- 90 seconds
- Prompt
- An issue with two sides; you agree or disagree
- Rating areas
- Content/coherence, vocabulary, listenability, task fulfillment
- Scoring
- Counts toward your CELPIP Speaking level (1 to 12)
How it works
- 1The question appears, often presenting two views on an issue.
- 2You have 30 seconds to choose your position and your reasons.
- 3Recording starts automatically.
- 4Give your opinion for up to 90 seconds; recording stops at the time limit.
Sample task
Original sample · not from an official test
Some people think cities should close their busiest downtown streets to cars on weekends so people can walk and shop freely. Others think this hurts drivers and businesses. What is your opinion? Explain your reasons.
Show a strong responseHide response
Outline: Position in the first sentence: you support weekend closures. Reason 1 with an example: pedestrians spend more time in shops and cafés when streets are calm. Reason 2 with an example: closures give families a safe place to walk and cycle. Concession: some drivers would be inconvenienced, but parking at the edge of downtown and extra transit could solve that. Conclusion: restate your position in one sentence.
A strong response states a clear position immediately, develops two reasons with specific examples, deals with the other side in a sentence or two, and closes by restating the view. Opinion and linking language ("in my view", "another reason is", "admittedly") keeps it organized.
Tips that work
- State your position in the first sentence. Raters and listeners should never have to guess.
- Plan two reasons, each with an example. That structure fills 90 seconds comfortably.
- Mention the opposing view briefly and explain why you still disagree with it.
- Choose the side that is easier to explain, even if your real opinion is more mixed.
Common mistakes
- Sitting on the fence for the whole response.
- Giving reasons with no examples, then running out of material halfway.
- Starting with a long introduction and reaching the first reason after 30 seconds.
Questions candidates ask
Can I say I partly agree in Task 7?
You can acknowledge the other side, but take a clear main position. A response that only balances both views without deciding tends to feel less complete than one that argues for a side and handles a counterpoint.
How long is the speaking time for Task 7?
90 seconds, after 30 seconds of preparation. Along with Task 1, it is the longest speaking response, so practise building two developed reasons that last the full time.
What topics come up in Task 7?
Everyday social issues, such as school rules, city services, work habits or technology use. They are topics most adults have an opinion on, so no special knowledge is required.
Can I get feedback on my opinion responses?
Yes. EnglishHub records your response with the real 30-second preparation and 90-second speaking timers, then gives AI feedback on content and coherence, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfillment.
Other CELPIP Speaking tasks
CELPIP overviewCELPIP Speaking: all partsCELPIP full mock testsCELPIP articles on the blog