English Lesson Plans

CELPIP Speaking sample questions

Talking about a personal experience

Question 1

Describe a travel experience that you enjoyed. This could be to another country, province, city or within your city.

Question 2

Talk about the last time you attended a sporting event. Maybe you watched a game like football or hockey, or swam, or volunteered at a marathon.

Describe a special meal or dish you made.

Describing a scene

Question 1

Describe some things that are happening in the picture below. The person you are speaking to cannot see the image.

Sample answer 1

Sample answer 2

Question 2

Describe some things that are happening in the picture below. The person you are speaking to cannot see the image.

Sample answer

Question 3

Describe some things that are happening in the picture below. The person you are speaking to cannot see the image.

Sample answer 1

Sample answer 2

Comparing and Persuading

Question 1

Question 2

Sample answer 1

Sample answer 2

Question 3

Sample answer 1

Sample answer 2

Dealing with a difficult situation

Question 1

The business you work at recently ran a special promotion that expired last week. A customer came into the store expecting you to honour it. Either:

  1. Explain to the customer that you cannot offer him the promotion OR
  2. Explain to your manager why you should honour it

Question 2

A friend wants you to help him get a job at the company you work at. However, you don’t think he would be well suited to the work. Either:

  1. Explain to him why you cannot help him OR
  2. Explain to your boss why you want them to give him a chance anyway

Sample answer 1

Sample answer 2:

Expressing opinions

Question 1

Do you think playing sports should be required for children in school?

Sample answer 1:

Sample answer 2:

Question 2

Should the government pay parents to stay home and raise their children?

Describing an unusual situation

Question 1

Your friend wants to get a new tattoo, and you run into an acquaintance who recently got one as well. Describe her tattoo to your friend over the phone:

Question 2

You are browsing old photographs for a friend’s collage project, and you come across the following photo. How would you describe it for your friend?

Question 3

While walking down the street, you come across this unusual building. How would you explain what it looks like?

Question 2

Your sibling and you are looking at salons to book for a birthday. One of them has the following image on their website. How would you describe it to your sibling?