CELPIP · SPEAKING TASK GUIDE
Comparing and Persuading
The odd one out: on the first screen you only choose between two options and say nothing at all.
How the task works
Two screens. On the first you are given two options and sixty seconds to choose between them — you say nothing at all. On the second you get sixty seconds to prepare and sixty to persuade a named person of your choice.
It is the only speaking task split this way, and the silence on the first screen unsettles people who have not met it before.
Strategy that works
- Use the first screen properly: decide, and start assembling reasons.
- Persuade the named person, in their terms. What would convince your brother is not what would convince your manager.
- Compare explicitly. The option you rejected should be mentioned and dismissed with a reason.
- Address them directly and keep the pressure gentle.
What costs marks
- Speaking on the first screen, or panicking when the microphone bar stays flat.
- Describing both options neutrally instead of persuading.
- Forgetting who you are talking to and delivering a general argument.
Practise it
Worked examples of this task, with answers and explanations, are on the CELPIP speaking samples page. The rest of the section is set out on the CELPIP speaking description page.
Common questions
How long do I get?
60 seconds on the second screen, after 60 seconds to choose, then 60 seconds to prepare of preparation.
Is anyone listening live?
No. You speak into a headset and the recording is rated later. There is no examiner in the room and no second attempt.
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