Dealing with a Difficult Situation

Someone has to be disappointed. Choose who, say it politely, and leave the relationship intact.

How the task works

Time

60 seconds

Counts as

1 task

Preparation

60 seconds

Section

Speaking

A situation where somebody has to be let down: two people want incompatible things and you must speak to one of them. Sixty seconds to prepare — double the usual — and sixty to speak.

The extra preparation time is a signal: the choice of who to disappoint is part of the task.

Strategy that works

Say who you are speaking to and what you have decided, early.
Soften with modals and conditionals: "I was hoping we could", "would it be possible".
Give a reason and offer an alternative. Refusal plus repair is what scores.
Stay warm. The relationship should survive the message.

What costs marks

Explaining the dilemma for forty seconds and never delivering the news.
Being so indirect that the listener would not know they had been refused.
Apologising repeatedly instead of proposing a way forward.

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, after 60 seconds 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.

Written by Kirill O'Nayd

English test expert and educator at TestSucceed, where he builds the CELPIP practice tasks and mock tests and has spent years taking apart how Canada's immigration English tests award their points. See all TestSucceed preparation materials.