CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Tests
10 CELPIP-General Speaking practice tests in the real format, timed like the exam, with answers when you finish. Eight tasks, about 15 minutes, answered to a computer with an on-screen preparation and speaking timer: giving advice, a personal experience, describing a scene, making predictions, comparing and persuading, a difficult situation, expressing opinions and describing an unusual object.
CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 1 with Answers
A free, interactive CELPIP-General Speaking practice test with answers, about 15 minutes.
TopicsApartment laundry card and intercomStreet garage saleLibrary tool lendingSnowplow tracking mapCommunity garden fundraiserFour-day work weekMoving to HalifaxGym membershipsSugar maples and warming wintersPhones in high-school classroomsRenovation noise complaintLibrary branch vs bike lanesFarmers' marketChoosing a used car
This CELPIP-General Practice Test 1 has 1 paper — Speaking. Choose a paper below to start; your browser will load the interactive version automatically.
Speaking
Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice
A friend of yours has just accepted a job in a city where winter temperatures often drop below minus thirty degrees. Your friend has never lived anywhere very cold and is worried about the move. Advise your friend on how to prepare for life in a very cold city.
- A friend of yours has just accepted a job in a city where winter temperatures often drop below minus thirty degrees. Your friend has never lived anywhere very cold and is worried about the move. Advise your friend on how to prepare for life in a very cold city. Example: Hey, first of all, congratulations on the job! I know minus thirty sounds terrifying, but honestly, people live there happily, and you will too if you prepare a bit. My first piece of advice is about clothing. Don't buy one giant, expensive coat and think you're done. The trick is layers: a thermal shirt, a warm sweater, and then a windproof jacket on top. And please, get good boots with a thick sole and real grip, because the sidewalks can be like an ice rink. A toque, a scarf that covers your face, and mitts, not gloves, make a huge difference too. Second, think about your car, if you're going to drive. You'll want proper winter tires, and in really cold cities, people plug their cars in overnight with a block heater, so ask your landlord if the parking spot has an outlet. Keep a small emergency kit in the trunk, too, like a blanket and a shovel. Finally, and this is the one people forget, don't hide inside all winter. Try skating or cross-country skiing, or join a curling club. If you learn to enjoy the season, those five months go by much faster. You're going to be fine!
Speaking Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience
Talk about a time when you learned a new skill as an adult. What was the skill, and why did you decide to learn it? Describe how you learned it and how you felt about the experience.
- Talk about a time when you learned a new skill as an adult. What was the skill, and why did you decide to learn it? Describe how you learned it and how you felt about the experience. Example: A couple of years ago, when I was thirty-four, I finally learned how to swim. Growing up, I never had lessons, and I always made excuses when my friends went to the beach. But then my daughter started swimming lessons, and I realized I couldn't even join her in the pool. That was kind of embarrassing, so I signed up for an adult beginners' class at our local recreation centre. There were eight of us, all adults, and the instructor was incredibly patient. For the first two weeks, we just practised floating and putting our faces in the water, which sounds easy, but I was genuinely scared. Slowly, though, it got better. By the end of the ten weeks, I could swim a full length of the pool without stopping. I felt so proud. Now my daughter and I go swimming every Sunday, and she likes to tell people she taught me.
Speaking Task 3: Describing a Scene
Describe as much of what is happening in the picture as you can. Imagine you are talking to someone who cannot see it.
- Describe as much of what is happening in the picture as you can. Imagine you are talking to someone who cannot see it. Example: Okay, so this is a busy outdoor farmers' market, and it looks like a sunny Saturday morning in a town square. Right at the front, there's a farmer in a straw hat handing a paper bag of apples to a woman who's holding a toddler on her hip. On the left side, there's a bakery stall with loaves of bread and pies, and a teenage boy behind the table is counting out change. In the middle, a man in a wheelchair is trying a sample of cheese from a vendor in a green apron. Over on the right, a musician is playing guitar, and a little girl is dropping a coin into his guitar case, which is really sweet. Further back, a woman is carrying a huge bunch of sunflowers, and an older couple is checking out jars of honey. Oh, and near the edge, a dog on a leash is sniffing a basket of carrots on the ground.
Speaking Task 4: Making Predictions
Look at the picture. What do you think is most likely to happen next?
- Look at the picture. What do you think is most likely to happen next? Example: I think a few things are going to happen in the next few minutes. First, that dog near the vegetable stall is sniffing the basket of carrots, so I bet it's going to grab one, and its owner will have to apologize and probably buy the whole basket. The woman with the toddler will likely get her apples and then head over to the bakery stall, because the little one is already staring at the pies. The man in the wheelchair seems to be enjoying that cheese sample, so I think he'll end up buying a block of it. The biggest change, though, is the weather. There are dark clouds moving in on the right, so it'll probably start raining soon. The vendors will rush to put up their tents and cover their tables, the musician will close his guitar case, and shoppers will crowd under the tents until the rain passes.
Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
Your family is buying a used car, and you are responsible for finding one. You found two suitable options. Using the pictures and information below, choose the option that you prefer. In the next section, you will need to persuade a family member that your choice is the better choice. If you do not choose an option, the computer will choose Option 1 for you. You do not need to speak for this part.
- Your spouse is suggesting a pickup truck instead. Persuade your spouse that what you chose is more suitable by comparing the two. Example: I know the pickup truck looks great, and I get why you like it, but I really think the hatchback makes more sense for us. Let's start with money. The hatchback is eleven thousand dollars, and the truck is almost twenty thousand, so that's almost nine thousand dollars' difference right there. Then there's gas. The hatchback uses about six litres per hundred kilometres, and the truck uses fourteen. With both of us commuting every day, that could easily be a couple of hundred dollars more every month. Parking is another thing. Our building has those tight underground spots, and a big truck would barely fit. The hatchback's small enough to park anywhere downtown. I know you're thinking about the camping trips, but honestly, we go camping twice a year. For those weekends, we can just rent a trailer or borrow your brother's truck. For everyday life, the hatchback's the smarter choice.
Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
You and a colleague have worked closely together on several projects. Recently, in two team meetings, your colleague presented ideas that you came up with and did not mention your name. Your manager praised your colleague for the ideas. Choose ONE: EITHER Talk to your colleague. Explain why you are upset and what you would like to happen in the future. OR Talk to your manager. Explain the situation without damaging your working relationship with your colleague.
- You and a colleague have worked closely together on several projects. Recently, in two team meetings, your colleague presented ideas that you came up with and did not mention your name. Your manager praised your colleague for the ideas. Choose ONE: EITHER Talk to your colleague. Explain why you are upset and what you would like to happen in the future. OR Talk to your manager. Explain the situation without damaging your working relationship with your colleague. Example: Hi, Daniel, do you have a few minutes? There's something I'd like to talk about, and I want to be honest with you because I really do like working with you. In the last two team meetings, you presented the new scheduling system and the idea to survey our clients. Those were both ideas I shared with you when we were planning, and my name didn't come up at all. When Karen praised you for them, honestly, I felt pretty hurt. I'm sure it wasn't intentional. Meetings move fast, and it's easy to just say 'I' instead of 'we'. But recognition matters to me, especially with my performance review coming up. So, going forward, could we agree to say which ideas came from whom, or maybe present our joint work together? And if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you could mention to Karen that the survey idea was mine. I really want us to keep working well together.
Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions
Answer the following question: Should cities charge customers a fee for plastic shopping bags? Explain your reasons.
- Answer the following question: Should cities charge customers a fee for plastic shopping bags? Explain your reasons. Example: Yes, I definitely think cities should charge a fee for plastic bags, and I have a few reasons. First of all, it actually works. When my city started charging ten cents a bag a few years ago, I noticed the change almost immediately. People started bringing reusable bags, and now at the grocery store, most shoppers have their own. Nobody is forced to do anything; the small fee just reminds people to think before they take a bag. Second, plastic bags cause real environmental problems. They're used for maybe twenty minutes, but they can last for hundreds of years. You see them stuck in trees, blowing around parking lots, and floating in rivers, and they're really hard to recycle, so most of them end up in landfill. Finally, the fee is fair. The people who use the bags pay for them, instead of everyone paying through taxes for cleaning up litter. Some people say it hurts low-income families, but honestly, a reusable bag costs about a dollar and lasts for years, so over time it saves money. Some cities also use the money from the fee for local environmental projects. So overall, I think it's a small, smart policy that makes a big difference.
Speaking Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation
You are at a garage sale, and you see an unusual kitchen gadget. Your roommate collects old and unusual kitchen tools, but the seller will not let you take a photo. Phone your roommate. Provide a full and clear description of the gadget and ask whether you should buy it for them.
- You are at a garage sale, and you see an unusual kitchen gadget. Your roommate collects old and unusual kitchen tools, but the seller will not let you take a photo. Phone your roommate. Provide a full and clear description of the gadget and ask whether you should buy it for them. Example: Hey, it's me. I'm at a garage sale on Elm Street, and there's something here I think you'll love, but the seller won't let me take a picture, so I'll describe it. It's made of heavy, dark metal, like cast iron, and it's about as long as my forearm. At the bottom, there's a big C-shaped clamp, and right now it's clamped onto the edge of the seller's table. Along the top, there's a long screw, kind of like a threaded rod. On the right end, there's a handle you turn, with a round red wooden knob. On the left end, there are three sharp metal prongs sticking out, like a tiny fork, and next to them there's a small curved blade on a springy arm. My guess is you push an apple onto the prongs, turn the handle, and the blade peels it. It's got quite a few rust spots, but it still turns smoothly. It's twenty dollars. Should I get it for you?
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CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 2 with Answers
Phone repair & warrantyReturning to collegeIndigenous art galleryFerry staff shortageRoommates & shared costsSelf-checkout machinesDaycare schedule changeInternet & phone bundlesTrans-Canada HighwayRemote work & downtownsSchedule change requestEmployee reward surveyJob offersAirport arrivalsVacation planningNeighbour's fallen treeMandatory volunteer hoursAntique lamp
Speaking · about 15 min
Start Test 2 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 3 with Answers
Clinic appointment changeRetirement party giftCampsite rules and bear safetyInternational students in a small townSchool playground renovationMinimum driving ageBuilding upgrades letterTravel options to a conferenceBeavers as ecosystem engineersTipping cultureDamaged borrowed tentDog park vs splash padSaving moneyOffice birthdayChoosing an apartmentRent vs buy
Speaking · about 15 min
Start Test 3 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 4 with Answers Pro
Overbooked hotel roomCaring for an ageing parentNewcomer bank accountAward-winning bakery hiring refugeesOpen-plan office seatingRental e-scooters debateProject handover emailCommunity centre programsThe northern lightsPermanent daylight saving timeLost luggage complaintSuburban vs downtown officeMaking friends in a new cityHardware store checkoutChoosing a laptopPets at workUnusual chair
Speaking · about 15 min
See Test 4 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 5 with Answers Pro
Auto repair costsNoisy upstairs neighbourCollege program admissionWildfire smoke school closuresHiking club routeYear-round schoolingSports club membershipMoving companiesGroup of Seven paintersShrinkflationField trip permission formNight transit vs lower fares10 km run trainingPublic swimming poolWedding giftLeaf blower banHotel room device
Speaking · about 15 min
See Test 5 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 6 with Answers Pro
IT help desk: laptop setup and account lockoutHosting a family Thanksgiving dinnerVisiting a historic fortMountain rescue of stranded hikersStreet party permit and road closureBasic income pilot programVolunteer thank-you letter after a charity runChoosing a summer day campIceberg Alley off NewfoundlandLab-grown meat in grocery storesDangerous intersection near a schoolEmployee benefits: gym membership vs weekly lunch
Speaking · about 15 min
See Test 6 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 7 with Answers Pro
Moving-truck rental mix-upJoining a community choirDrugstore rewards programAll-electric town bus fleetGrandparents' 50th anniversaryTuition-free college programsAdvice on immigrating to CanadaFree study spacesHudson's Bay Company fur-trade postsBuilding more roundaboutsApologizing for missing a housewarmingSchool uniforms vs free dress codeStreet festivalChoosing a home heating system
Speaking · about 15 min
See Test 7 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 8 with Answers Pro
Double-booked event hallDifficult client at workTenant insuranceLost dog foundSchool field trip planningCar-free downtown debateCondo parking changesSpanish course optionsCanada geese migrationAI homework helpersLate damaged furniture deliveryOpen-plan office vs cubiclesJob interview nervesFamily clinic waiting roomE-bike vs used carNoisy neighbourSmartphones for childrenUnusual musical instrument
Speaking · about 15 min
See Test 8 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 9 with Answers Pro
Campus housingSurprise partyResume workshopCurbside compostingOffice café supplierTiny homesSchool reunionApartment listingsRideau CanalReturn to officeShared fence repairPool vs seniors' centreFirst homeMoving dayPet adoptionSecond languages
Speaking · about 15 min
See Test 9 →CELPIP-General Speaking Practice Test 10 with Answers Pro
Car rentalCarpoolingGarbage and recyclingHighway rockslideFood bank holiday driveSingle-use coffee cupsJob offerAfter-school programsCanadian ShieldPublicly funded stadiumsHotel billing errorCity trees vs sidewalksCareer changeRestaurant kitchenHome projectsFast food advertisingCostume hat
Speaking · about 15 min
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About the CELPIP-General Speaking paper
Eight tasks, about 15 minutes, answered to a computer with an on-screen preparation and speaking timer: giving advice, a personal experience, describing a scene, making predictions, comparing and persuading, a difficult situation, expressing opinions and describing an unusual object.
How CELPIP-General is scored
CELPIP reports Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking separately, each as a CELPIP level from 12 down to 0-2 that matches the same CLB level; there is no overall score for immigration purposes. On 7ESL, all 38 Listening and 38 Reading questions are marked instantly, with an explanation for every answer and an estimated CELPIP level from your raw score. Writing and Speaking come with samples and model answers, and 7ESL Pro members can ask the AI examiner for an estimated CELPIP level on the four official rating categories.
Other CELPIP-General papers
CELPIP-General Listening practice tests · CELPIP-General Reading practice tests · CELPIP-General Writing practice tests. Or sit a full CELPIP-General practice test.
7ESL practice material written in the public CELPIP format. 7ESL is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Paragon Testing Enterprises or Prometric Canada. CELPIP, CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS are trademarks of Paragon Testing Enterprises. Level estimates are for practice only; official CELPIP levels come only from the real test.