CELPIP® Speaking Task 3 sample: Clothing store returns counter

Describing a Scene · Preparation: 30 seconds · Response: 60 seconds · Published 23 October 2026

Original practice questions in CELPIP® task formats, created independently by CELPIP Study.

Practice question

Your friend can't open the picture you're discussing on the phone. Describe this clothing store, including the people, their positions and what they're doing. You have 30 seconds to prepare, followed by 60 seconds to speak.

Entrance-level view of a clothing store in Sherbrooke on a rainy October afternoon; droplets cover the front window. In the centre foreground, Leila, a woman around 30 in red, disappointedly holds up a blue jacket with a torn sleeve seam above an open plain delivery carton. Behind the counter at the right foreground, Rui, a male employee around 40 in navy, patiently examines the tear. At the left foreground, an impatient man around 50 in grey waits with a closed plain parcel. At the left centre, a worried girl around 15 in yellow grips her backpack strap, which has caught a scarf on a display; the scarf is sliding downward. In the centre background, a woman around 60 in green looks frustrated while pulling a coat from a crowded rack, leaving two neighbouring hangers slipping off the rail. In the right background, a thoughtful man around 20 in brown compares two coats. At the right centre counter, a sales associate, a woman about 25 wearing purple, concentrates on wrapping a package with ribbon; the loose ribbon roll balances at the edge. Beside it, a delighted boy around seven in orange reaches towards the roll. No writing, labels, signs or logos.

Model answers

These are transcripts of a model response, provided for comparison with your own recording.

Level 7 sample answer

121 words

It's a clothing store in Sherbrooke, and rain is covering the front window. At front, a woman in red is holding a blue jacket above a delivery carton. The sleeve has a torn seam, and she looks disappointed. A man in navy behind the counter is checking it patiently. Another man is waiting with a parcel, and the line seem slow. On the left, a girl's backpack strap has caught a scarf that's sliding down. Um, there's also an older woman pulling a coat from a crowded rack. Some hangers are slipping beside it. On the right, a young man compares coats, while an employee wraps a package. A little boy is reaching towards her ribbon roll at the counter edge.

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 answer covers the main people and actions in understandable language. Compared with the higher-level answers, its broader positioning, loose references and occasional grammatical slips make the scene less precise and connected.

Um, there's also an older woman pulling a coat from a crowded rack. — Content/Coherence: The action is clear, but the woman enters as another item in a list. A higher-level answer would connect this background activity to the main counter scene through clearer grouping and positioning.
Some hangers are slipping beside it. — Vocabulary: The simple wording communicates movement, but “some” and “beside it” leave the detail vague. The higher-level answers identify the neighbouring hangers and specify that they are slipping off the rail.
Another man is waiting with a parcel, and the line seem slow. — Listenability: The sentence is easy to follow overall, although “the line seem” creates a grammatical stumble. A higher-level answer would maintain accurate agreement and express the man's impatience more directly.
On the right, a young man compares coats, while an employee wraps a package. — Task Fulfillment: This covers both actions and gives a useful general direction. For a friend who cannot see the picture, a higher-level answer would distinguish the man in the right background from the employee at the right centre counter.

Level 9 sample answer

150 words

This picture shows a clothing store in Sherbrooke on a rainy October afternoon. In the centre foreground, Leila, wearing red, holds up a blue jacket with a torn sleeve seam. She looks disappointed, while Rui, the employee in navy behind the counter, patiently examines the damage. An impatient man in grey waits on the left with a closed parcel, so the service counter seems busy. Nearby, a teenage girl in yellow looks worried because her backpack strap has caught a scarf that's sliding off its display. Behind her, an older woman in green is struggling with a crowded coat rack; two neighbouring hangers are slipping off the rail. A young man in brown is comparing coats in the right background. Closer to us, an employee in purple is wrapping a package with ribbon. She's concentrating, while a delighted little boy reaches towards the loose roll balanced at the counter edge.

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 answer gives a detailed, coherent tour with clear positions, accurate action descriptions and varied clauses. Compared with level 11, it relies more on moving from person to person and less on grouping the scene around its main interaction.

In the centre foreground, Leila, wearing red, holds up a blue jacket with a torn sleeve seam. — Content/Coherence: This establishes a clear foreground anchor before describing the employee's response. The level 11 answer strengthens that organization by explicitly identifying the returns counter as the main interaction and grouping the remaining activities.
two neighbouring hangers are slipping off the rail. — Vocabulary: “Neighbouring” and “rail” describe the rack incident precisely, improving on level 7's vague reference to hangers slipping nearby. Level 11 sustains this precision while using more compact phrasing across the scene.
She's concentrating, while a delighted little boy reaches towards the loose roll balanced at the counter edge. — Listenability: The contrasting actions fit into a clear sentence with a useful pause before “while.” Level 11 integrates the employee's concentration into the wrapping description, reducing the need to restart with a separate statement.
A young man in brown is comparing coats in the right background. — Task Fulfillment: Clothing, position and action help the listener identify this person clearly. The level 11 answer also conveys his thoughtful manner, showing fuller use of the scene's emotional details.

Level 11 sample answer

163 words

The picture shows a busy clothing store in Sherbrooke, with October rain beading on the front window. The main interaction is at the returns counter: Leila, dressed in red, disappointedly displays the torn sleeve seam of a blue jacket above an open delivery carton. Behind the counter on the right, Rui, in navy, examines the tear with a patient expression. To the left, a grey-clad man waits impatiently with a closed parcel. Several smaller activities compete for attention. A worried teenage girl in yellow grips a backpack strap that's snagged a scarf, which is sliding down its display. In the centre background, a frustrated older woman in green pulls a coat from a tightly packed rack, leaving two adjacent hangers slipping off the rail. A thoughtful young man in brown compares coats farther right. At the right centre counter, an employee in purple concentrates on wrapping a package, while a delighted boy in orange reaches towards the ribbon roll balanced at its edge.

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 answer organizes the scene around the returns counter, then connects the surrounding activities through precise, varied language. It combines positions, expressions and interacting actions to give the listener a clear mental picture.

Several smaller activities compete for attention. — Content/Coherence: This transition groups the secondary incidents after the main counter interaction. It gives the description a clear hierarchy, making the busy store easier to follow than a continuous list of people.
The picture shows a busy clothing store in Sherbrooke, with October rain beading on the front window. — Vocabulary: “Rain beading” describes the droplets vividly and economically. The opening combines the store's location, weather and atmosphere in natural language before moving to the people.
Behind the counter on the right, Rui, in navy, examines the tear with a patient expression. — Listenability: The location comes first, followed by the person, clothing and action. This orderly sentence structure offers natural phrase boundaries and helps the listener connect Rui to the damaged jacket.
A worried teenage girl in yellow grips a backpack strap that's snagged a scarf, which is sliding down its display. — Task Fulfillment: The description captures the girl's appearance, emotion and action while explaining how the strap and falling scarf are connected. That relationship helps the listener reconstruct the incident rather than merely identify its objects.

What moves an answer from 7 to 9 to 11

These are model answers written to show each level. The labels are practice estimates, not examiner scores.

Orient the listener to the scene, then group visible details by location or activity. Use precise descriptions and spatial connections rather than an unconnected inventory.

Content/Coherence: Level 7 models communicate the main ideas; level 9 models develop relevant details with clear connections; level 11 models sustain precise, well-integrated development.
Vocabulary: Compare adequate everyday wording with more varied, accurate choices at level 9 and flexible, precise expression at level 11.
Listenability: Higher-level delivery needs clear pronunciation, rhythm, intonation and controlled pauses. Transcripts suggest phrasing and organisation, but cannot demonstrate these audio features; a recording is needed.
Task Fulfillment: Compare how fully the response addresses the request, develops enough relevant detail and maintains an appropriate tone for the audience within the task limits.

Assess the criteria together. A longer answer or rarer words alone do not establish a higher level.

Answer this question and get your level