CELPIP® Speaking Task 4 sample: Clothing store returns counter

Making Predictions · Preparation: 30 seconds · Response: 60 seconds · Published 23 October 2026

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

Practice question

Stay with this picture and explain what is most likely to happen next. Connect your predictions to the people's actions and the objects around them. Take 30 seconds to prepare and speak for 60 seconds.

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

118 words

I think Rui will finish checking the torn jacket and discuss a replacement of it with Leila. She's holding the damaged sleeve up, so that seems to be the main problem. The man waiting with his parcel look impatient, but he'll probably have to wait a little longer. On the left, the girl will likely stop and free her backpack strap before the scarf falls. Um, the woman at the coat rack may pause to fix the slipping hangers. The employee wrapping the package will probably notice the boy reaching towards the ribbon roll. She might move it away from the edge so it doesn't drop. The man comparing coats will probably keep looking before he chooses one.

Why this answer is at level 7

This answer makes clear, relevant predictions about the store's developing problems and usually connects them to visible actions. Compared with the higher-level answers, its explanations are less developed, its transitions are more repetitive, and occasional awkward wording reduces fluency.

On the left, the girl will likely stop and free her backpack strap before the scarf falls. — Content/Coherence: This connects the caught strap to a plausible next action and consequence. The higher-level answers develop the sequence more carefully, explaining how stopping and releasing the strap could prevent the scarf from sliding farther.
discuss a replacement of it with Leila. — Vocabulary: The intended meaning is understandable, but 'a replacement of it' sounds awkward. The higher-level answers use more natural expressions such as discussing an exchange or return, which also describe the possible next conversation more precisely.
The man waiting with his parcel look impatient, but he'll probably have to wait a little longer. — Listenability: The sentence is easy to understand, but 'man ... look' contains a subject–verb agreement error. The higher-level answers maintain smoother grammatical control and explain why the employees' current activities could prolong his wait.
She might move it away from the edge so it doesn't drop. — Task Fulfillment: This predicts a sensible response to the ribbon roll's precarious position. A higher-level answer would connect the roll's position and the boy's reaching hand more explicitly to the employee's likely intervention.

Level 9 sample answer

151 words

Rui will probably explain the next step for the damaged jacket after examining its torn seam. Leila may be offered an exchange, although the picture doesn't tell us whether that will be approved. The man with the closed parcel is likely to remain waiting, which could make him increasingly impatient while both employees are occupied. On the left, the girl should notice that her backpack strap is pulling the scarf down. I expect her to stop and carefully release it before continuing. The woman at the crowded rack will probably have to deal with the two slipping hangers before removing her coat completely. Meanwhile, the ribbon roll could easily be knocked off the counter because it's balanced at the edge and the boy is reaching towards it. The wrapping employee may catch it or move it farther back. Overall, these small interruptions will probably slow the store's activity for a moment.

Why this answer is at level 9

This answer develops predictions through clear causes and consequences, especially around the waiting customer and ribbon roll. It is more explanatory and controlled than the lower-level answer, while some general wording and a broad closing statement make it less precise than the strongest answer.

which could make him increasingly impatient while both employees are occupied. — Content/Coherence: This explains how the employees' activities could affect the waiting customer's mood, extending the prediction beyond simply saying he will wait. The strongest answer expresses the connection more directly by identifying the other employee's wrapping work.
I expect her to stop and carefully release it before continuing. — Vocabulary: The wording communicates a sensible sequence, but 'release it' is fairly general. The strongest answer uses 'disentangle' to describe the specific action needed when the backpack strap has caught the scarf.
Meanwhile, the ribbon roll could easily be knocked off the counter because it's balanced at the edge and the boy is reaching towards it. — Listenability: The causal structure makes this longer sentence easy to follow, and 'Meanwhile' clearly shifts attention to another incident. The strongest answer distributes the prediction and its supporting evidence across shorter sentences, giving each idea more breathing room.
Rui will probably explain the next step for the damaged jacket after examining its torn seam. — Task Fulfillment: This directly predicts what will follow Rui's examination and anchors it in the damaged seam. Although the answer subsequently suggests an exchange, the strongest version makes the likely discussion more specific immediately by naming both exchange and return possibilities.

Level 11 sample answer

160 words

The damaged jacket will probably remain the focus of Rui's attention for another moment. Once he's examined the torn sleeve seam, I'd expect him to discuss whether Leila can exchange or return it; a particular outcome can't be established from the picture alone. Because the other employee is occupied with wrapping, the man holding a closed parcel may have to wait a little longer. Elsewhere, the girl in yellow will probably stop moving and disentangle her backpack strap from the scarf. If she does that promptly, she should be able to keep it from sliding any farther. The frustrated woman at the rack may also need to pause, since two neighbouring hangers are already slipping off the rail. At the wrapping counter, the employee will likely move the ribbon roll within safer reach. Its position at the edge, combined with the boy's outstretched hand, makes a brief interruption quite probable. The coat comparison in the background should continue more calmly.

Why this answer is at level 11

This answer combines precise language, smooth organization, and carefully qualified predictions. Its strongest feature is the way it builds likely sequences from the caught strap, slipping hangers, and unstable ribbon roll while distinguishing possible actions from guaranteed outcomes.

If she does that promptly, she should be able to keep it from sliding any farther. — Content/Coherence: This follows the prediction about freeing the strap with a clear conditional consequence. It explains how the girl's response could change what happens to the scarf, creating a developed sequence rather than an isolated prediction.
the girl in yellow will probably stop moving and disentangle her backpack strap from the scarf. — Vocabulary: 'Disentangle' precisely describes the physical problem and its likely solution. Identifying the girl by her clothing also helps the listener locate the action without adding unnecessary description.
The frustrated woman at the rack may also need to pause, since two neighbouring hangers are already slipping off the rail. — Listenability: The sentence moves smoothly from person to prediction to supporting reason. 'May also need to pause' connects this interruption with the preceding one, while 'since' makes the relationship between the slipping hangers and her response immediately clear.
Once he's examined the torn sleeve seam, I'd expect him to discuss whether Leila can exchange or return it; — Task Fulfillment: This gives a concrete next step grounded in Rui's examination of the damaged jacket. Predicting a discussion about possible remedies keeps the response useful and specific while avoiding a guaranteed decision about Leila's return.

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.

Connect each prediction to visible evidence. Explain plausible next events and use language of likelihood instead of presenting guesses as facts.

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.

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