CELPIP® Speaking Task 4 sample: Garden centre checkout aisle

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

Using the visible clues in this picture, predict the most likely developments during the next few minutes. Explain what makes each prediction reasonable. Prepare for 30 seconds and respond for 60 seconds.

View diagonally through a covered garden centre in Abbotsford on a drizzly April afternoon, with rain visible beyond its open side. In the left foreground, Amina, a woman around 40 in purple, hesitantly holds an extra herb pot above her already full shopping basket. In the centre foreground, Tyler, a man around 20 in green, carefully pushes a cart carrying a tall flowering plant; a branch brushes a hanging watering can. At the right foreground, a tense woman around 60 in yellow offers a handful of coins across the checkout counter. Behind it at the right centre, a patient male cashier around 30 in blue counts them. At the left centre, a worried girl around 15 in red reaches for an empty plant tray tilting over a bench edge. In the centre background, a boy around nine in orange cheerfully pours water from a jug into a pot. At the left background opening, a concerned man around 70 in grey grips a translucent curtain billowing toward small pots. In the right background, an impatient woman around 30 in teal holds a flat of seedlings behind Tyler's cart in the narrow aisle. All surfaces and containers are unmarked; include no writing or logos.

Model answers

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

Level 7 sample answer

119 words

Tyler will probably stop pushing for a moment because the plant is brushing the watering can. He need to move the branch away before going farther. The woman behind him may have to wait because there's not much space in narrow aisle. Also, the cashier will probably finish counting the coins, and then the older woman can complete her purchase. Um, I think Amina might put the extra herb pot back because her basket is already full. On the left, the girl will probably catch the empty tray before it falls. The older man may pull the curtain away from the small pots, too. He's already holding it, so he seems ready to prevent it from knocking anything over.

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 example makes clear, relevant predictions and gives several sensible reasons. Compared with the higher-level examples, its ideas are linked less smoothly, some supporting clues remain implicit, and grammatical slips interrupt otherwise understandable speech.

Tyler will probably stop pushing for a moment because the plant is brushing the watering can. — Content/Coherence: This clearly connects a prediction to a visible clue. The higher-level answers develop the connection further by explaining what continued movement could cause or how Tyler's adjustment affects the waiting shopper.
He need to move the branch away before going farther. — Listenability: The intended action is easy to understand, but the grammatical slip in “He need” interrupts the flow. The higher-level examples use more controlled sentence structures to explain Tyler's next move.
The older man may pull the curtain away from the small pots, too. — Vocabulary: The everyday vocabulary communicates the action clearly. The higher-level examples add precise language about the curtain's billowing movement and its possible effect on the display, making the prediction more informative.
On the left, the girl will probably catch the empty tray before it falls. — Task Fulfillment: This predicts a relevant development, but the supporting clue is left implicit. The higher-level answers explicitly connect the likely catch to the girl's reaching movement and the tray's tilted position.

Level 9 sample answer

148 words

I expect Tyler to pause and adjust the flowering plant before moving his cart farther down the aisle. Since a branch is brushing the hanging watering can, continuing straight ahead could knock it loose. The woman with seedlings will probably remain behind him until there's enough space to pass. At the checkout, the cashier is likely to finish counting the coins, allowing the woman in yellow to complete her payment. That should keep things moving. Amina faces a smaller decision: her basket is full, so she may return the extra herb pot instead of trying to balance it on top. Two people will probably react more quickly. The girl in red is already reaching for the tilting tray, so she'll likely catch it. Meanwhile, the older man should pull the billowing curtain away from the small pots, because leaving it there could disturb the display near the opening.

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 example develops predictions with clear causes, consequences, and more precise vocabulary than the level 7 example. It is well organized, while the level 11 example integrates people's reactions more closely and handles the uncertainty around payment more carefully.

Two people will probably react more quickly. — Content/Coherence: This groups the girl and older man into a coherent section instead of simply adding more predictions. The top example sharpens that organization by identifying these as immediate reactions and locating them on the left.
Since a branch is brushing the hanging watering can, continuing straight ahead could knock it loose. — Vocabulary: The movement language makes the possible accident easy to picture and adds detail beyond the level 7 explanation. The top example also uses compact expressions such as repositioning the plant or cart to describe the solution.
Amina faces a smaller decision: her basket is full, so she may return the extra herb pot — Listenability: The transition introduces Amina naturally, and the cause-and-effect structure is easy to follow aloud. The top example varies the rhythm further by separating her possible decision from the explanation about finding a secure place.
At the checkout, the cashier is likely to finish counting the coins, allowing the woman in yellow to complete her payment. — Task Fulfillment: This gives a plausible next step supported by the ongoing coin counting. The top example makes the prediction more carefully qualified by explicitly linking successful payment to whether the offered amount is sufficient.

Level 11 sample answer

159 words

The cart will probably come to a brief stop. With a branch brushing the hanging watering can, Tyler will need to reposition either the plant or the cart before proceeding. That manoeuvre may test the patience of the woman behind him, although the narrow aisle gives her little opportunity to pass. At the checkout, the cashier should soon finish counting the offered coins; assuming the amount is sufficient, the payment will be completed. Amina, meanwhile, may decide against the additional herb pot. Her basket is visibly full, so finding a secure place for it would be difficult. The more immediate reactions will probably occur on the left. Since the teenage girl is already reaching towards the tray as it tilts over the bench edge, she's likely to catch it. The older man will probably draw the curtain away from the small pots as well. Its billowing movement gives him a clear reason to act before the display is disturbed.

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 example combines precise predictions, explicit visual support, and carefully qualified outcomes. Its connected explanations and varied sentence patterns make the scene's likely developments clear, including how Tyler's movement affects the shopper behind him.

That manoeuvre may test the patience of the woman behind him, although the narrow aisle gives her little opportunity to pass. — Content/Coherence: This connects Tyler's adjustment with another person's likely reaction and the physical restriction of the aisle. It develops a chain of consequences rather than treating each person as a separate item.
Her basket is visibly full, so finding a secure place for it would be difficult. — Vocabulary: The phrase “a secure place” precisely explains why adding the herb pot would be impractical. The vocabulary supports the reasoning about Amina's decision without making the explanation cumbersome.
The more immediate reactions will probably occur on the left. — Listenability: This short transition gives listeners both a location and a reason for grouping the next predictions. It provides a clear pause between the shopping decisions and the actions needed to protect the tray and pots.
assuming the amount is sufficient, the payment will be completed. — Task Fulfillment: This qualifies the checkout prediction precisely: counting the coins may lead to completed payment if the amount covers the purchase. It distinguishes a likely development from a guaranteed outcome while keeping the explanation concise.

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.

Answer this question and get your level