CELPIP® Speaking Task 4 sample: Outdoor rink during a winter carnival

Level 7 sample answer

144 words

In the next few minutes, I think some things will go wrong at the carnival. First, the man on the ladder is reaching too far, so the ladder will slip on the snow. Maybe he will jump down, and the girl will drop the lights. Second, the boy in the red snowsuit can't stop, so he will crash into the orange pylons. Also the skater is going backward in front of him, so she might bump into him, but I think they will just fall on the ice and laugh. At the back, the lid of the hot chocolate will come off, um, and the two women will have to clean the mess. On the right, the man with the snowblower will destroy some snow sculptures by accident, and that will be a shame. And the husky will pull his owner on the ice.

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 answer makes clear predictions about several people and usually explains them with visible clues. Compared with level 9, its general vocabulary, repeated sentence patterns, and loosely linked incidents make the response less developed and conversational.

• Also the skater is going backward in front of him, so she might bump into him, — Content/Coherence: The answer connects the skater's movement with a possible collision, rather than treating everyone separately. A higher-level answer would combine this more smoothly with the boy's predicted crash into the pylons, making the sequence easier to follow.
• I think some things will go wrong at the carnival. — Vocabulary: This introduces the overall prediction clearly, but some things will go wrong is broad and basic. A higher-level answer would use more precise language throughout to describe how the ladder moves, the pylons scatter, and the sculptures are damaged.
• And the husky will pull his owner on the ice. — Listenability: The short sentence is easy to understand, but it feels abruptly added at the end. A higher-level answer would give this final prediction a fuller spoken rhythm, connecting the dog's pulling with the owner's likely loss of control.
• the man on the ladder is reaching too far, so the ladder will slip on the snow. — Task Fulfillment: This directly answers the prediction task and gives a relevant reason from the picture. A higher-level answer would also use the ladder's existing tilt to strengthen the explanation and distinguish the likely accident from the man's possible escape.

Level 9 sample answer

165 words

Okay, Declan, here's what I think is about to happen.

First, the man stringing up the lights is leaning way too far, and since the ladder's already tilting on packed snow, I'd say it's going to slide out from under him. Hopefully he'll just hop down onto the snow, while the girl holding the cord ends up laughing even harder.

On the ice, the boy in red is clearly out of control, so he'll plough straight into those orange pylons and send them flying. And because the figure skater is gliding backward into his path, the two of them might end up in a heap on the ice, though more embarrassed than anything.

In the background, that loose lid is likely to pop off the urn, so the women will have to stop arguing and fix it together.

Finally, the man with the snowblower is heading right for the snow sculptures, so unless someone stops him, a few of them are going to get flattened.

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 answer gives Declan a well-organized sequence of predictions, supported by clear causes and specific action vocabulary. Compared with level 11, some transitions remain formulaic, and the explanations show less variety in conditional reasoning and phrasing.

• And because the figure skater is gliding backward into his path, the two of them might end up in a heap — Content/Coherence: The response links the boy and skater through their intersecting paths, creating a connected incident. A higher-level answer would sustain this control across the scene, varying how it connects clues, possible interventions, and consequences.
• he'll plough straight into those orange pylons and send them flying. — Vocabulary: Plough straight into and send them flying vividly describe both the collision and its result. This is more precise than the level 7 wording; the level 11 answer sustains a wider range of expressive phrases across more situations.
• Okay, Declan, here's what I think is about to happen. — Listenability: The direct address and contractions create a natural spoken opening. The later sequence markers help listeners follow, although a higher-level answer would vary those transitions more fluidly instead of relying on First, In the background, and Finally.
• unless someone stops him, a few of them are going to get flattened. — Task Fulfillment: This predicts damage to the sculptures while recognizing that intervention could prevent it. That qualification strengthens the response. A higher-level answer would use similarly varied conditions and consequences more consistently, including in the prediction about the women and urn.

Level 11 sample answer

180 words

Well, Declan, if I'm reading this picture right, the next few minutes at that rink will be eventful.

Take the man on the stepladder: he's stretching so far that, with the ladder already tilting on packed snow, it's only a matter of time before it slides out from under him. With any luck, he'll hop down in time, and the girl holding the cord will find it even funnier.

The boy in red hasn't mastered stopping yet. He's bound to plough into those pylons, and since the skater is gliding backward into his path, I'd expect a gentle tangle and plenty of sheepish apologies.

At the back, if those two women keep arguing instead of fixing that lid, it'll pop off and they'll have a sticky mess on their hands. On the right, the husky is straining so hard that its owner will probably be towed onto the ice whether he likes it or not. And unless somebody flags down the man with the snowblower, at least one of those sculptures will be levelled before he realizes what he's done.

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 answer combines detailed visual reasoning with fluent, varied phrasing and a clear conversational voice. Its connected predictions, conditional outcomes, and precise action vocabulary make the scene's likely developments easy to imagine and follow.

• if those two women keep arguing instead of fixing that lid, it'll pop off — Content/Coherence: This builds a clear chain from continued arguing to delayed action and a likely consequence. Compared with the earlier answers, the prediction develops through a condition, making the women's behaviour part of the explanation.
• I'd expect a gentle tangle and plenty of sheepish apologies. — Vocabulary: Gentle tangle gives the collision a specific character, while sheepish apologies concisely predicts the social aftermath. The phrasing develops the incident beyond the simpler falling and embarrassment described in the other answers.
• Take the man on the stepladder: — Listenability: This conversational transition directs Declan's attention immediately to a particular person. Alongside the varied sentence openings elsewhere, it gives the written response a natural spoken rhythm without depending on a repeated list structure.
• the husky is straining so hard that its owner will probably be towed onto the ice — Task Fulfillment: The prediction explicitly connects the dog's visible effort with what will happen to its owner. Probably calibrates the certainty, while towed captures the owner's lack of control. This maintains the response's pattern of evidence followed by a likely outcome.