CELPIP® Speaking Task 6 sample: Shared Internet, Frozen Video Calls

Level 7 sample answer

132 words

Hey Felipe, do you have a minute? I want to talk about the internet. Lately my work calls keep freezing between five and seven, and I think it's because of the gaming. I know you work really hard in the lab and you need to relax, so I'm not angry at all. But my manager noticed the problem, and it's a bit embarrassing for me.

I have two ideas. First, could you maybe play after seven on the days I have meetings? I can tell you my schedule every Monday. Or, um, we can upgrade to a faster plan. It costs $45 more for month. If we split it, it's only about twenty-two dollar each. What do you think is better for you? I just want us both to be happy here.

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 answer clearly explains the freezing calls, respects Felipe's need to relax, and offers practical solutions. Compared with the higher-level answers, its reasoning is simpler, its vocabulary is more general, and its grammatical slips make some phrases less natural.

• I have two ideas. — Content/Coherence: This clearly introduces the scheduling and upgrade options, making the response easy to follow. The organization remains a straightforward list; a higher-level answer would explain why a particular arrangement is fair and make the alternatives flow from that reasoning.
• I just want us both to be happy here. — Vocabulary: The friendly wording supports a cooperative conversation, but 'happy here' is broad. A higher-level answer would express the shared benefit more precisely, such as reliable work calls alongside smoother gaming.
• It costs $45 more for month. — Listenability: The cost is understandable, but 'for month' makes the phrasing awkward. The later 'twenty-two dollar each' adds another grammatical slip. A higher-level answer would explain the extra monthly payment in consistently natural language.
• First, could you maybe play after seven on the days I have meetings? — Task Fulfillment: This directly addresses Felipe and requests a workable change during the affected meeting hours. Sharing the schedule also helps. A higher-level answer would develop the fairness of the financial alternative, especially because the speaker needs the upgrade for work.

Level 9 sample answer

165 words

Annika, thanks for making time for this. I wanted to follow up on the freezing during our late-afternoon calls, because I know it's been frustrating, and I'd rather fix it than keep apologizing.

Here's what's going on. I share my internet with the person who lives in the basement suite, and the meetings that run from five to seven my time line up exactly with when he's gaming in the evening. I've looked into a faster plan, and I may still go that route, but in the meantime I was wondering if some of those meetings could move earlier. For the Vancouver team, even shifting the Tuesday and Thursday check-ins to eleven their time would make a huge difference on my end.

I realize that's asking people to rearrange their mornings, so I'm not suggesting we change everything. If two meetings moved, I could handle the rest with my camera off when it gets choppy. Would you be open to raising it with the team?

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 answer gives Annika a detailed explanation and a specific, limited request that considers the Vancouver team's schedule. Compared with the level 7 answer, it develops the proposal more carefully; compared with the level 11 answer, its central request is wordier and its fallback less convincing.

• I realize that's asking people to rearrange their mornings, so I'm not suggesting we change everything. — Content/Coherence: The response anticipates an objection and uses it to justify moving only selected meetings. This develops the reasoning beyond the level 7 list of options. A higher-level answer would connect the limited change to a clearer plan for resolving the remaining connection problems.
• I wanted to follow up on the freezing during our late-afternoon calls — Vocabulary: 'Follow up on' and 'late-afternoon calls' fit a professional conversation and identify the issue precisely. The vocabulary is more specific than the level 7 answer's general wording. A higher-level answer would sustain that precision where phrases such as 'a huge difference' leave the benefit broad.
• but in the meantime I was wondering if some of those meetings could move earlier. — Listenability: The wording politely introduces a temporary request, but the layered lead-in delays the main point. A higher-level answer would retain the tact while reaching the request more directly, as the level 11 answer does when proposing a contribution.
• If two meetings moved, I could handle the rest with my camera off when it gets choppy. — Task Fulfillment: This offers a compromise instead of asking Annika to rearrange every meeting. However, the response does not establish that turning the camera off would keep the remaining calls reliable. A higher-level answer would provide a more dependable fallback or explain how it would be checked.

Level 11 sample answer

178 words

Felipe, got a sec? It's nothing serious, I promise, but it's been on my mind. You know those video meetings I have with the Vancouver office from five to seven? They've been freezing constantly, and after a bit of detective work I'm fairly sure it's because our connection can't handle my calls and your gaming at the same time. To be clear, you're not doing anything wrong. You're entitled to unwind after a long day in the lab, and you pay half the bill.

The trouble is that Annika, my manager, pointed it out in front of the whole team, so it's become a bit of a professional headache. A faster plan would run an extra $45 a month. Since I'm the one who really needs the speed, I'd be happy to cover thirty of that if you'd chip in fifteen; you'd probably notice smoother gaming too. If that doesn't suit your budget, no hard feelings. Could we just work out a schedule where you hold off until seven on my meeting days? Whichever works better for you.

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 answer combines clear reasoning, natural conversational language, and careful attention to Felipe's position. Its strength is the negotiation: the speaker accepts a larger share of the upgrade cost, explains the mutual benefit, and offers a scheduling alternative without pressure.

• our connection can't handle my calls and your gaming at the same time. — Content/Coherence: This frames the problem as competing demands on a shared connection, which supports both proposed solutions: increasing capacity or separating usage times. The explanation makes the later negotiation feel logical and avoids turning the conversation into an accusation.
• so it's become a bit of a professional headache. — Vocabulary: 'Professional headache' concisely conveys the workplace consequences of Annika mentioning the freezes. The conversational modifier 'a bit of' keeps the tone measured while still explaining why the speaker needs Felipe's help.
• To be clear, you're not doing anything wrong. — Listenability: This short clarification creates a clear pause in the explanation and gives the listener an easily understood reassurance. Its placement before acknowledging Felipe's right to relax helps the conversation move naturally from the problem to a cooperative solution.
• I'd be happy to cover thirty of that if you'd chip in fifteen — Task Fulfillment: The speaker proposes a concrete contribution that reflects their greater work-related need. Mentioning smoother gaming gives Felipe a reason to agree, while the later scheduling alternative accommodates his budget and leaves him a meaningful choice.