CELPIP® Speaking Task 6 sample: The Shirt Printing Deadline

Dealing with a Difficult Situation · Preparation: 60 seconds · Response: 60 seconds · Published 23 October 2026

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

Practice question

You handle purchasing for a volunteer theatre group in Mississauga. You have $400 for 40 shirts to sell at Saturday's fundraising booth. Tomás designed a two-colour theatre emblem that the group approved; its contrasting colours distinguish two overlapping masks. The printer can supply these shirts for $400 next Friday, or shirts with a simpler one-colour logo for $360 this Saturday. Yaroslav, the fundraising coordinator, is counting on shirt sales at the booth. Simplifying means changing the approved artwork; waiting means having no shirts at the event. Decide whether to ask Tomás to simplify his design or explain the delay to Yaroslav. Address the person affected by your choice.

Talk to Tomás and ask for a simpler design so the shirts can be sold this Saturday.
Talk to Yaroslav and explain why you want to keep the full design and delay the shirts.

Model answers

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

Level 7 sample answer

117 words

Tomás, could we use a simpler version of your design for the shirts? I know the group approved your two-colour design, and I appreciate your work. The problem is the printing schedule. We can get 40 shirts with a one-colour logo by Saturday for $360. Your full design would take until next Friday. Um, Yaroslav is counting on selling shirts at the fundraiser, so I think having them there is more useful. I'm sorry to ask for changes in such short notice. Could you help make the two masks clear with just one colour? We could also use your full design on a future poster. That way, people can still see the work you put on it.

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 answer makes a clear choice, explains the deadline, and treats Tomás respectfully. Its reasoning and proposed compromise are less developed than the stronger answers, especially around preserving the masks and obtaining approval for changed artwork.

Your full design would take until next Friday. — Content/Coherence: This gives a clear reason for requesting simpler artwork and connects logically with Saturday's sale. The stronger answers develop the trade-off further by explaining what changing the approved colours could sacrifice.
I'm sorry to ask for changes in such short notice. — Vocabulary: The apology suits the sensitive request, but the natural expression is on such short notice. The stronger answers use more consistently natural wording when acknowledging inconvenience and responsibility.
Um, Yaroslav is counting on selling shirts at the fundraiser, so I think having them there is more useful. — Listenability: The sentence connects the decision to Yaroslav's needs in accessible language. However, the filler and vague phrase about usefulness weaken its focus; the top answer states the concrete benefit of buyers taking shirts home.
Could you help make the two masks clear with just one colour? — Task Fulfillment: This directly addresses Tomás and recognizes the main design problem. The top answer makes the request more actionable by suggesting outlines or a gap and arranging group approval before printing.

Level 9 sample answer

156 words

Yaroslav, I'd like us to keep Tomás's full design, which means the shirts would arrive the Friday after our fundraiser. I realize you were counting on selling them at Saturday's booth, so this changes an important part of your plan. The group approved the contrasting colours because they make the overlapping masks clear. Simplifying now could lose that effect and change artwork everyone has already agreed on. Since the full design fits our $400 budget, I think it's worth waiting for. Could we display the design at the booth and invite people to place orders? We'd need to state the later availability date clearly and agree on a collection arrangement before accepting payment. That would add follow-up work, and I'm willing to handle the order list and collection details. I don't want to leave you holding the bag. We'd lose the chance to offer immediate purchases, but advance orders could still bring in some fundraising money.

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 answer develops a thoughtful case for waiting, acknowledges Yaroslav's lost sales opportunity, and offers a responsible alternative. Its proposed collection arrangement remains less concrete than the top answer's specific design changes and approval process.

Simplifying now could lose that effect and change artwork everyone has already agreed on. — Content/Coherence: This connects the contrasting colours to both visual clarity and the group's prior decision, developing the reasoning beyond the lower answer. The top answer carries that understanding into specific ways to preserve the masks while meeting the deadline.
I don't want to leave you holding the bag. — Vocabulary: The idiom gives the reassurance a conversational tone and expresses concern about leaving Yaroslav with extra responsibility. The top answer adds more precise language about adapting artwork and protecting the designer's control.
We'd need to state the later availability date clearly and agree on a collection arrangement before accepting payment. — Listenability: The wording makes the conditions understandable, although timing, collection, and payment are bundled into one sentence. The top answer separates its proposed revision from a short, direct commitment to handle approval, making responsibilities easier to follow.
I'm willing to handle the order list and collection details. — Task Fulfillment: This addresses the practical burden created by delaying the shirts and offers personal responsibility. A stronger response would make the collection proposal more definite, matching the top answer's specificity about the revised proof and approval.

Level 11 sample answer

171 words

Tomás, could you help us create a one-colour version of the emblem for Saturday's shirt sale? The printer can supply 40 shirts for $360 by then; keeping both colours would cost $400 and delay delivery until next Friday. With Yaroslav counting on those sales, I think we need shirts that people can actually take home from the booth. I recognize that the group approved the contrasting colours for a reason: they distinguish the overlapping masks. Asking you to simplify that changes an agreed design, and I wouldn't want the masks to become an unreadable shape. Could you explore using outlines or a clear gap between them, then show the group a revised proof before we send it to the printer? I'd handle that approval so you aren't left chasing everyone. We could also propose keeping your original artwork for future promotional material. The deadline is driving this request, and I'd like you to retain control over how your work is adapted. I'm sorry we're asking you to revisit it under pressure.

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 answer combines a clear purchasing decision with careful handling of Tomás's creative ownership and the group's approval. Its specific design suggestions, assigned follow-up, and natural phrasing make the solution practical and considerate.

keeping both colours would cost $400 and delay delivery until next Friday. — Content/Coherence: This compact comparison establishes that the full design is affordable but misses the fundraiser. It keeps the reasoning focused on the actual obstacle and supports the later argument for having shirts available at the booth.
I'd like you to retain control over how your work is adapted. — Vocabulary: The precise wording recognizes Tomás's creative ownership without becoming overly formal. It expresses the interpersonal issue more fully than a general apology or an offer to reuse the original artwork elsewhere.
I'd handle that approval so you aren't left chasing everyone. — Listenability: This short sentence follows the more detailed design request with a clear assignment of responsibility. Its conversational wording makes the practical reassurance easy to understand and gives the passage a manageable rhythm.
using outlines or a clear gap between them, then show the group a revised proof — Task Fulfillment: The request tackles both central complications: keeping the overlapping masks readable and changing artwork the group already approved. These concrete steps make the chosen compromise more workable while involving Tomás in the adaptation.

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.

Make a clear decision, explain it tactfully to the person addressed and develop the reasons. Acknowledge the other person’s needs and offer a practical way forward.

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