CELPIP® Speaking Task 8 sample: The Air-Powered Table Game

Describing an Unusual Situation · Preparation: 30 seconds · Response: 60 seconds · Published 23 October 2026

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

Practice question

You're at a second-hand recreation shop in Cornwall, looking for an activity for a family gathering at the community centre. Your sister Élise is organizing it with you. Everyone should be able to play while seated, and you have only one small table. Call Élise, describe the unusual game you've found in detail using your own words, and ask whether you should buy it for $18.

Model answers

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

Level 7 sample answer

131 words

Hi Élise, I'm at the second-hand recreation shop in Cornwall. There's a strange game here for $18 that might work for our family gathering. It's a grey oval wooden tray, 55 centimetres long, with a purple edge. A yellow track curves like an S from a red cup to a little blue tunnel. Outside the left end, a green rubber bulb connects to the cup by a clear tube. There's three white wooden balls in a groove along the front. Um, I think squeezing the bulb blows a ball along the track. People could play sitting down, but everyone would need to reach the bulb. It looks small enough for the table, although I'm not sure how many can play at same time. Should I buy it? Let me know. Bye!

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 answer covers the game's main features and makes a clear purchase request. Its straightforward description is understandable, but occasional awkward grammar, less precise vocabulary, and uncertainty about how to organize play make it less developed than the higher-level answers.

Outside the left end, a green rubber bulb connects to the cup by a clear tube. — Content/Coherence: This locates the bulb and explains its connection, helping Élise picture the mechanism. The description generally proceeds feature by feature; a higher-level answer would introduce an overall visual concept and connect the parts more smoothly.
A yellow track curves like an S from a red cup to a little blue tunnel. — Vocabulary: The colour words and familiar comparison communicate the basic appearance clearly. However, little gives limited information about the tunnel's shape. Higher-level answers use more precise descriptions of the channel, cup, and arch.
There's three white wooden balls in a groove along the front. — Listenability: The sentence is easy to follow, but the singular verb clashes with the plural balls. A higher-level answer would maintain grammatical control through these descriptive sentences, making the spoken message smoother.
People could play sitting down, but everyone would need to reach the bulb. — Task Fulfillment: This directly addresses seated participation and identifies a practical concern. A higher-level answer would explain how taking turns could work and assess the space needed for both the tray and access to the bulb.

Level 9 sample answer

158 words

Hi Élise, I've found a possible activity for the family gathering at the community centre. I'm in the second-hand recreation shop in Cornwall, and this unusual tabletop game costs $18. Picture a shallow grey wooden tray shaped like an oval, 55 centimetres long and 30 wide, with a low purple rim. Inside, a raised yellow channel follows an S-shaped route between a round red cup and a blue arched tunnel. A green rubber bulb sticks out from the left end, connected to the red cup by a clear plastic tube. Three white wooden balls sit in a groove along the front edge. I suspect you squeeze the bulb to send a ball through the channel towards the tunnel. It looks as though people could take turns while seated, which fits our plan. However, we'd need room to reach the bulb as well as space for the tray. Do you think I should buy it? Let me know. Bye!

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 answer combines an organized physical description with a sensible explanation of seated play and table space. Compared with level 7, its language is more controlled and specific; the top answer adds a stronger visual frame and finer spatial detail.

I suspect you squeeze the bulb to send a ball through the channel towards the tunnel. — Content/Coherence: After describing the components, the speaker connects them into a plausible explanation of play and clearly marks it as a guess. The top answer strengthens this organization by first giving Élise an overall image of the game.
Inside, a raised yellow channel follows an S-shaped route between a round red cup and a blue arched tunnel. — Vocabulary: Raised channel and arched tunnel describe structure more precisely than the simpler wording at level 7. The top answer adds useful distinctions about the channel's sides and the cup's recessed position.
Hi Élise, I've found a possible activity for the family gathering at the community centre. — Listenability: This conversational opening immediately establishes the purpose of the call. The script then uses manageable descriptive sentences. The top answer's miniature obstacle course comparison gives the listener an additional anchor before the detailed description.
However, we'd need room to reach the bulb as well as space for the tray. — Task Fulfillment: This recognizes that fitting the tray alone does not settle whether the game suits the table. The top answer connects that concern more explicitly to the one small table and comfortable access while seated.

Level 11 sample answer

173 words

Hi Élise, there's an unusual $18 game at this second-hand recreation shop in Cornwall that might suit our family gathering. Imagine a miniature obstacle course built into a shallow oval tray. The grey wooden body measures 55 by 30 centimetres and has a low purple rim. A yellow S-shaped channel, bordered by raised sides, links a recessed red cup on the left to a short blue arched tunnel on the right. Projecting from the left end is a green rubber bulb shaped like an accordion. A transparent tube connects it to the side of the red cup. Three white wooden balls are stored in a groove along the front rim. My guess is that squeezing the bulb propels a ball towards the tunnel. If so, we could organize turns without asking anyone to stand. Although the tray itself seems manageable for our one small table, the bulb would need to remain within comfortable reach. Would you buy it for $18, given those space considerations? Let me know before I decide. Thanks, Élise. Bye!

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 answer provides a vivid overall image, precise spatial relationships, and a clearly qualified explanation of the mechanism. It integrates the seated-play and small-table requirements into a practical purchase decision while maintaining a natural telephone message.

A yellow S-shaped channel, bordered by raised sides, links a recessed red cup on the left to a short blue arched tunnel on the right. — Content/Coherence: This maps the route from left to right while explaining how its parts connect. The added structural details help Élise reconstruct the game as a connected object rather than remember separate coloured components.
Projecting from the left end is a green rubber bulb shaped like an accordion. — Vocabulary: Projecting precisely describes how the bulb extends beyond the tray, while the accordion comparison conveys its distinctive shape. Both choices add useful visual information without requiring technical knowledge.
Imagine a miniature obstacle course built into a shallow oval tray. — Listenability: This gives Élise a familiar mental picture before introducing the individual parts. The short invitation makes the detailed description that follows easier to process in a phone conversation.
Although the tray itself seems manageable for our one small table, the bulb would need to remain within comfortable reach. — Task Fulfillment: This explicitly evaluates the limited table space and the reach needed for seated participation. The qualified wording also avoids claiming that the game will definitely fit when the table's dimensions are unknown.

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.

Help the listener picture the unusual object through its shape, material, size and arrangement. Use comparisons and spatial language, then complete the requested interaction.

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