CELPIP® Speaking Task 8 sample: The Spiral Party Stand

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 party rental shop in Barrie, choosing something for a friend's birthday gathering. Your friend Ronan is helping you organize it. Eight guests will share a small table, and you have $35 left for tableware. You notice an unusual covered stand that rents for $30. Call Ronan, describe it in detail in your own words, and ask whether you should reserve it.

Model answers

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

Level 7 sample answer

120 words

Hi Ronan, it's me. I'm at the party rental shop in Barrie. They've got a strange stand for $30, and I'm wondering about the birthday gathering. It's about 45 centimetres tall, with a round green wooden base and an orange metal pole in the middle. There's three white trays around the pole, like steps going up. Each tray looks like a moon shape. A clear plastic cover goes over everything, with a purple handle on top and a hinge at the back. Um, I think it's for serving small cakes. It could save space on table, but we'd only have $5 left for other tableware. Should I reserve it for our eight guests? Thanks, I'll wait for your answer. Bye.

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 answer gives Ronan a clear basic description, explains the budget concern, and asks whether to reserve the stand. Compared with the higher-level answers, its description is less precise, its connections are simpler, and some grammar needs attention.

It's about 45 centimetres tall, with a round green wooden base and an orange metal pole in the middle. — Content/Coherence: This establishes the stand's height, base, and central support clearly. The higher-level answers organize these details into a more connected picture, explaining how the arms, trays, and cover fit together.
Each tray looks like a moon shape. — Vocabulary: The comparison is understandable, but a moon shape could mean several different outlines. The higher-level answers use crescent to describe the trays more precisely.
There's three white trays around the pole, like steps going up. — Listenability: The steps comparison helps Ronan picture the arrangement, but There's does not agree with three trays. The higher-level answers describe the staggered levels with more controlled grammar and clearer spatial relationships.
It could save space on table, but we'd only have $5 left for other tableware. — Task Fulfillment: This addresses both the small table and the limited budget, making the reservation question relevant. The higher-level answers frame the choice more explicitly, and the top answer also considers whether the trays suit larger portions.

Level 9 sample answer

154 words

Hey Ronan, can I get your opinion on something at this party rental shop in Barrie? There's a covered serving stand that might help with our small table, although renting it would take $30 of our remaining $35. Picture a green wooden circle, about 30 centimetres across, with an orange metal pole rising from the centre. Three white ceramic trays branch off on short orange arms. They're shaped like crescent moons and arranged at different heights, almost like a spiral staircase. The whole thing is 45 centimetres tall. A clear plastic dome covers the trays, with a purple loop handle above and a hinge behind. I imagine we could arrange small cakes or snacks on the separate levels. That could free up table space, but we'd be cutting it close with just $5 left for other tableware. Should I reserve it for the eight guests, or keep looking? Give me your verdict. Talk soon!

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 answer builds a detailed, easy-to-follow picture and connects the stand's potential usefulness to the remaining budget. It is more precise than level 7, while level 11 develops the decision further by considering a practical drawback of the tray shapes.

They're shaped like crescent moons and arranged at different heights, almost like a spiral staircase. — Content/Coherence: This connects shape, height, and arrangement in a single useful comparison, improving on level 7's simpler description. Level 11 carries that understanding into the decision by questioning how well the crescents accommodate larger portions.
Three white ceramic trays branch off on short orange arms. — Vocabulary: Ceramic identifies the material, while branch off and arms explain how the trays attach. This is more exact than level 7; level 11 adds further precision about how the arrangement wraps around the pole.
Picture a green wooden circle, about 30 centimetres across, with an orange metal pole rising from the centre. — Listenability: Picture directly guides Ronan's attention, and the sentence moves naturally from the base to the pole. Level 11 introduces the overall staircase-and-cover image first, giving the listener a framework before the individual details.
Should I reserve it for the eight guests, or keep looking? — Task Fulfillment: This gives Ronan a direct choice tied to the gathering, following an explanation of space and cost. Level 11 supports the choice with an additional concern about serving larger portions.

Level 11 sample answer

166 words

Hi Ronan, I've found a possible centrepiece at the party rental shop in Barrie, and I'd like your opinion before reserving it. Imagine a miniature spiral staircase enclosed in a clear bell-shaped cover. Its circular green wooden base is 30 centimetres across, while the complete stand reaches 45 centimetres high. An orange metal pole supports three white ceramic trays on short matching arms. Each tray forms a crescent, and the staggered arrangement wraps around the pole. The plastic cover is hinged to the rear of the base; a purple loop on top appears to be its handle. I suspect it's intended for small cakes or snacks. Using vertical space could help eight guests share our small table, although the crescents might be awkward for larger portions. The sticking point is the $30 rental: we'd have just $5 of our tableware budget remaining. Would you reserve it, given that trade-off, or would you rather keep the money available? Let me know what you think. Thanks, Ronan. Bye!

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 answer combines a coherent visual description, precise vocabulary, and controlled phrasing with a thoughtful reservation question. Its particular strength is weighing table space, serving practicality, and the remaining tableware budget together.

Imagine a miniature spiral staircase enclosed in a clear bell-shaped cover. — Content/Coherence: This gives Ronan an overall mental picture before introducing measurements and components. It brings the spiral arrangement and enclosure together earlier than the other answers, helping the later details fit into a clear structure.
Each tray forms a crescent, and the staggered arrangement wraps around the pole. — Vocabulary: Crescent, staggered, and wraps around describe the shape and spatial arrangement precisely. The wording develops level 7's moon comparison and makes the relationship between the trays and pole especially clear.
The plastic cover is hinged to the rear of the base; a purple loop on top appears to be its handle. — Listenability: The linked clauses keep related cover details together while giving each its own clear unit. Appears to be also distinguishes an observed feature from an inferred function without interrupting the description.
Using vertical space could help eight guests share our small table, although the crescents might be awkward for larger portions. — Task Fulfillment: This evaluates the stand against the actual gathering: limited table space and serving needs. Alongside the budget discussion, this practical qualification gives Ronan a fuller basis for deciding whether to reserve it.

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