CELPIP Speaking Task 1 (Giving Advice) — template + band-9 sample

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 — Giving Advice — is the first thing you do in the speaking section, so it sets the tone for everything after. You read a short scenario in which someone you know (a friend, a coworker, a family member) is facing a problem or a decision and asks what you think they should do. You get 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak — one of the two longest speaking windows on the test, tied with Task 7.

That long window is exactly where most people trip. The advice itself is easy — "take the job," "talk to your boss," "see a doctor." But you can say that in ten seconds, and then you're staring down 80 seconds of silence. The whole skill of Task 1 is stretching one clear recommendation into a full, natural 90 seconds without padding or rambling. Everything below is built to fill that window with content that actually scores.

What examiners score

Task 1 is rated on the same four CELPIP criteria as every other speaking task, on the 1–12 band scale. You are recorded once — there is no retry — so treat your single take as the final answer.

• Content / Coherence — Did you give a clear recommendation and back it with reasons that connect logically? Rambling or contradicting yourself costs points here.
• Vocabulary — Do you use precise, varied language, including natural advice phrases, instead of repeating "you should" over and over?
• Listenability — Is your delivery smooth and easy to follow: reasonable pace, clear pronunciation, few long pauses or false starts?
• Task Fulfillment — Did you actually address the person and give advice about THEIR specific situation, using most of the 90 seconds?

Notice that three of the four criteria reward you for saying more relevant, well-organized things. That is why running out of material — not grammar mistakes — is the number-one reason capable speakers land at band 7 instead of band 9.

A band-9 structure

Use your 30 seconds of prep to decide your recommendation and jot two reasons. Then speak to this five-part shape. It naturally fills 90 seconds and keeps you coherent under pressure.

1. Address the person directly. Open by speaking TO them — "Hey Daniel, I've been thinking about your decision…" — not describing the situation in the third person.
2. Recommend clearly. State your advice in one confident sentence so the examiner knows your position immediately: "Honestly, I think you should take the job."
3. Give two reasons. This is your main content and where the seconds go — explain WHY, with a concrete detail or example for each reason.
4. Acknowledge their situation or the alternative. Show you understand the trade-off — "I know leaving your friends behind is hard" — which makes the advice feel real, not generic.
5. Close with encouragement. End warmly and briefly: "Whatever you decide, I've got your back." A clean ending beats trailing off mid-sentence when time runs out.

Sample band-9 response

Scenario: your friend has been offered a good job in another city and can't decide whether to accept it or stay put. Here is a natural, second-person response that fills the full 90 seconds.

Hey Priya, I know you've been going back and forth on this job offer for days, so let me tell you what I honestly think. If I were you, I'd take it. I really would. The main thing to consider is that this kind of role doesn't come up often — you've been saying for a year that your current job has nowhere left to grow, and this is exactly the step up you wanted, with better pay and a team you'd actually learn from. On top of that, you're at the right point in your life to move. You don't have anything tying you down here, and honestly, a new city might be really good for you — new people, a fresh start. Now, I get it, leaving your family and your friends here is the hard part, and that's a real thing, not a small one. But the city's only a few hours away by train, so it's not like you're disappearing. You'd be back for the holidays, and everyone can visit. I'd say give it a proper shot for a year — if you hate it, you can always come home. Whatever you choose, though, I'm behind you a hundred percent. Just don't let the fear of change make the decision for you.

That is roughly 210 words, which fits comfortably in 90 seconds at a natural speaking pace. Notice how it hits every part of the structure: it opens by addressing Priya, states the recommendation up front, gives two developed reasons, acknowledges the hard part honestly, and closes with encouragement — all in a warm, spoken voice rather than a written essay.

Useful advice phrases

Rotating a few of these keeps your vocabulary varied and stops you from leaning on "you should" every sentence. Pick three or four to have ready before test day so they come out automatically.

• "If I were you, I'd…" — the cleanest way to give a direct recommendation.
• "The main thing to consider is…" — sets up your strongest reason.
• "You might want to…" — softens a suggestion when you're offering an option.
• "Honestly, I'd suggest…" — signals a candid, personal opinion.
• "Have you thought about…?" — introduces an alternative without sounding pushy.
• "What worked for me was…" — brings in personal experience to back your advice.
• "Whatever you decide…" — a natural, encouraging way to close.

What kills your score

• Running out of things to say. Finishing your real content in 40 seconds and then repeating yourself or going silent is the classic Task 1 failure — three of four criteria drop.
• Describing the problem back instead of giving advice. Summarizing their situation isn't fulfillment; the examiner wants YOUR recommendation.
• Sitting on the fence. "You could stay, or you could go, it depends" reads as no advice at all. Pick a side and commit — you're not marked on being right.
• Talking about the person in the third person. "She should probably…" instead of "you should" ignores the direct-address setup and hurts task fulfillment.
• One reason, endlessly repeated. Two distinct reasons show range; saying the same point three ways flags thin content and weak vocabulary.
• Rushing to beat the clock. Cramming words in destroys listenability — a steady pace that uses the time is far stronger than a panicked sprint.