CELPIP Speaking Task 7 (Expressing Opinions) — a 90-second argument template

Task 7 of CELPIP Speaking is Expressing Opinions. You're shown an issue or a statement and asked whether you agree or disagree — then you have to defend that position out loud. The timing is generous by CELPIP standards: 30 seconds to prepare and a full 90 seconds to speak. Alongside Task 1, it's one of the two longest speaking windows on the test.

That length is exactly why so many test-takers stumble. Ninety seconds feels short when you're nervous but long once the clock is running, and a lot of people either run out of things to say at the 50-second mark or hedge so much that the rater can't tell where they actually stand. The fix is simple: take a clear side in the first sentence and spend the rest of your time backing it up.

This guide gives you a repeatable structure, a full band-9 sample answer, the phrases that make an opinion sound organised, and the specific habits that quietly cost points.

What examiners score

Task 7 is rated on the same four CELPIP criteria as every other speaking task, each on the 1–12 scale. Knowing what each one rewards tells you exactly where to put your effort during those 90 seconds.

• Content / Coherence — Did you take a clear position and support it with relevant, well-organised reasons and examples? This is where a defined structure pays off most.
• Vocabulary — Can you use precise, varied words to express opinions and reasons, rather than repeating 'good,' 'bad,' and 'I think'?
• Listenability — Is your speech easy to follow: steady pace, natural intonation, clear pronunciation, and smooth linking between ideas?
• Task Fulfillment — Did you actually do the task, which is to state and defend an opinion, and did you use most of the 90 seconds productively?

You record your response once — there's no retake — so treat the 30-second prep as your only planning window. Note your stance and two reasons; don't try to script full sentences you won't be able to read.

A band-9 structure

A strong Task 7 answer is really just a mini-argument. Follow this five-step order and you'll fill the time naturally without rambling or drying up.

1. State your opinion clearly. In the first sentence, say whether you agree or disagree — no hedging, no 'it depends.' The rater should know your position within five seconds.
2. Give reason 1 with an example. Explain your strongest reason, then make it concrete with a specific example, situation, or short story.
3. Give reason 2 with an example. Add a second, different reason and support it the same way. Two well-developed reasons beat one reason repeated.
4. Briefly address the opposing view and rebut it. Acknowledge what someone on the other side might argue, then explain why your position still holds. This shows balance and maturity.
5. Restate and close. Sum up your position in one confident sentence so the answer ends on a clear note instead of trailing off.

Aim to reach the rebuttal by around the 60–70 second mark. If you're running long, cut the second example short rather than skipping the close — a strong ending is worth more than an extra detail.

Sample band-9 response

Prompt: 'Some people think students should be required to do volunteer work in order to graduate from high school. Do you agree or disagree?'

In my view, high school students should be required to do volunteer work before they graduate, and I feel quite strongly about this. The main reason is that volunteering teaches skills that a classroom simply can't. For instance, when I helped at a community food bank as a teenager, I learned how to talk to people from very different backgrounds and how to stay organised under pressure — things no textbook prepared me for. My second reason is that it builds a sense of responsibility toward the community. When young people see the real problems in their own neighbourhood, they grow up more likely to keep contributing as adults. A friend of mine started volunteering because her school required it, and she still runs a tutoring program for younger kids years later. Now, some might argue that forcing students to volunteer takes the meaning out of it, since real volunteering should be voluntary. That's a fair point, but I'd say the requirement is just a first push — many students discover they genuinely enjoy it once they start, exactly like my friend did. That's why I firmly believe making volunteer work a graduation requirement does far more good than harm.

Notice what makes this land: the stance is unmistakable in sentence one, each reason has a real example, the opposing view is named and answered, and the close restates the position with confidence. It comfortably fills 90 seconds without padding.

Opinion + argument phrases

Having a few reliable phrases ready means you spend your prep time thinking about ideas, not grammar. Rotate these so you don't lean on 'I think' the whole way through.

• 'In my view…' / 'As far as I'm concerned…' — to state your position up front.
• 'The main reason is…' / 'What convinces me most is…' — to introduce your strongest reason.
• 'For instance…' / 'To give you a concrete example…' — to lead into an example.
• 'Some might argue… but…' / 'I can see why people would say… however…' — to raise and rebut the opposing view.
• 'That's why I firmly believe…' / 'All in all, I'm convinced that…' — to restate and close.

What kills your score

Most Task 7 answers lose points to the same handful of habits. Watch for these in your practice recordings.

• Fence-sitting. Saying 'there are good points on both sides' without committing leaves the rater unsure what you're defending, and it directly hurts Task Fulfillment.
• Running out before 90 seconds. Long silences at the end signal you didn't develop your ideas. If you finish early, add another example rather than stopping.
• One reason repeated. Restating the same point in different words isn't two reasons — it reads as thin content. Make your second reason genuinely different.
• No examples. Abstract claims like 'it's beneficial' are forgettable. A specific example is what pushes an answer from average into the higher bands.

Once the five-step structure is second nature, Task 7 becomes one of the most predictable — and most winnable — parts of the CELPIP Speaking test. Pick a side, back it up, answer the other side, and close strong.