CELPIP Speaking Practice Test 1 — All 8 Tasks With Prompts & Sample Answers

A friend is moving to Vancouver and wants advice on getting around the city without a car. What advice would you give them about using public transit, cycling, or walking? Consider the SkyTrain, BC Ferries, and bike paths.

If a friend were moving to Vancouver and wanted advice on getting around without a car, I would tell them that the city is actually one of the easiest places in Canada to live car-free. The first thing they should do is get a Compass Card, which works on the SkyTrain, buses, and the SeaBus. I would suggest loading it with stored value rather than a monthly pass until they know their routine. For daily commuting, the SkyTrain is the backbone of the system, but I would warn them that the Expo Line can have occasional delays during morning and evening rush hours, particularly between Main Street and Commercial-Broadway stations. For reliability, I would actually recommend cycling for shorter trips. Vancouver has invested heavily in separated bike lanes, and the seawall route around Stanley Park and along False Creek is not only practical but genuinely beautiful. The city's bike share program, Mobi, has stations all over the downtown core and in neighbourhoods like Kitsilano and Mount Pleasant. For rainy days, which they will encounter frequently from October through April, I would suggest keeping a Compass Card and a lightweight rain jacket handy rather than giving up on active transportation entirely. Walking is also underrated in this city. Downtown, Gastown, and the West End are very walkable, and crossing the Granville Street Bridge on foot gives you a stunning view of the harbour. Overall, my advice is to use a combination of transit and cycling, check the TransLink app for real-time updates before leaving home, and embrace the rain as part of the Vancouver experience.

Talk about a time you experienced an unexpected delay while travelling and how you handled the situation. What caused the delay, how did you feel, and what did you learn from the experience?

Last year, I was heading to a job interview in downtown Vancouver when the SkyTrain suddenly stopped between stations. At first, I felt panic rising — I had prepared for weeks and could not afford to be late. I quickly checked the TransLink app on my phone and saw the delay was expected to last twenty minutes. Rather than sitting there worrying, I called the company's receptionist and explained the situation honestly. She was very understanding and offered to push my interview back by half an hour. While waiting, I used the time to review my notes and take a few deep breaths. When I finally arrived, I apologized to the interviewer and explained what happened. He told me that many Vancouverites face transit delays and appreciated how I handled it professionally. In the end, I got the job. I learned that staying calm and communicating early can turn a stressful situation into a manageable one.

Describe the scene at Stanley Park on a sunny weekend afternoon. Include details about activities, people, and the atmosphere. Imagine you are at the park.

It is a golden Sunday afternoon in late July at Stanley Park, and the seawall is humming with life. Cyclists in bright helmets glide along the dedicated bike lane, ringing their bells cheerfully as they pass families walking in groups. Near the water's edge, a young couple has spread a red checkered blanket on the grass beside the rose garden, and they are sharing a picnic of cheese, baguette, and local berries while reading paperback novels. A father nearby is teaching his daughter to ride a two-wheeler, running alongside her with one hand on the seat, and when she finally balances on her own for a few metres, he cheers so loudly that several strangers nearby applaud. In the distance, the North Shore mountains rise dramatically against a cloudless blue sky, their peaks still dotted with lingering snow even in mid-summer. A busker with an acoustic guitar plays a folk song near the totem poles, and a small crowd has gathered, some swaying gently to the music while others take photos of the carved cedar figures. The scent of salt water from English Bay mixes with the sweet fragrance of roses and freshly cut grass. Seagulls circle overhead, and the distant horn of a cargo ship sounds from the harbour. It is one of those afternoons where you understand why people pay so much to live in this city.

Predict how the SkyTrain situation in Vancouver might improve in the next five years. Consider technology, expansion, or policy changes.

I predict that the SkyTrain situation in Vancouver will improve significantly over the next five years, driven by three major changes that are already in motion. First, the Broadway Subway extension to Arbutus is scheduled for completion, and I believe this will take pressure off the crowded 99 B-Line bus and reduce congestion on the Expo Line by giving commuters an east-west alternative. Second, TransLink has publicly committed to replacing the aging Mark I train cars, some of which have been in service since the 1980s and are responsible for a disproportionate number of mechanical failures that cause delays. Once the new Alstom Mark V trains are fully deployed, I expect reliability to improve noticeably. Third, the introduction of a tap-to-pay system that accepts credit cards and smartphones directly, without requiring a Compass Card, will speed up boarding times at busy stations like Granville and Burrard during peak hours, where I have seen lines stretch back through the concourse. However, I also predict that population growth in Metro Vancouver will partially offset these gains. The region is adding about thirty-five thousand new residents each year, and many of them will rely on transit. Without continued investment beyond what is currently planned, the system will still face capacity challenges. Overall, I am cautiously optimistic, but I think commuters should expect gradual improvement rather than a dramatic transformation.

You are a hotel manager deciding between two suppliers for coffee: one is local and organic but more expensive, another is cheaper but from a non-sustainable source. Compare them and persuade your team to choose the local one.

As a hotel manager deciding between two coffee suppliers, I would need to carefully weigh the advantages of each option before making a recommendation. On one hand, the local Vancouver roaster offers several compelling benefits. Their beans are sourced from ethical farms and roasted in Burnaby, which means the hotel could prominently feature a locally made product that appeals to tourists who specifically seek out authentic Vancouver experiences. The delivery times would be faster since the roaster is only twenty minutes away, and a local partnership could generate positive social media exposure for the hotel. On the other hand, the international supplier offers consistent quality and a significantly lower price per kilogram due to their massive scale of operations. They can also guarantee supply year-round, whereas the local roaster sometimes runs short during the peak summer tourist season when we need the most inventory. After weighing both options, I would lean toward the local supplier despite the higher cost, because the marketing value and the alignment with Vancouver's reputation as a city that supports local businesses outweigh the price difference. I would negotiate a guaranteed-supply clause in the contract and consider offering both suppliers' products on the menu, with the local option promoted as a specialty selection.

You are a BC Ferries employee. A customer is angry because their sailing was cancelled due to weather. They demand compensation and immediate alternatives. How do you handle this situation?

If I were a BC Ferries employee and an angry customer approached me because their sailing had been unexpectedly cancelled, the first thing I would do is stay completely calm and let them express their frustration without interrupting. People in this situation often just need to feel heard before they can process any practical information. I would say something like, I completely understand why you are upset. Having your travel plans disrupted is incredibly frustrating, especially when you have been looking forward to this trip. Thank you for your patience. Then I would immediately offer concrete alternatives. I would check the terminal screen and let them know whether there is a later sailing they can be transferred onto, at no additional charge. If the next sailing is not for several hours, I would suggest they visit the cafe upstairs and offer them a complimentary coffee voucher while they wait. For anyone with urgent commitments, I would recommend the Harbour Air seaplane as an alternative, and provide them with the phone number and approximate pricing. If the cancellation meant they would miss a connecting flight or event, I would offer to write a letter on BC Ferries letterhead confirming the cancellation, as many airlines and event organizers will accept this for rebooking or refunds. The key is to be empathetic, resourceful, and to follow up with a sincere apology and a clear plan.

Some people feel that Vancouver’s rainy weather is a drawback for tourism. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons and examples.

I strongly disagree with the idea that Vancouver's rainy weather is a drawback for tourism. In fact, I believe the rain is part of what makes the city so unique and appealing to visitors. The rain is what creates the lush, green landscape that people associate with the Pacific Northwest. Without it, Stanley Park would not have its towering cedars, the North Shore mountains would not have their dramatic mist-covered peaks, and the city's many gardens would not be as vibrant. Tourists who visit during the rainy season get to experience the city the way locals do, ducking into cozy cafes on Commercial Drive, browsing the shelves at Powell's Books, or enjoying the indoor exhibits at the Vancouver Art Gallery. There is a certain charm to walking across the Burrard Bridge with an umbrella, watching the clouds roll over English Bay, that you simply do not get on a bright, cloudless day. I also think the rain contributes to the city's relaxed, unhurried culture. People here do not panic when it drizzles. They put on a waterproof jacket and carry on. That resilience is part of Vancouver's identity, and I think many visitors find it refreshing. Rather than discouraging tourism, the rain gives visitors a more authentic experience of what it truly means to live in this beautiful city.

Describe an unusual situation you experienced or witnessed in a service industry setting, such as a café or hotel. What happened, and how did you or others react?

I was working an early morning shift as a barista at my cafe in Kitsilano when a customer walked in carrying a large parrot on his shoulder. The bird was a blue-and-gold macaw with a wingspan of nearly a metre, and it was calmly preening its feathers as if it were the most normal thing in the world. I was so stunned that for a moment I completely forgot the standard greeting I have said thousands of times. The man smiled and ordered a latte with oat milk as if nothing was unusual. I glanced at our health regulations notice posted behind the counter, which clearly states that only service animals are permitted indoors. When I politely mentioned this, he explained that the parrot was indeed a registered emotional support animal and produced a laminated card from his wallet. I had never encountered this situation before, so I called my manager at home to ask for guidance. To my relief, she said that as long as the bird remained on his shoulder and did not disturb other customers, we should accommodate him. The other customers were actually delighted. A couple at the window table asked to take a photo, and soon the entire cafe was buzzing with cheerful conversation about the parrot, whose name turned out to be Kipling. That morning reminded me that flexibility and a sense of humour are essential skills in the service industry.