CELPIP Speaking Practice Test 5 — All 8 Tasks With Prompts & Sample Answers

Your friend has just moved to Edmonton and is looking for ways to meet new people. You have been living in Edmonton for five years. What advice would you give them?

If a friend just moved to Edmonton and is looking to meet people and build a social circle, I would recommend several approaches that have worked for people I know. First, Edmonton has an incredible network of recreational sports leagues through the Edmonton Sport and Social Club. They offer everything from dodgeball to curling, and the leagues are specifically designed to be social, with organized pub nights after games. I would suggest picking a beginner-level league even if they are athletic, because the focus is more on meeting people than on competition. Second, the River Valley trail system is one of the largest urban parks in North America, and there are dozens of running, hiking, and cycling groups that organize regular outings. The November Project, which meets for free outdoor workouts on Wednesday mornings, is particularly welcoming to newcomers. Third, I would recommend volunteering at one of Edmonton's many festivals. The Fringe Festival, Heritage Festival, and Ice on Whyte all rely heavily on volunteers, and working alongside other people toward a shared goal is a natural way to form friendships. Finally, I would tell my friend not to underestimate the value of simply becoming a regular at a neighbourhood coffee shop. Edmontonians are famously friendly, and after a few weeks of showing up at the same place, they will likely start recognizing people and being drawn into conversations. The key is consistency and being willing to say yes to invitations, even when it feels a bit uncomfortable at first.

Talk about a time you spent outdoors or participated in a recreational activity that was particularly memorable. Where did you go, what did you do, and why does it stand out in your memory?

Two summers ago, my brother and I hiked the Skyline Trail in Jasper National Park. We had been planning the trip for months, checking weather forecasts and training on shorter trails near Edmonton. The first day was challenging — we gained over eight hundred metres of elevation, and my legs were burning by the time we reached the campsite. But when we woke up the next morning, the view was absolutely breathtaking. We could see three mountain ranges, a glacial lake below us, and a family of mountain goats grazing nearby. We sat in silence for nearly twenty minutes, just taking it all in. That moment felt almost spiritual. On the descent, we talked about how rarely we truly disconnect from our phones and work stress. That hike reminded me that Alberta has world-class natural beauty right in our backyard, and I promised myself I would explore more of it. Since then, we have made hiking an annual tradition, and I feel healthier and happier because of it.

Look at the picture of a city park in Edmonton on a sunny afternoon. Describe what you see.

It is a perfect early September afternoon in a city park overlooking the North Saskatchewan River valley. The sky is that brilliant Alberta blue that seems to stretch forever, and the autumn colours are just beginning to appear at the tips of the poplar leaves. A middle-aged couple walks hand in hand along the gravel path, pausing every few minutes to admire the view of the river winding through the valley below. Near the playground, a group of children shriek with delight as they take turns on the tire swing, their parents chatting on a nearby bench about back-to-school preparations and which teachers their kids got this year. A young woman in a university sweatshirt has set up an easel near the lookout point, painting the famous view with quick, confident brushstrokes. Two friends toss a frisbee back and forth on the open grass, their golden retriever bouncing between them hoping to intercept the disc. A food truck near the parking lot sells mini doughnuts, and the sweet, warm scent drifts across the entire park. The sound of a distant train horn echoes from the CP Rail line across the river, a sound every Edmontonian knows. Someone has set up a slackline between two birch trees, and a teenager is carefully walking across it while her friends cheer. It is one of those afternoons that reminds you why Edmontonians endure the long winters just for days like this.

Imagine you are at the job fair in West Edmonton Mall. Look at the crowd and the booths. Predict what the job market will be like in Edmonton in the next five years.

I am looking at the job fair in West Edmonton Mall, and I can predict that this event will lead to several concrete outcomes over the next few months. The first thing I notice is the diversity of employers here. There are representatives from oil and gas companies, but also from healthcare networks, technology startups, and skilled trades unions. This tells me that Edmonton's economy is genuinely diversifying, which is an encouraging sign after years of dependence on the energy sector. I predict that the healthcare and trades booths will see the most follow-up interviews, because those sectors are currently facing labour shortages and hiring managers here seem genuinely eager to talk to every person who approaches their table. Second, I notice that several booths are offering on-the-spot mini interviews rather than just collecting resumes, which tells me they are ready to hire immediately. I predict that at least a dozen people will leave here today with second-round interview invitations. Third, I think events like this have a positive psychological effect on job seekers. I have seen people walk in looking nervous and walk out looking hopeful after having a productive conversation with a recruiter. I predict that the city will expand this type of event, possibly hosting sector-specific fairs for technology and healthcare separately, because the demand clearly exists.

A university researcher is deciding between two research grants: one from a government agency and one from a private company. The government grant is for four years for a public health project, while the private grant is for two years for a commercial product. Compare the two and persuade the researcher to choose one.

If I were a university researcher choosing between a government grant and a private foundation grant, I would carefully weigh the trade-offs of each. The government grant offers more funding and a longer timeline. With a five-year grant, I could hire graduate students, purchase better equipment, and conduct research without the pressure of showing immediate results. Government funding also carries a certain prestige that can open doors to future grants and academic partnerships. However, the application process is notoriously slow. It could take eighteen months from submission to receiving the first funds, and the reporting requirements are extensive and bureaucratic. The private foundation grant, by contrast, offers less money but much greater flexibility. The foundation is specifically interested in innovative research, which means I could explore unconventional approaches that a government panel might consider too risky. The application process is also faster, possibly just six months from start to finish. The prestige is lower, but the ability to pivot my research direction based on early findings is invaluable. After careful consideration, I would choose the private foundation grant, despite the smaller budget. The freedom to pursue unexpected results is, in my experience, where the most important discoveries happen. I would also apply for the government grant as a follow-up, using the private foundation results as proof of concept to strengthen my application.

You are a city planner in Edmonton. You are leading a public meeting where residents are angry about a new road construction project that will cut through a part of the River Valley. Explain how you would handle the situation and propose a solution to the residents.

If I were leading a public meeting about the new bike lane proposal and residents were visibly upset, I would handle the situation by first acknowledging their emotions before presenting any facts. I would begin by saying, I can see that many of you are frustrated, and I want to thank you for being here tonight to share your concerns. This is exactly what public consultation is supposed to look like. That opening usually diffuses some of the tension because people feel heard. Then I would present the data clearly and visually, using slides that show traffic studies from other Canadian cities where similar bike lanes were installed. I would point to Calgary's experience, where protected bike lanes on Seventh Street actually reduced congestion because they took cyclists out of the general traffic flow. I would also acknowledge the valid concerns rather than dismissing them. If residents are worried about parking, I would show the parking impact study and explain exactly how many spots would be affected and where replacement parking would be located. Finally, I would open the floor for structured questions with a two-minute speaking limit per person and have a note-taker record every comment, so residents can see that their input is being documented and will be considered in the final design. After the meeting, I would send a summary email to all attendees with clear next steps and a timeline for the decision. Most people do not need to get everything they want. They need to feel that the process was fair.

Some people believe that the government should provide free public transit for all residents in large cities. What is your opinion? Provide reasons to support your view.

I believe that providing free public transit for all residents is an admirable goal, but I am not convinced that it is the most practical or fair way to invest public funds right now, especially in a sprawling city like Edmonton. The cost of making the entire ETS system free would run into hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and that money would have to come from somewhere, likely from property taxes or cuts to other services like libraries, recreation centres, or road maintenance. Instead of making transit free for everyone, I believe we should make it much more affordable for the people who need it most. Expanding the Ride Transit Program, which already offers subsidized passes to low-income residents, would target funding where it makes the biggest difference. A senior living on a fixed income in Mill Woods should not have to choose between buying groceries and buying a bus pass. At the same time, we need to improve the service itself. The number one reason people do not take transit in Edmonton is not the cost. It is the frequency and reliability of the buses, especially in newer neighbourhoods on the outskirts. If we invested in higher frequency on core routes and better coverage in underserved areas, ridership would increase naturally. Free transit sounds good in a campaign slogan, but affordable, reliable transit that people can actually depend on is a better long-term goal.

Describe a time when you had to deal with an unexpected problem at work or school. What happened and how did you handle it?

Last winter, I was working at a community health clinic in north Edmonton when the heating system failed on a Monday morning in January, with the outside temperature sitting at minus thirty-two degrees. The clinic was scheduled to see over forty patients that day, including several seniors and young children, and cancelling appointments would have meant delaying vaccinations, prenatal check-ups, and chronic disease monitoring for people who needed them. Our manager immediately called the heating company, but they said it would be at least four hours before a technician could arrive. Rather than giving up, we got creative. One of the nurses remembered that the nearby community league hall had a backup generator and space heaters from a winter festival they had hosted the previous weekend. I called the league president, and within twenty minutes, she had personally delivered six portable heaters to our clinic. We set them up in the waiting area and two examination rooms. Meanwhile, another colleague went to the pharmacy next door and borrowed extra blankets to offer to patients while they waited. We rearranged the appointment schedule to use only the two warm rooms and asked healthier patients to come back later in the week. By noon, the heating technician arrived and fixed the issue within an hour. The patients were understanding and even grateful. One elderly woman said it reminded her of growing up on a farm where you just made do with what you had. That day taught me that creativity, community connections, and a positive attitude can solve problems that no amount of planning could have anticipated.