CELPIP Speaking Practice Test 6 — All 8 Tasks With Prompts & Sample Answers

Your friend wants to start a whale-watching tour business. Give them advice on how to be successful.

If a friend were moving to Vancouver, I would recommend a combination of cycling and the SkyTrain for getting around. Vancouver has invested heavily in bike infrastructure over the past decade, and you can now ride from Kitsilano to the convention centre almost entirely on separated lanes. I would tell my friend to buy a good rain jacket and fenders for their bike because from October to April, they will definitely need them. The Compass Card system is straightforward, and I would suggest loading it with stored value rather than a monthly pass unless they commute daily. One thing I have learned from experience is that the bus is actually the most underrated option. In neighbourhoods like Kerrisdale or Dunbar where the SkyTrain does not reach, the buses are frequent and reliable. I would also warn them about the Main Street-Science World station during rush hour, which gets extremely crowded. A useful tip is to check the TransLink Twitter account for service alerts, because the Expo Line occasionally has track issues that cause frustrating delays. Overall, Vancouver is one of the easiest Canadian cities to navigate without a car if you plan ahead.

Talk about a time you changed one of your daily habits or routines. What did you change, why did you decide to change it, and how did it affect your life?

Eighteen months ago, I stopped driving to work and started cycling instead. I live in Kitsilano and work downtown, so the distance is only about seven kilometres. What pushed me to change was a frustrating morning when I spent forty-five minutes stuck in traffic on the Burrard Bridge while cyclists whizzed past me. I bought a used hybrid bike that weekend. The first few weeks were tough, because my legs ached and I arrived at the office sweaty. Gradually, though, I started to love it, and my commute became the best part of my day rather than the worst. I arrived at work energized, saved over a hundred dollars a month on parking, and even lost a few pounds. The unexpected bonus was discovering how much more connected I felt to the city. Now I cycle year-round, even in the rain. It is the best change I have ever made.

Describe the scene in the picture in as much detail as possible. Talk about the setting, the people, what they are doing and the atmosphere.

It is a bright summer morning in a botanical garden, and the light is soft and even, the kind you get before the day gets really hot. The photograph shows a wide path that curves gently through beds of flowers in full bloom, with tall stalks of pink, yellow and white on either side. Low hedges and neatly trimmed shrubs edge the beds, and taller trees further back give the whole area a shaded, sheltered feeling. A few visitors are strolling slowly along the path, stopping to lean over and look closely at particular plants. One person is crouching to take a photograph of a single flower, and an older couple walks arm in arm, pointing things out to each other. The atmosphere is quiet, unhurried and almost reverent, and everything looks carefully tended and well watered.

Look at the same picture again. Predict what happens next in this scene and explain why you think so.

I am still looking at the same flower path, and the next hour or so seems easy to predict. It is still early and the air is cool, so more visitors will probably arrive as the morning warms up and the path gets busier. The gardeners will likely come through with their hoses and watering cans, because the beds already look so well tended that this routine probably happens every morning. The person crouching with the camera will move further on and stop again at the brightest flowers, and the older couple walking arm in arm will keep strolling slowly towards the shaded end of the path. Once the sun gets higher, people will drift towards the trees for shade and the open beds will empty for a while. By late morning the garden will feel warmer and busier, and then it will quiet down again around lunchtime.

Compare staying at a bed and breakfast versus a hotel. Persuade a visitor to choose a B&B. Two options are shown as pictures A and B. Choose the one you would recommend and persuade the other person to agree with you. Use the pictures to support your reasons. Both options are shown in one picture, labelled A and B. Choose the one you would recommend and persuade the other person to agree with you. Use the picture to support your reasons.

Looking at the two pictures, option A shows a small bed and breakfast with a cosy front room, a few guest rooms and a garden, while option B is a large hotel with a busy lobby, a long reception desk and many floors. I would recommend the bed and breakfast. For a start, the B&B is far more personal. The owner usually greets you by name, cooks breakfast herself and gives you advice that no guidebook contains. Hotels are efficient, but you are one of hundreds of guests, and the service often feels anonymous. The B&B in picture A also looks quieter and more homely, with fewer people and a relaxed garden where you can sit in the evening. It is usually cheaper too, and your money goes straight to a local family rather than a chain. If you want a stay you will actually remember, choose the B&B.

A guest at your B&B complains about noise from a nearby construction project. Explain how you would handle the situation.

The first thing I would do is stay calm and acknowledge the guest's frustration without being defensive. I have learned that saying something like 'I completely understand why you are upset, and I am going to do everything I can to make this right' can defuse a tense situation quickly. Once they feel heard, I would offer a concrete solution. If they had to wait twenty minutes for their table, I would offer a complimentary appetizer or dessert. If the issue was a mix-up with their reservation date, I would check whether we have space at another table, even if it means rearranging the floor plan. I would also note the incident in our logbook and mention it to the manager to prevent similar problems. Guests usually just want to feel valued, and turning a complaint into a positive experience is one of the most rewarding parts of hospitality.

Do you think the city should build more bike lanes? Express your opinion and support it with reasons.

I believe street art and murals have enormous value for cities, and I fully support Vancouver's continued investment in public art programs. When I walk along Main Street and see the large-scale murals that cover entire building walls, they make the neighbourhood feel alive and creative, and they lift my mood every time. Murals also deter graffiti tagging, because taggers tend to respect finished artwork. They give emerging artists a public platform to showcase their work, which can launch their careers. During the Vancouver Mural Festival, thousands of visitors tour these artworks and spend money at nearby cafes and shops, so there is a clear economic benefit too. However, I do believe the process matters. Artists should be selected through a transparent, community-involved process, not quietly approved by a single property developer, and the content should reflect the diversity of the neighbourhood. In Mount Pleasant, for example, I would love to see more murals honouring the area's Indigenous history alongside contemporary designs. Public art should tell the true story of a community, not just prettify its walls.

Describe what is unusual or unexpected in this picture. Say what is happening, why it stands out and what you would do in that situation.

What is unexpected in this picture is the sheer volume of fish being unloaded from a small fishing boat onto the dock. Crates and boxes are stacked on the quay, and several workers in waterproof clothing and rubber boots are passing them up from the deck, while the boat sits low in the water beside the pier. Nets and ropes are piled on the deck, and gulls are circling overhead, waiting for scraps. What stands out is the contrast between the neat, orderly dockside and the messy, glistening pile of the catch. It is clearly hard physical work, and the boat looks small for the amount of fish it has brought in. If I were there, I would stand well back from the edge, keep out of the workers' way, and watch quietly, because a working dock is a dangerous place to wander around. I would not touch the catch.