The CELPIP Success Podcast

How To Practice With a Timer on the CELPIP Exam
Question from TV on Reddit: "Please suggest some ways to practice with the timer. I didn't complete most of the tasks and got a seven in speaking."
Key Takeaways
Stop seeing the CELPIP as separate from your daily life. The biggest mindset shift is treating exam prep as an integral part of your day-to-day routine, not something that is outside and disconnected from you.
Engage in everyday English conversations. Real, spontaneous conversations force you to respond quickly to random topics — exactly the skill the CELPIP speaking tasks demand. Short, back-and-forth exchanges mimic the 30/60/90-second response windows on the exam.
Don't avoid conversations out of fear. Avoiding English conversations because you're worried about making mistakes is your worst enemy on the CELPIP. The more you practice thinking on your feet, the easier those timed responses become.
Use your phone's voice memo app. Open the voice recorder on your cell phone, hit record, and watch the built-in timer. Practice giving full responses and aim to wrap up cleanly in the last 10 seconds of your target time (usually 60 or 90 seconds).
Repeat this practice over and over. It's not complicated — it just requires consistency. Record yourself, watch the clock, and get comfortable speaking against a time limit.

Mentioned in This Episode
30-Day CELPIP Speaking Skills Bootcamp — Daily one-on-one practice covering every CELPIP speaking task. Click here to join.

Timestamps
0:00 — Listener question from TV (Reddit)
1:05 — Why daily English conversation is part one of the answer
4:06 — The murder mystery coffee story: thinking on your feet
8:15 — Short conversational turns = great timed speaking practice
9:42 — Avoiding conversations hurts your CELPIP performance
10:02 — 30-Day CELPIP Speaking Skills Bootcamp (first mention)
10:24 — Practical timer practice: your phone's voice memo app
12:58 — How to practice: record, watch the clock, finish in the last 10 seconds
13:58 — Recap and final encouragement

Focus on your progress, not just your mistakes with your CELPIP prep.
This episode dives into the importance of purposefully taking the time to recognize your achievements as you prepare for the CELPIP exam. (Because it's super easy to fixate on what went wrong!)
I share my experiences over the past week with this podcast, where I made plenty of mistakes, but I also scored a few important wins.
You might feel overwhelmed by errors or setbacks, but you can shift your perspective by taking a moment to jot down your successes. Even small victories matter—like engaging in English conversations or deciding to join your English speaking coworkers at lunch.
But you have to purposefully notice what went well because we tend to easily pay more attention to what went wrong!
Takeaways:
To truly progress in your CELPIP preparation, consistently acknowledge and document your successes, no matter how small they appear.
Don't let the fear of making mistakes hold you back; instead, embrace them as part of your learning journey.
Engaging in conversations, even when it's challenging, is a significant step forward in your English skills.
Take time each week to reflect on your achievements in English practice, as this boosts motivation and confidence. Practice writing them down!

Top 5
Mentioned in this episode:
Stop making these top 5 CELPIP Speaking task mistakes
Learn how to spot and avoid the top 5 most common CELPIP speaking task mistakes - this free course will show you how!
Top 5

Episode Summary: Welcome to a closer look at how to respond to CELPIP Speaking Tasks 7 and 8.
Today I'll be covering strategies, tips, and practice prompts to help you feel confident and prepared for this section of the exam.
In This Episode
Speaking Task 7 — Giving Your Opinion (starts ~1:20)
Why you're already an expert at this task — you've expressed opinions before
A "Do you think…?" style question — more approachable than it seems

5 Key Tips for Task 7:
Read & understand the question — stay on topic, avoid bunny trails (~2:03)
Speed — quickly decide your position; there are no right or wrong answers (~3:16)
Three points — aim for 3 main ideas, each backed by a reason or example. Formula: (1 main point + 1 reason/example) × 3 = complete answer (~3:41)
Be logical — make sure your ideas sound logical when presented (~4:30)
Use transitions — phrases like "First of all," "Second," "Third," "And finally" help test raters follow your flow (~4:30)

Timing for Task 7 (~5:56)
30 seconds to brainstorm: jot down one-word triggers, aim to identify 3 big ideas
90 seconds to record your response
Draw from real-life experience to strengthen your answer

Task 7 Practice Prompt (~7:52)
"Do you think your city is doing enough to provide affordable housing? Why or why not?"
Speaking Task 8 — Describing an Unusual Image (starts ~9:19)
Describe a strange/unfamiliar object as if you're on a phone call with a friend
The strategies you used in Speaking Task 3 can also help you here!

5 Key Tips for Task 8:
Talk to a friend — use their name, keep it personal (~10:13)
Set the scene — start with "I'm looking at a…" blanket statement (~10:34)
Divide and conquer — mentally split the image into 4 quadrants; describe one section at a time (~10:47)
Use strong descriptive language — vary your descriptors across color, shape, size, and similes; don't over-rely on one category (~12:11)
Conclude — leave ~10 seconds at the end to wrap up, e.g., "So Johnny, what do you think of this?" (~12:54)

Task 8 Practice Prompt (~13:41)
"You are at a local artisan market, and you see this unusual custom-crafted piece of home decoration that your friend would likely love. Call them and describe the object in detail so that they can visualize it and decide if they want you to buy it for them." (Image available here!)Resources & Call to Action
Free 5-Part Mini Audio Course — Avoid the top 5 most common CELPIP Speaking Test mistakes.
30-Day CELPIP Speaking Task Bootcamp — Starts September 7th. Download the free mini audio course to receive your invitation.

This episode breaks down CELPIP Speaking Tasks 5 and 6.
Task 5 covers comparing and persuading — picking an option, defending it against a new option, and recording your response.
Task 6 focuses on dealing with a difficult situation — being firm, kind, and clear.
Grab your 5 part mini audio course: The Top 5 CELPIP Speaking Task Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
(Only those who download this audio course will receive an invitation to join my upcoming 30 day CELPIP Speaking Skills bootcamp - we start September 7th!)
Key Segments
0:00 — Welcome & Introductions
1:22 — Speaking Task 5: Comparing & Persuading What the task is, why it feels complex, and how it mirrors everyday conversations (defending a restaurant pick, a movie choice, etc.).
1:50 — Task 5 Timing Breakdown Three rounds of 60 seconds: (1) read two options and choose quickly, (2) review a new third option and prepare your defense, (3) record your answer.
5:23 — Task 5 Success Tips

Be quick at reading and understanding the options.
Choose early (first 10–15 seconds) and jot down 1–2 word notes on why.
Use the second 60-second block to prepare arguments defending your original choice against the new option.
Personalize your answer — pretend you're talking to someone.

7:21 — Task 5 Practice Example: Winter Gloves I reference a practice question about choosing between pairs of winter gloves, including wool knit convertible gloves.
9:06 — Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation Why this task is tough — especially for introverts — and why it's an essential real-life skill. The goal: state your decision firmly, kindly, and with clear reasoning.
11:03 — Task 6 Success Tips

Speak to a person — use their name or invent one.
Be firm, not rude.
Convey kindness — stick to your decision but do it nicely.
Give a clear explanation — offer 2–3 reasons for your decision.

12:27 — Task 6 Practice Assignment You ordered an expensive meal at a restaurant, waited 45+ minutes, and it arrived cold. Talk to the waiter, explain the issue, and request a refund.

13:22 — 30-Day Speaking Skills Bootcamp Starts September 7th. Two speaking tasks per week. Submit voice messages and get personalized audio feedback from me.
13:45 — How to Get Your Bootcamp Invitation Download the free 5-part mini audio course: "The Top Five CELPIP Speaking Task Mistakes and How to Avoid Them."

Links & Resources Mentioned
Free Mini Audio Course: The Top Five CELPIP Speaking Task Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
30-Day Speaking Skills Bootcamp — starts September 7th
Task 5 Practice Material — Winter gloves comparison exercise

Today, we’re tackling speaking task three of the CELPIP exam, which is all about describing an image.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the details in a picture, I've got some solid strategies to help you focus and shine in your response. I’ll be guiding you through the essential steps, like how to brainstorm effectively in those crucial 30 seconds before you start speaking.
We’ll talk about picking just a few sections of the image to describe in detail rather than trying to cover everything, which can lead to a rushed and unfocused answer.
Plus, I’ll share tips on using specific language to improve your descriptions and make your response stand out.
--> Want to join my upcoming 30 day CELPIP speaking skills bootcamp? Then grab your free copy of The Top 5 CELPIP Speaking Task Mistakes And How To Avoid Them - The only way to find out more about the bootcamp is by downloading and listening to this free course!
Takeaways:
In speaking task three, you'll have 30 seconds to brainstorm what you'll talk about before you start recording your answer. Use your time wisely - I'll show you how!
Select specific areas of the image to discuss rather than trying to cover everything for better clarity and depth in your descriptions.
Use detailed descriptions, including colors and emotions, to strengthen your image description.
In speaking task four, predict what you think will logically happen next! Make sure you're using verbs like going to, will, may, might for example to talk about your predictions.

Join the 30-day CELPIP speaking skills boot camp for personalized feedback and to sharpen your speaking abilities. To get your invitation to join, you first need to download and listen to The Top 5 CELPIP Speaking Task Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Today's Speaking Task Assignment:
Grab your cellphone and go for a walk! Look for a busy scene happening around you and use your phone to take a picture of it.
When you get back home, open your picture and use it to practice speaking task 3 and 4. Good luck! (And if you join the 30 day CELPIP Speaking skills workshop that starts September 7th, you'll be able to share your response with me for feedback!