CELPIP Speaking Practice Course: Tasks 5–6: Persuading and difficult situations

1. Question 1 of 15

   What do you do on the first screen of Task 5, Comparing and Persuading?

   • ACompare two options and choose one, without speaking
   • BSpeak for 60 seconds about the good points of both options
   • CDescribe a picture of the two options
   • DPersuade a family member right away
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   Answer: A. Compare two options and choose one, without speaking

   On screen 1 you read the situation, compare two options and choose one. There is no speaking on this screen.

2. Question 2 of 15

   What do you do on the second screen of Task 5?

   • ADescribe both options equally
   • BPersuade them that your choice is better than theirs
   • CAgree with the other person's suggestion
   • DTell a story about a past purchase
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   Answer: B. Persuade them that your choice is better than theirs

   On screen 2 another person suggests a different option, and you persuade them that your choice is better.

3. Question 3 of 15

   On the second screen of Task 5, how much time do you have?

   • ANo preparation and 60 seconds to speak
   • B30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak
   • C60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak
   • D90 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak
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   Answer: C. 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak

   Task 5's second screen gives 60 seconds to prepare and then 60 seconds to speak.

4. Question 4 of 15

   How should you choose your option on the first screen of Task 5?

   • APick the one you can talk about most easily
   • BAlways pick the first one shown
   • CAlways pick the more expensive one
   • DPick the one you think the raters would choose themselves
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   Answer: A. Pick the one you can talk about most easily

   Choose quickly. Pick the option you would rather talk about, the one you can support with the most reasons.

5. Question 5 of 15

   Which phrase is most useful for persuading in Task 5?

   • A"In the background…"
   • B"It happened when I was…"
   • C"It has the advantage of…"
   • D"Do you think…?"
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   Answer: C. "It has the advantage of…"

   "It has the advantage of…" points out a strength of your choice, which helps persuade.

6. Question 6 of 15

   Why should you read the Task 5 instructions especially closely?

   • AIt is the only task with 90 seconds of speaking time, so it is worth more
   • BYou speak on the first screen
   • CIt has two screens, and the details on each give you your reasons
   • DYou must describe a picture in it
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   Answer: C. It has two screens, and the details on each give you your reasons

   Task 5 has two screens. The details of the options give you the reasons you will use to persuade.

7. Question 7 of 15

   Which is the strongest reason in a Task 5 answer?

   • A"I like the colour of the building."
   • B"Your option is also fine, and honestly I think either one of them would work equally well for our whole family this year."
   • C"It's better because it's good."
   • D"The class at the community centre is only ten minutes from home, so we'd save about an hour of driving every week."
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   Answer: D. "The class at the community centre is only ten minutes from home, so we'd save about an hour of driving every week."

   Strong reasons are specific and compare the options, here by distance and time saved. The others are vague, weak or agree with the other side.

8. Question 8 of 15

   What does Task 6, Dealing with a Difficult Situation, ask you to do?

   • ADescribe an unusual item on the phone
   • BExplain a decision to someone, such as a friend or customer
   • CAnswer a "Do you think…?" question
   • DPredict what will happen next in a picture of a busy street scene
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   Answer: B. Explain a decision to someone, such as a friend or customer

   Task 6 asks you to explain a decision to someone, usually after choosing between two options.

9. Question 9 of 15

   How much preparation time does Task 6 give you?

   • ANo preparation time
   • B30 seconds
   • C90 seconds
   • D60 seconds
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   Answer: D. 60 seconds

   Task 6 gives 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

10. Question 10 of 15

    What tone fits Task 6?

    • AVague, avoiding the decision
    • BConsiderate but firm
    • CCasual and joking
    • DAngry and demanding
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    Answer: B. Considerate but firm

    Be considerate but firm: state the problem clearly, explain your decision and give reasons.

11. Question 11 of 15

    Which is the best opening for a Task 6 answer?

    • A"This picture shows two people and a car."
    • B"Hi Jordan, I need to talk to you about the car we share. I've made a decision, and I want to explain why."
    • C"Um, so, yeah, okay."
    • D"In my opinion, cars in general are much too expensive these days, and most people should probably take the bus instead."
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    Answer: B. "Hi Jordan, I need to talk to you about the car we share. I've made a decision, and I want to explain why."

    A good opening greets the person and says what you need to talk about. The others are off topic, unclear or describe a picture.

12. Question 12 of 15

    Which phrase softens bad news in Task 6?

    • A"In the foreground, there's…"
    • B"Whatever, it doesn't really matter to me what you think about it."
    • C"I know this isn't what you were hoping to hear, but…"
    • D"That's your problem, not mine."
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    Answer: C. "I know this isn't what you were hoping to hear, but…"

    This phrase shows you care about the person's feelings while still giving your decision.

13. Question 13 of 15

    Why is it useful to record an answer for each option when you practise Tasks 5, 6 and 7?

    • ARaters score both options and keep the higher one
    • BThe real test asks you to argue both sides
    • CYou'll be ready to argue either side on test day
    • DEach task is repeated a second time
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    Answer: C. You'll be ready to argue either side on test day

    Practising both choices builds ideas for either side, so you can choose quickly on test day.

14. Question 14 of 15

    Read the transcript. What is the main problem with this response?

    Task 5, screen 2: You chose a used bike for your daily trip to work. Your brother suggests an electric scooter instead. Persuade him that your choice is better.

    Response (transcript): "The scooter is really nice. It's electric, so you don't get tired, and it's fast. It folds up, so it's easy to carry, and it looks very modern. Lots of people at work have one. It's a great scooter."

    • AIt uses too many persuasion phrases
    • BIt praises the brother's option and never says why the bike is better
    • CIt spends too much of the time talking about the price of the used bike
    • DIt describes the bike in too much detail
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    Answer: B. It praises the brother's option and never says why the bike is better

    In Task 5 you must persuade the other person that your choice is better. This speaker only lists the scooter's good points.

15. Question 15 of 15

    Read the transcript. Which rating dimension is most affected by the wrong tone?

    Task 6 prompt: Your friend Ravi asked to borrow your camera for a weekend trip, but you need it for your sister's graduation. Explain your decision to Ravi.

    Response (transcript): "No. You can't have it. I need it. It's my camera, so it's my choice. Ask someone else. Bye."

    • AVocabulary
    • BListenability
    • CNone, because tone is not scored
    • DTask Fulfillment
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Task Fulfillment

    Tone is part of Task Fulfillment, along with relevance, completeness and length. This answer is firm but not considerate, and it is also far too short.

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