Say the problem back
Her name and her actual trouble. You haven't given a tip yet, and that's on purpose: now she knows you were listening.
CELPIP GymSpeaking courseLesson 1 · Speaking Task 1, giving advice
Advise like a friend with a plan
Giving advice is easy. Giving ninety seconds of it out loud, without repeating yourself or running dry, is where marks go. Say their problem back, give three tips that each earn their time, and finish like someone who means it.
5 minutes to read
Nadia
Failed my road test again. I think I'm done trying.
- Two lessons, just on parking
- Drive the real route
- Warm up before the test
1
Name their problem first
Use your thirty seconds to find the problem underneath the situation, and three tips in single words. Then open by saying that problem back to the person, by name, before you give any advice. Scroll through one whole answer on the clock.
Why it scores. Saying it back shows you've understood the situation and you're talking to this one person, which is the task. It also buys you ten easy seconds to settle your voice.
Task FulfillmentListenability
First tip, with a because
Aim it at exactly what went wrong, then say why. "That's where you lost your marks" turns a tip anyone could give into one that's only hers.
Second tip, a different way in
Ask it as a question this time. The because can change shape too: that way, so that, which means.
Third tip, from you
"If I were you" puts you in her story. Keep this one a little shorter: you're watching the clock now.
End warm
One sentence, only for her. If the clock stops you halfway through it, you've already done the work.
Her name and what's next
- 0:00Say it back
- 0:10Two lessons on parkingbecause that's where the marks went
- 0:35The real test routeso the traffic won't surprise her
- 1:00A drive before the testso it isn't her first of the day
- 1:20Her name, and what's next
You've already passed most of this test twice. One more month, and you'll be driving to my place for dinner.
2
Three tips, each with a because
A bare tip is over in four seconds. Add a because and one detail about this person, and the same tip fills twenty-five. Three of those are the whole minute and a half, so stop looking for a fourth idea.
Why it scores. Reasons and details are what a rater can score. Three tips that are developed also keep you talking to the end, where seven bare ones would run out.
Content/CoherenceTask Fulfillment
Each with a because
TipBook two lessons, just on parallel parking,
Becausebecause that's where you lost your marks both times.
About herYou already know how to drive. You need two good hours on the one thing that keeps catching you.
3
Change how you advise each time
"You should" three times sounds like a list being read out. Give each tip a different way in: a suggestion, a question, and what you'd do yourself. Pick your three openers in your preparation, so that they're ready when you need them.
Why it scores. Different ways of giving advice show range, and they sound like someone talking instead of reciting.
VocabularyListenability
You shouldYou couldMaybe you canI'd suggest youbook two lessons
You shouldYou couldMaybe you canWhy don't youpractise on the real route
You shouldYou couldMaybe you canIf I were you, I'dgo for a drive first
- It might help to…
- Have you thought about…?
- What worked for me was…
- The best thing you can do is…
4
End on encouragement
Keep the last ten seconds for one warm sentence: their name, something they've already done, and the next good thing. Start it with about ten seconds left, and don't add a new tip after it.
Why it scores. A last line meant for this person makes the answer sound finished and keeps the friendly tone. It also means the clock never cuts you off halfway through a tip.
Task FulfillmentContent/Coherence
So, yeah. That's all I have to say.
Nadia, you've already passed most of this test twice. One more month, and you'll be driving to my place for dinner.
- Her name
- What she's done
- What's next
The usual trap: advice for anybody
"Stay positive and practise more" could be said to anyone about anything. If a tip would still work with the name changed, add something only this person has: the part she failed, the date of the test.
The clock, spent well
30 seconds to prepare, 90 to speak30 secondsPreparing: their problem, and three tips in single words.
About 10 secondsSay the problem back, by name.
About 70 secondsThree tips, each with its because.
The last 10One warm sentence, then stop.
Quick hacks for Task 1
Smaller than a move, and just as easy to forget on the day.
- VoiceIt's the first thing you'll say
You've been silent for about two and a half hours. Say a few words under your breath before the task opens, so your first sentence isn't your warm-up.
- VoiceSound the way you'd sound to a friend
It's advice to someone you know. A warm, ordinary voice suits the task better than a presentation.
- ClockNinety seconds is longer than it feels
This and Task 7 are the two long ones. If three tips are said by 0:50, you rushed: go back and give the thinnest one a because.
- If it slipsNo third tip? Say what to avoid
"One thing I'd stay away from is" counts as a tip, and it arrives with its own because.
Take this into the test
- 1In the thirty seconds: their problem and three tips, in single words.
- 2Say the problem back. Three tips, each with a because, each started differently.
- 3Last ten seconds: their name, what they've done, what's next.