CELPIP Speaking Task 1 — Giving Advice

1 Your friend Maria wants to quit her stable job to open a small bakery. What advice would you give her, and why?

Speaking to: Maria, your friend

2 Your neighbour Dev has been offered a job in another city. The pay is better, but his two children are happy at their school here. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: Dev, your neighbour

3 Your cousin Alina spends most of her free time on her phone and says she feels tired all day. Give her advice about changing this, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: Alina, your cousin

4 A co-worker, Tom, wants to ask your manager for a raise, but he is afraid of the answer. Tell him how you think he should handle it, and why.

Speaking to: Tom, a co-worker

5 Your younger brother has saved two thousand dollars. He wants to buy a used car now, but he will also need money for a college course next year. Advise him about the money, and explain why.

Speaking to: your younger brother

6 Your friend Priya moved to this city three months ago and says she still has not made any friends. Give her advice about meeting people here, and explain why it would help.

Speaking to: Priya, your friend

7 Your friend Nadia has been offered her manager’s job. She would be supervising the same people she has worked beside for six years, and she is worried it will change those friendships. Tell her what you think she should do, and why.

Speaking to: Nadia, your friend

8 Your uncle has been taking medication for his blood pressure for a year. He feels well now and wants to stop taking it without telling his doctor. Give him advice about this, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: your uncle

9 Your friend Samir wants to sell his car and use the bus and his bicycle all year to save money. His job is a forty-minute drive away and the winters here are long. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: Samir, your friend

10 A co-worker, Grace, says yes to every extra task she is offered and now stays late almost every evening. She has started missing her own deadlines. Tell her how you think she should handle it, and why.

Speaking to: Grace, a co-worker

11 Your niece finished one term of college and wants to leave and work full time at the store where she has a part-time job. She says the pay is good now. Advise her, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: your niece

12 Your neighbour Ben lives alone, works twelve-hour shifts, and has decided to adopt a large young dog from the shelter this month. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: Ben, your neighbour

13 Your sister has lived here for a year and still has no family doctor. She goes to a walk-in clinic every time something is wrong, and she has not put her name on the waiting list because the wait is long. Give her advice about this, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: your sister

14 Your neighbour Frank was referred to a specialist four months ago and has heard nothing since. He has decided to stop calling and simply wait his turn. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: Frank, your neighbour

15 Your aunt’s health card expired last month. She has cancelled two appointments at the service centre because she cannot leave work during the day, and she plans to wait until her holiday in the autumn. Advise her, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: your aunt

16 Your friend Omar paid a garage before the work started. The final bill was three hundred dollars above the written estimate and the garage will not discuss it. He wants to write about it online instead of taking it any further. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: Omar, your friend

17 A co-worker, Lena, signed a two-year phone contract. The price went up after the first year and the company says that was in the agreement she signed. She is thinking of simply stopping the payments. Tell her how you think she should handle it, and why.

Speaking to: Lena, a co-worker

18 Your friend Hana wants to book a cheap flight home in December with a four-hour connection in a third country. Her passport expires in five months and she has not renewed it. Give her advice about this trip, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: Hana, your friend

19 Your father wants to drive nine hours to the mountains for a long weekend in February, leaving after work on Friday night with his two grandchildren in the car. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: your father

20 Your neighbour Tara’s son is falling behind in maths. His teacher has asked to meet her twice. Tara would rather move him to another school than sit down with the teacher. Advise her, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: Tara, your neighbour

21 Your friend Ade’s daughter has been placed in a language support class at school. Ade wants to ask the school to take her out of it so that she stays with her friends all day. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: Ade, your friend

22 Your brother-in-law worked as an accountant before he came here. Eight months later he is on night shifts at a warehouse and has not begun having his qualifications assessed, because it costs money and takes months. Advise him, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: your brother-in-law

23 A co-worker, Nils, has been in the country two years, pays for everything in cash and has never wanted a credit card. Last week a landlord turned down his application because he has no credit history here. Tell him what you think he should do, and why.

Speaking to: Nils, a co-worker

24 Your sister-in-law is still driving on the licence she brought with her, and it stops being accepted next month. She has not booked the road test because she is sure she will pass it without practising first. Give her advice, and explain your reasons.

Speaking to: your sister-in-law