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CELPIP Speaking · Task 1

Giving Advice Template Guide

Learn how to greet naturally, prove your experience, and give three clear pieces of advice using modals, conditionals, and fully developed support.

Preparation: 30 seconds

Speaking: 90 seconds

Target: 3 advice points

Goal

Help Someone Solve a Problem

CELPIP Speaking Task 1 asks you to give advice to a friend, colleague, or someone in a familiar situation. Your answer should sound helpful and organized while demonstrating high-level vocabulary, grammar range, and fully developed ideas.

Assessment Criteria

What the Examiner Looks For

Structure (Coherence)

Use clear transitions such as First, Another thing, and Finally so your logic is easy to follow.

Grammar (Range)

Show modals and conditionals, especially must, ought to, and If I were you.

Detail (Task Fulfillment)

Develop each idea with Reason + Consequence, not just a short suggestion.

Step 1

Greet, Establish Context, and Validate Your Expertise

Goal: greet the person, acknowledge the situation, and briefly explain why you are the right person to give advice. This makes your response sound natural instead of robotic.

Grammar Booster: Present Perfect Tense

To prove you are qualified to give advice, use the Present Perfect. It shows your experience started in the past and is still relevant now.

Formula: Subject + have/has + past participle

Keywords: have learned, have experienced, have done, have dealt with, have noticed

Greeting: Hi [Name].

Context: Acknowledge the situation: congratulations, thanks for asking, or I heard about...

Validation: Explain your experience.

Example: Hi Daniel, thanks for asking me about this. I know choosing a new apartment can be stressful, and I have moved several times in the past few years, so I have learned what details really matter.

Step 2

The Main Advice: The 3-Point Strategy

Goal: give three distinct pieces of advice using different grammar structures. Do not repeat should three times. Show a range of intensity.

IntensityModalsUsageExample
High (Strong)must, need to, have toUse for urgent or essential advice.If you want to avoid delays, you must contact the office today.
Medium (Standard)ought to, should, had betterUse for practical advice that is clearly helpful.You ought to compare at least two options before deciding.
Low (Soft)could, might want to, may want toUse for gentle suggestions or optional ideas.You could ask a colleague to review your application.
Hypotheticalwould, would probably, would definitelyUse when putting yourself in the other person's position.If I were you, I would prepare a short list of questions.

Advice #1

The Strongest Point

Use this for your most urgent advice.

Grammar: 1st Conditional + Strong Modal

Rule: If + present tense (action), subject + must + base verb (result).

The Advice: If you want to [goal], you must [action].

Support 1 (Reason): This is important because [reason].

Support 2 (Consequence): Otherwise / As a result, [consequence].

Example: If you want to choose the right apartment, you must visit the place in person. This is important because photos can hide problems like noise, poor lighting, or a bad layout.

Advice #2

The Practical Point

Use this for standard, helpful advice that is realistic and easy to follow.

Grammar: Medium Modals

Rule: Subject + ought to + base verb. Use ought to instead of repeating "should" to show stronger grammar range.

The Advice: You ought to [practical action].

Support 1 (Detail): [Explain exactly how to do it].

Support 2 (Benefit): This will help you [benefit].

Example: You ought to compare the total monthly cost, not just the rent. For example, check utilities, parking, internet, and transportation, because these small expenses can change your budget quickly.

Advice #3

The Hypothetical Point

Use this to offer a suggestion by putting yourself in their shoes.

Grammar: 2nd Conditional + Modal

Rule: If I were you, I would + base verb.

Note: Always use were, never was.

The Advice: If I were you, I would [action].

Support 1 (Detail): [Give a specific action].

Support 2 (Benefit): That way, [positive result].

Example: If I were you, I would talk to the landlord before signing anything. That way, you can ask about maintenance, rent increases, and any rules that might affect your daily life.

Step 3

The Closing

Goal: finish with a quick, friendly sign-off. Keep it short. Do not summarize all the advice again.

Rule: Use one encouragement sentence and one friendly closing.

Example:I hope this helps, and I'm sure you'll make a good decision. Let me know how it goes!

Example with Instruction

Prompt and Band-Strong Sample Response

Instruction

Your friend is planning to move to a new apartment, but they are unsure how to choose the right place. Give your friend advice about what they should consider before making a decision.

Hi Daniel, thanks for asking me about this. I know choosing a new apartment can feel overwhelming, and I have moved several times in the past few years, so I have learned what details really matter.

First, if you want to avoid problems later, you must visit the apartment in person before signing the lease. Photos can hide issues like noise, poor lighting, or a bad layout, and seeing the place yourself will give you a much more accurate impression.

Another thing is that you ought to compare the total monthly cost, not just the rent. You need to include utilities, parking, internet, and transportation because those extra costs can make an affordable apartment much more expensive.

Finally, if I were you, I would speak with the landlord before making a final decision. That way, you can ask about maintenance, rent increases, and building rules, which will help you avoid surprises after moving in.

I hope this helps, and I'm sure you'll make a smart choice. Let me know how it goes!