CELPIP Speaking Part 1: Giving Advice

In Task 1, you give advice to a friend or acquaintance about an everyday situation. You have 90 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. This is the easiest speaking task — a great place to build confidence.

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What Task 1: Giving Advice looks like on test day

You will see a brief scenario describing a situation someone is facing — for example, a friend considering changing jobs, someone deciding whether to adopt a pet, or a coworker struggling with time management.

You have 30 seconds of preparation time to organize your thoughts, then 90 seconds to speak. You should give at least two pieces of advice with reasons.

The rater evaluates your coherence, vocabulary range, grammatical accuracy, and task fulfillment. You need to directly address the situation and provide relevant, helpful advice.

How to score CLB 9+ on Task 1: Giving Advice

Use a clear structure: greet the person, acknowledge their situation, give advice #1 with a reason, give advice #2 with a reason, and close with encouragement.
Start with "If I were you, I would..." or "My first suggestion would be..." — these frames sound natural and confident.
Give specific advice, not vague suggestions. Instead of "You should be careful," say "I'd recommend researching online reviews before making a decision."
Use linking phrases: "First of all", "Another thing I'd suggest", "On top of that", "Most importantly".
Practice timing — 90 seconds feels short. Aim for 2-3 solid pieces of advice rather than 5 rushed ones.

Common mistakes on Task 1: Giving Advice

Skipping the greeting and jumping straight into advice — raters expect natural conversational openers like "Hey [name]!" before the suggestions start.
Giving only one piece of advice or rushing through two without supporting reasons; the rubric expects at least two well-developed suggestions, each with a why.
Switching to formal essay tone instead of friendly spoken English. Avoid "Furthermore" and "In conclusion" — keep it conversational.
Running out of time before closing. Practice timing so you wrap up in the last 5–10 seconds with a warm sign-off, not mid-sentence.

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Task 1: Giving Advice FAQ

How long do I have for CELPIP Speaking Task 1?+

You have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak. Use the preparation time to note 2-3 key points.

What kind of advice topics appear?+

Everyday Canadian situations: choosing a school, handling a neighbor dispute, planning a vacation, managing finances, switching careers, dealing with a health issue. No specialized knowledge needed.

Is Task 1 the easiest speaking task?+

Yes, most test-takers find Task 1 the most approachable. The format is straightforward: read a situation, give advice. It's a good warm-up for the harder tasks that follow.

How many pieces of advice should I give?+

Aim for 2-3 pieces of advice with brief reasons for each. Quality matters more than quantity — two well-explained suggestions beat five rushed ones.

What score do I need on Speaking for Express Entry?+

Express Entry requires minimum CLB 7 in Speaking. CLB 9+ in all skills earns maximum CRS points (136 points for language).