CELPIP Speaking Part 7: Expressing Opinions
In Task 7, you express and defend your opinion on an everyday topic. You state your position clearly, support it with reasons and examples, and may acknowledge opposing views. This task tests your ability to argue a point coherently.
Practice Expressing Opinions NowWhat Task 7: Expressing Opinions looks like on test day
You will see a question asking for your opinion — for example, "Do you think children should have smartphones?" or "Is it better to live in a big city or a small town?"
You have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak. This is one of the longer speaking tasks, so you need enough content to fill the time.
Raters evaluate the clarity of your position, strength of your supporting arguments, use of examples, vocabulary range, and grammatical accuracy.
How to score CLB 9+ on Task 7: Expressing Opinions
- State your opinion immediately: "I firmly believe that..." or "In my opinion..." Don't waste time restating the question.
- Support with 2-3 reasons, each with a brief example. "First, I believe X because... For instance, in my experience..."
- Use opinion markers: "I strongly feel that", "From my perspective", "I'm convinced that", "It seems to me that".
- Briefly acknowledge the other side: "While some people argue that..., I still believe..." This shows sophistication.
- Use the PREP structure: Point, Reason, Example, Point (restate). This fills 90 seconds naturally.
Common mistakes on Task 7: Expressing Opinions
- Stating an opinion without backing it with at least two reasons. The rubric scores supporting evidence as much as the position itself.
- Sitting on the fence to avoid offending. The task explicitly asks you to take a side — neutral answers score lower.
- Using basic linkers ("and", "but", "so") instead of CLB 9 connectives ("furthermore", "however", "consequently", "on the other hand").
- Ending with a weak conclusion or trailing off. Sum up your stance in one decisive closing sentence.
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Start PracticingTask 7: Expressing Opinions FAQ
Does my actual opinion matter?+
No. Pick whichever side you can argue more easily in English. Raters assess your language, not your beliefs. If "yes" is easier to argue, say yes — even if you personally disagree.
How many reasons should I give?+
Two strong reasons with examples are better than four weak ones. With 90 seconds, you have time for 2-3 well-developed points.
Should I discuss both sides?+
Briefly acknowledging the other side ("Some may argue...") shows maturity, but spend most of your time on your own position. Don't present a balanced essay — argue your side.
What topics appear in Task 7?+
Social issues, lifestyle choices, technology debates, education policy, environmental questions. Topics are always accessible and don't require specialized knowledge.
Is Task 7 important for my score?+
All 8 tasks contribute to your Speaking CLB score. Task 7 carries the same weight as other tasks, but its longer duration (90 seconds) gives you more opportunity to demonstrate language ability.