CELPIP Speaking Task 2: Template + Sample (Band 9–12)
Share personal experiences effectively in Speaking Task 2. Learn storytelling structure, natural transitions, and emotional details that help you score Band 9–12.
What They Test
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Narrative Structure
Your ability to tell a story with clear beginning, middle, and end. Examiners assess how logically you organize your personal experience.
Detailed Description
Including specific details about what happened, when, where, and who was involved. Showing ability to paint a vivid picture with words.
Emotional Depth
Expressing feelings and personal reactions. Showing how the experience affected you and what you learned from it.
Natural Transitions
Using linking words and phrases to move smoothly between different parts of your story, making it easy to follow.
Template Phrases
Ready-to-use expressions that help you structure your response effectively.
Setting the Scene
- "Let me tell you about a time when I..."
- "One memorable experience that comes to mind is..."
- "I'd like to share an incident where I learned..."
Describing Details
- "It happened when I was..."
- "The most memorable part was..."
- "What struck me most was..."
- "As the situation developed, I felt..."
Showing Impact
- "This experience taught me..."
- "Looking back, I realize that..."
- "The impact was significant because..."
- "It changed my perspective on..."
Concluding Thoughts
- "In retrospect, this was..."
- "I'll always remember this because..."
- "This experience shaped me into..."
Sample Answer (60-90 seconds)
See how a Band 9–12 response sounds with proper structure and supporting details.
Scenario:
Describe a memorable event from your school days. What made it special and how did it impact you?
Opening:
"Let me tell you about a memorable event from my school days that I'll never forget. It was during my final year of high school when I won a regional science fair competition."
Main Story with Details:
"The competition required months of preparation. I had to research my topic thoroughly, conduct experiments, and create a presentation. What made this experience special was that it was the first time I had participated in such an event. The day of the competition, I felt nervous but also excited. When my name was announced as the winner, I felt extremely proud and overwhelmed with joy."
Impact & Reflection:
"This experience taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. I learned how to manage my time effectively and how to present my ideas clearly. It gave me confidence in my abilities and encouraged me to pursue my interests in science further. Looking back, winning that competition was a turning point in my life."
Conclusion:
"This event left a lasting impression on me, and I often look back on it as a reminder of what I can achieve with dedication and hard work. It shaped my confidence and motivated me to take on new challenges."
Why This Response Scores High:
- Clear narrative arc: opening, development, reflection, conclusion
- Specific details about when, what, and how the event occurred
- Expresses personal feelings and emotional reactions
- Shows impact and lessons learned from the experience
- Natural transitions between different parts of the story
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on CELPIP Speaking Task 2.
Mistake 1: Not Setting the Scene Clearly
Many candidates jump into the story without providing context—when, where, and what happened.
Weak:
"I won a competition once."
Strong:
"Let me tell you about a memorable event from my school days. It was during my final year when I won a regional science fair competition in October 2019."
Mistake 2: Lack of Specific Details
Simply stating what happened isn't enough—you need to include specific details that make the story vivid.
Weak:
"I prepared for the competition. Then I won it. I was happy."
Strong:
"I spent months researching, conducting experiments, and creating presentations. On competition day, I felt nervous but excited. When the judge announced my name as the winner, I felt overwhelmed with pride and joy."
Mistake 3: Missing Reflection or Impact
Not explaining what you learned or how the experience affected you significantly lowers your score.
Tip: Always include what the experience taught you, how it changed you, or why it was significant. This shows depth and maturity in your thinking.
Mistake 4: Chronological Confusion
Jumping around in time without using linking words makes your story hard to follow.
Confusing:
"I won. Before that I prepared. Then the judge announced."
Clear:
"First, I spent months preparing. Then, on the day of the competition, I presented my work. Finally, when the judge announced the winner, I discovered I had won."
Mini Quiz
Test your understanding of CELPIP Speaking Task 2 with these quick questions.
1. What is the primary purpose of CELPIP Speaking Task 2?
2. Which of the following is a key component of a well-structured story?
3. Why is it important to include specific details in Task 2?
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about CELPIP Speaking Task 2 answered.
How long should my response be for Task 2?
For Speaking Task 2, you have 30 seconds to prepare and then 60 seconds to speak. Use the prep time to quickly outline your story: opening, key details, and impact. In 60 seconds, aim to complete your narrative with clear structure.
What makes a response score Band 9-12?
High-scoring responses have a clear narrative arc (beginning, middle, end), include vivid details about what happened, express personal feelings and reactions, and show what was learned from the experience.
What if I can't think of a story?
Have a few personal experiences ready: memorable events from school, work achievements, challenges overcome, or meaningful relationships. Any genuine personal experience works—the key is telling it well with details and emotion.
Should I use the past tense throughout?
Yes, use past tense consistently when describing events ("I won", "I felt", "It happened"). When reflecting, you can mix tenses ("This experience taught me", "Looking back, I realize"). Consistency shows language control.
Continue Your CELPIP Journey
Explore more resources to master CELPIP Speaking.
Task 3: Describing a Scene
Learn scene description techniques
Master the art of describing scenes with vivid details and spatial organization.
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