Hi, so... I hear you working from home now and is hard to focus, right? Um, I want give you some advice, okay. Maybe you can make a schedule, write what you need do. This help you remember, I think. And you should have a place for work, not the bed, because bed make you sleepy too much. Also, you take break, like stand up, walk small bit, drink some water. This help too, I think. And the phone, maybe you close notification, because phone is very distract, you know. I know is hard first, but if you try every day, maybe is okay. So, just try it, and I hope you feel better soon. Okay, bye.
Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice
Speaking Task 1: Giving Advice is part of the Speaking section of the CELPIP test. You get 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak. It is scored on Content / Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, Task Fulfillment.
- Preparation
- 30 seconds
- Speaking time
- 90 seconds
- Prompts here
- 23 published
The three-move advice
- 1
Acknowledge the feeling before you advise
One sentence. Our CLB 11 answer begins by naming what moving actually costs someone; the CLB 5 goes straight to "you need to go outside."
- 2
Give two or three pieces of advice, each with the reason it works
The reason is the part that gets scored. "Join a class" is a suggestion; "join a class, because conversation comes free with a shared activity" is advice.
- 3
Close by handing it back to them
A short encouraging line uses the last seconds well and keeps the register friendly, which is what this task is set in.
Advice without a reason is just a list.
Two developed suggestions score above five bare ones.
Master the verbs, phrases and expressions you need to give clear, structured advice in CELPIP Speaking Task 1. These words help you sound natural, empathetic and organised — exactly what raters reward when they score your response.
In Task 1 you advise a friend or family member on a problem. Open with an empathy phrase, then use advice verbs (suggest, recommend, consider) and conditional structures to lay out options clearly within the 90-second limit.
What raters reward here
- Open by framing your advice, for example "If I were you, I would...", so the listener knows you are giving suggestions.
- Give two or three concrete suggestions rather than a long list, and attach a reason to each one.
- Use everyday work-from-home details (workspace, phone, schedule, breaks) to make the advice specific.
- Save the last few seconds for a short summary of your main suggestions.
Three mistakes that cost points heremost common first
- 1Speaking to the examiner instead of to the friend in the prompt.
- 2Running out of things to say at 40 seconds because each suggestion had no reason attached.
- 3Using formal language for a conversation the prompt describes as personal.
How Speaking is scored
- Content / Coherence
- Whether your ideas are relevant, developed and logically ordered.
- Vocabulary
- The range and accuracy of your word choice under time pressure.
- Listenability
- How easy you are to follow as speech: grammar, flow, pacing, pauses and fillers.
- Task Fulfillment
- Whether you answered the actual question and covered what was asked.
Model answersthe same prompt, four levels
These are the answers our scorer was calibrated against. Reading a CLB 5 beside a CLB 11 for the same prompt is the fastest way to see what a level actually means. CLB 9 is marked as the target because it is the level that earns maximum language points for Express Entry.
Hey, so I heard you're having a hard time focusing since you started working from home — I went through that too, so let me give you some advice. First, I think you should set up one spot just for work, like a desk, not your bed, because that helps you get into the right mindset for the day. Second, try to make a schedule, like what time you'll do certain tasks, and actually stick to it, because otherwise the whole day just kind of slips away without you noticing. Um, also, I'd say take regular breaks, even just five or ten minutes, so you don't get too tired and end up losing focus later. Another thing is, you should tell your family or roommates when you're actually working, so they don't keep bothering you, which was a big problem for me at first, honestly. And getting dressed in the morning instead of staying in pajamas can really change how you feel about work too, it's a small thing but it helps a lot with your mood. So yeah, I think if you try even two or three of these things, you'll probably notice a difference pretty soon.
Hey, I totally get why working from home is throwing you off — the lines between work and downtime just blur so easily. First off, I'd suggest setting up a dedicated workspace, even if it's just a corner of a room, because your brain starts associating that specific spot with 'work mode,' which honestly makes it easier to switch on and off. Second, try time-blocking your day instead of just working whenever inspiration strikes. Break your tasks into focused chunks, say ninety minutes, followed by a short break — that rhythm keeps your energy up without letting fatigue creep in. Third, and this one's crucial, set clear boundaries with the people around you. Let your family know your "office hours," so you're not constantly getting pulled away mid-task. Also, don't underestimate the power of a proper morning routine; getting dressed and having coffee before logging in can trick your mind into feeling like you're actually heading somewhere, rather than just rolling out of bed. Lastly, use a to-do list to track small wins throughout the day — it's incredibly motivating to physically cross things off. Honestly, productivity at home comes down to structure more than willpower. Once you build that structure, staying focused stops feeling like such an uphill battle. Give a couple of these a shot and see what clicks for you!
Now do it yourself and find out where you land
A model answer shows you the target. It cannot tell you whether your own response hits it — that is a CLB level for each criterion, with the sentences that earned it.
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Create your free account →Questions people ask
- How many words should I use to give advice in CELPIP Speaking Task 1?
- Aim to use three to five advice-specific expressions across your response — enough to sound varied without forcing vocabulary. Quality and natural delivery matter far more than quantity.
- Are these advice words formal or informal?
- Task 1 is a friendly, conversational scenario, so a neutral-to-informal register works best. Each entry below is tagged with its register so you can match the tone of the prompt.
The other 22 Giving Advice prompts0 free
- ·Preparing for the Driver's Knowledge Test and Road Test
- ·Saving Money and Controlling Spending
- ·Choosing Between a House and an Apartment
- ·Choosing the Right Online Course
- ·Finding a Family Doctor
- ·Organizing a Small Apartment
- ·Building a Professional Network
- ·Deciding Whether to Accept a New Job
- ·Getting a Driver's Licence
- ·Choosing a University Major
- ·Choosing a New Hobby
- ·Leasing or Financing a First Car
- ·Improving English After Arriving in Canada
- ·A Job Offer in Another City
- ·Living Alone or with Roommates
- ·Sharing an Apartment with Roommates
- ·Two Job Offers
- ·Buying a House with a Friend
- ·Renting or Buying a First Home
- ·Balancing Studies and a Part-Time Job
- ·Staying Focused While Working from Home
- ·Downsizing the Family Home