I strongly believe that parents should set reasonable limits on how much time their teenage children spend on social media. Although social media can be useful for communication and entertainment, excessive use can negatively affect both their mental well-being and their academic performance. First of all, spending too much time on social media can easily become addictive. Teenagers may constantly check their phones, compare themselves with others, or feel pressured to keep up with what their friends are doing. Over time, this can affect their self-esteem and prevent them from developing healthy relationships in the real world. For example, instead of participating in a family activity or meeting friends in person, a teenager might spend several hours scrolling through videos or checking messages. Another important reason is that excessive social media use can interfere with schoolwork and sleep. If students stay up late using their phones, they may arrive at school tired and have difficulty concentrating. Setting a reasonable limit, such as allowing social media only after homework is completed, can help teenagers develop better time-management habits. That being said, I don't think parents should completely ban social media. Teenagers need some independence, and social media is now an important part of social communication. In my view, the best approach is to establish clear limits while teaching children how to use technology responsibly.
Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions
Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions 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 opinion
- 1
State your position in the first sentence
The task asks what you think. Anything before your answer is time spent not answering it.
- 2
Two or three reasons, strongest first, each with an example
The example is what stops a reason from being an assertion.
- 3
Concede one point, then restate
Our CLB 11 answer argues for part-time work "but capped, and the cap is where the real argument sits". A limit reads as thought; an absolute reads as reflex.
A position with a limit sounds more considered than one without.
Acknowledging the other side costs ten seconds and buys credibility.
Stock your toolkit with opinion phrases, reasoning connectors and emphasis words that let you state and defend a clear viewpoint in CELPIP Speaking Task 7.
Task 7 asks whether you agree or disagree with a statement. Open with a clear opinion phrase, back it with reasoning connectors (because, for instance, as a result) and finish with a confident restatement.
- State your opinion in the first sentence; a delayed position sounds undecided.
- Use the 30 seconds to fix two reasons, not five — mental health and schoolwork is enough.
- Give one everyday example per reason, such as scrolling instead of joining a family activity.
- Concede the other side briefly near the end, then restate your position in one closing sentence.
- 1Balancing both sides so evenly that no opinion is expressed.
- 2Giving reasons that restate the opinion instead of supporting it.
- 3Running out of time before the conclusion, so the answer just stops.
- 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.
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.
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.
Ready to practise for real?
Get exam-style questions, instant AI feedback on your Writing and Speaking, and a personalised path to your target CLB.
Create your free account →- Should I give both sides of the argument in Task 7?
- Pick one side and defend it well. You can briefly acknowledge the other view, but a clear, well-supported opinion scores better than sitting on the fence.
- How do I support my opinion convincingly?
- Follow each opinion phrase with a reason and a concrete example, using the reasoning connectors below to link them smoothly.
- ·Government Incentives for Electric Vehicles
- ·Working From Home Two Days a Week
- ·Part-Time Jobs for High School Students
- ·Device-Free Family Dinners
- ·Banning Vaping in Public Places
- ·Work Experience Versus Grades in Admissions
- ·Financial Literacy in Schools
- ·Free University Education in Canada
- ·Fees for Frequent Returns
- ·AI Tools Like ChatGPT in Schools
- ·Close Friends or Many Acquaintances
- ·Free Transit for Students and Seniors
- ·Government Spending on Homelessness
- ·Affordable Housing
- ·Free Job Training for Newcomers
- ·Stricter Deforestation Rules
- ·Healthier School Lunches
- ·Cell Phones in Class
- ·Regulating Ride-Sharing Services
- ·Investing in Public Parks
- ·Should Public Transit Be Free?
- ·Parents and Teen Conflicts