CELPIP Speaking Task 5 Template — Comparing and Persuading

CELPIP Speaking Task 5 — "Taking a Position" or, more plainly, Comparing and Persuading — shows you two options on screen (two apartments, two cars, two holiday plans, two phones) and asks you to pick one and convince a specific person, often a family member, to agree. You get 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak into the microphone. This guide gives you a repeatable structure, ready-to-use sentence-starter and persuasion banks, a fill-in skeleton, a scored model answer, and a clear picture of what separates a CLB 7 response from a CLB 11 one.

The trap in Task 5 is treating it like a simple opinion task. It is not. The screen shows two real options with prices and features, and the prompt names a real listener with real concerns (a budget, a worry, a preference). Strong answers do three things in one breath: they compare both choices, commit clearly to one, and persuade the named person by speaking to what that person cares about. Miss any of the three and you cap your score.

What the examiner is looking for

Task 5 is rated on the four CELPIP Speaking criteria. Here is what each one means here and how to hit it.

• Content & Coherence — Did you actually compare the two options, choose one, and give organised, connected reasons? Hit it by naming both options early, signalling your choice, then giving two or three reasons in a logical order with transitions ("first," "on top of that," "so").
• Vocabulary — Did you use precise, persuasive, comparative language? Hit it with comparatives ("more reliable," "far cheaper"), persuasive verbs ("save," "avoid," "guarantee"), and concrete adjectives instead of "good" and "nice."
• Listenability — Is your speech smooth, well-paced, and easy to follow, with natural stress and few long pauses? Hit it by speaking at a steady pace, using clear sentence boundaries, and buying time with fillers instead of going silent.
• Task Fulfilment — Did you address the specific listener and the specific situation on screen, and use the full 60 seconds? Hit it by naming the person, acknowledging their concern, and ending with a direct call to action.

The 60-second plan: compare, commit, convince

You only have a minute of prep, so do not write sentences — jot triggers. In your 60 seconds of preparation, decide three things fast: which option you are choosing, your two strongest reasons, and the one objection the listener is likely to raise. Then deliver in four moves.

Step 1 — Open by naming both options and your choice (about 10 seconds)

Do not waste time warming up. Address the person, name the two options, and state your pick immediately so the examiner hears a clear position. Compressing the comparison and the choice into the opening also frees up time for reasons, which is where points live. Example: "Hey Dad, I know we're deciding between the downtown condo and the suburban townhouse, and honestly, I think we should go with the townhouse." In one sentence you have shown the comparison and committed — that is Content & Coherence working for you.

Step 2 — Give your strongest reason with a direct comparison (about 18 seconds)

Lead with your best argument and frame it as one option beating the other, not just as a standalone fact. Comparatives are what the Vocabulary criterion rewards. Example: "The townhouse is actually a lot more practical for us. It's about three hundred dollars cheaper a month, and it has an extra bedroom, so you'd finally have a proper office instead of working at the kitchen table." Notice the reason is tied to something the listener wants (an office), not just to abstract value.

Step 3 — Add a second reason and answer the listener's likely concern (about 22 seconds)

Now stack a second reason and pre-empt the objection. Acknowledging a concern and knocking it down is the single most persuasive move available, and it directly serves Task Fulfilment because it proves you are speaking to this person. Example: "I know you're worried about the longer commute, but the train station is a five-minute walk, so you'd actually spend less time stuck in traffic than you do now. Plus the neighbourhood is quieter, which I know matters to you." You have validated the worry, reframed it, and linked it to a personal value.

Step 4 — Close with a call to action (about 10 seconds)

Finish by pushing for a decision — do not trail off. A confident closing call to action lifts Listenability and Task Fulfilment together. Example: "So let's put a deposit down on the townhouse this weekend before someone else grabs it. Trust me, we won't regret it." That urgency ("before someone else grabs it") is classic persuasion and a strong, intentional ending.

The fill-in template

Use this skeleton in prep. Drop in the two options, your choice, and the listener's name, and you have a full minute of speech ready.

[Name], I know we're choosing between [Option A] and [Option B],
and I really think we should go with [my choice].

First, it's [comparative reason]: it's [more/less ___] than [other option],
which means you'd [concrete benefit for the listener].

On top of that, [second reason], so [benefit].

Now, I know you're worried about [listener's concern],
but actually [reframe / counter-evidence], so [that's not really a problem].

So let's [specific action] — [reason to act now]. Trust me, [reassurance].

Sentence-starter bank

Memorise one or two lines from each row. They map directly onto the four steps above, so you are never hunting for words mid-answer.

Argument-ideas and persuasion bank

When the topic surprises you, scan this table for an angle. Pick a theme that fits the two options, then borrow its reasons, power verbs, and adjectives. The last row is your safety net for the seconds when your mind goes blank.

Model answer

Prompt: "Your family is deciding between buying a brand-new car and a certified used car. Choose one and persuade your partner." (≈ 125 words, fits 60 seconds.)

Why this answer scores high

• Opening ("I know we're torn… the used car is the smarter move") names both options and commits in one sentence — instant Content & Coherence and Task Fulfilment.
• First reason ("almost eight thousand dollars cheaper… clear that credit-card balance") is a concrete comparison tied to a shared goal, not a vague "it's good." That specificity is Vocabulary and persuasion together.
• Second reason ("only two years old… full warranty… just as reliable") pre-empts the obvious "but new is safer" doubt before it is even raised.
• Concern handled ("I know you're worried about repairs… nothing to stress about") speaks directly to the listener — the move that lifts Task Fulfilment from average to strong.
• Close ("let's go test-drive it this Saturday before someone else snaps it up") is a specific, time-pressured call to action, ending on energy rather than fading out — strong Listenability.
• Transitions ("The biggest reason," "On top of that," "So") thread the answer so it never sounds like a list of disconnected facts.

What CLB 7, 9 and 11 look like

• CLB 7 — Picks one option and gives a couple of reasons, but the comparison is thin ("the used one is cheaper, so I like it"), vocabulary leans on "good/nice/a lot," and there are noticeable pauses or self-corrections. The listener's concern is barely addressed.
• CLB 9 — Clearly compares both options, commits, and gives two developed reasons with comparatives and persuasive verbs. Addresses one concern and closes with a call to action. Mostly smooth with only minor hesitation.
• CLB 11 — Effortless, persuasive, and tailored: vivid comparisons, precise vocabulary, a confident reframe of the listener's objection, and a natural, urgent close. Pacing and stress sound like a fluent native speaker, and every sentence serves the persuasion.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Describing instead of persuading. Listing features of both options without choosing or convincing reads as Task 1, not Task 5. Commit early and sell it.
• Ignoring the named listener. Generic reasons score lower than reasons aimed at that person's budget, worry, or preference. Use their name and their concern.
• No comparison. If you only talk about your chosen option and never mention the other, you have not done the "comparing" half of the task.
• Running out of things to say at 35 seconds. Plan two reasons plus one objection so you fill the full minute. Silence hurts Listenability.
• Weak ending. Trailing off with "…so yeah, that's my choice" wastes the close. Finish with a clear, time-bound call to action.
• Over-formal language. You are persuading family or a friend, so contractions and warmth ("Trust me," "Here's the thing") sound more natural than stiff, essay-style phrasing.

Buying time & staying fluent

When you need a half-second to think, do not go silent — silence costs Listenability points. Use a natural filler, then keep moving. These also work as transitions between your reasons.

Practise these out loud until they are automatic. In a 60-second task, the difference between a CLB 7 and a CLB 9 is often not ideas — it is whether your delivery stays smooth and confident from the first word to the last.