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CELPIP Speaking template: Describing a Scene

CELPIP Speaking Task 3 — Describing a Scene: 30 seconds prep, 60 seconds to speak. You describe what's happening in a picture in as much relevant detail as you can.

3 min read Spoken response Works for any prompt

What raters reward

Organized coverage of the image (Content/Coherence), precise nouns, position words and present-continuous verbs (Vocabulary, Readability), and steady delivery that fills the time (Listenability, Task Fulfillment).

Your time plan

Prep (30s) — Plan a path: overview → foreground (left to right) → background → mood. Note 4–5 specific things you'll name.
Speak (60s) — Overview (~8s) → foreground people/actions (~30s) → background/setting (~12s) → atmosphere or guess (~10s).

How to structure it

Fill the [slots] with your own ideas — adapt the frames, don't recite them.

1. Overview — One sentence on what the picture shows overall.
2. Foreground details — Describe the main people and actions, left to right.
3. Background / setting — Add what's behind or around the main action.
4. Atmosphere / guess — Comment on the mood or what might be happening.
1 Overview ~8s

Set the type of scene before any detail.

Grammar Present simple

Phrases to adapt
  • This picture shows [type of scene], probably at [place].
  • At first glance, it looks like [overall impression].
2 Foreground details ~30s

Use present continuous and position words; say what people are doing, wearing, holding.

Grammar Present continuous + prepositions of place

Phrases to adapt
  • In the foreground, [person] is [action].
  • On the left, [detail], while on the right, [detail].
3 Background / setting ~12s

Mention the place, weather, objects, or signs.

Grammar There is / there are + prepositions

Phrases to adapt
  • In the background, there is [detail].
  • Behind them, you can see [detail].
4 Atmosphere / guess ~10s

A small inference shows range.

Grammar Modals of deduction (must / might be)

Phrases to adapt
  • Everyone seems [mood], so they might be [guess].
  • The overall feeling is [adjective].

Useful vocabulary

Vocabulary is one of the four scored dimensions — weave a few in (don't force all of them).

Position & place
in the foregroundin the backgroundon the left / rightin the middlenext tobehind
Actions (present continuous)
is chattingare gatheringis reaching forseems to be …-ingappears to be
Describing detail
brightly colouredcrowdedspaciousin casual clothesa row ofa pile of

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Listing random objects with no order.
  • Using only 'there is/are' instead of action verbs.
  • Running out of things to say at ~30s.
  • Describing what isn't there.

Quick tips

  • Go wide, then zoom in — overview before details.
  • Lean on position words: in front of, behind, next to, in the corner.
  • Use present continuous (is/are …-ing) throughout.
Put it into practice
Try Describing a Scene with this template
Start practice Next template Making Predictions (S4)

All templates

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Writing
W1 Writing an Email W2 Responding to Survey Questions
Speaking
S1 Giving Advice S2 Talking about a Personal Experience S3 Describing a Scene Current S4 Making Predictions S5 Comparing and Persuading S6 Dealing with a Difficult Situation S7 Expressing Opinions S8 Describing an Unusual Situation