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CELPIP Speaking template: Talking about a Personal Experience

CELPIP Speaking Task 2 — Talking about a Personal Experience: 30 seconds prep, 60 seconds to speak. You describe a specific experience from your own life that fits the prompt.

3 min read Spoken response Works for any prompt

What raters reward

A focused, well-sequenced story (Content/Coherence), past-tense control and descriptive words (Vocabulary, Listenability), and a response that truly answers the prompt and uses the time (Task Fulfillment). With 60 seconds, narrow detail beats broad summary.

Your time plan

Prep (30s) — Choose ONE small, specific moment (one summer, not 'every summer'). Fix the when/where/who and the two or three beats of what happened.
Speak (60s) — Set the scene (~12s) → what happened, in order (~36s) → how you felt / why it mattered (~12s).

How to structure it

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

1. Set the scene — When, where, and who was involved.
2. What happened — Walk through the events in order.
3. Why it mattered — Say how you felt or what you learned.
1 Set the scene ~12s

Anchor the listener fast with a time and place.

Grammar Past simple

Phrases to adapt
  • A couple of years ago, I [situation] while I was [context].
  • I'll never forget the time I [event].
2 What happened ~36s

Use sequencing words and keep to the key beats.

Grammar Past continuous + sequence (was …-ing, then, after that)

Phrases to adapt
  • At first, [setup]. Then, [turning point].
  • The key moment was when [climax].
3 Why it mattered ~12s

Close on a feeling or takeaway, not mid-event.

Grammar Present perfect ('it has taught me …')

Phrases to adapt
  • Looking back, it taught me [lesson].
  • Ever since, I've [change].

Useful vocabulary

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

Time & sequence
a few years backat the timebefore longeventuallyby the end
Narrative & feelings
I ended up …-ingit turned out thatI was thrilled / nervous / relievedI'll never forget
Adding colour
honestlyto be fairwhat struck me wasthe funny thing is

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing a topic too broad to tell in 60s.
  • Mixing past and present tense.
  • Stopping mid-story when time runs out.
  • Listing facts with no feeling or point.

Quick tips

  • Pick one specific moment — detail beats breadth.
  • Keep past tenses consistent.
  • End with a feeling or lesson so it feels complete.
Put it into practice
Try Talking about a Personal Experience with this template
Start practice Next template Describing a Scene (S3)

All templates

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