What Task 2 asks you to do
Task 2 asks you to talk about something that happened to you. You get 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. The story doesn't have to be true. Raters score your English, not your life, so pick the story that is easiest to tell.
Example prompt: Talk about a time when you had to learn something new quickly. What happened, and how did you feel?
A structure for 60 seconds
- Set the scene (about 10 seconds). When and where it happened: "Two years ago, when I started a new job at a bank…"
- What happened (about 25 seconds). Two or three events in order, with time words: "At first… then… after a week…"
- The result (about 15 seconds). How it ended.
- How you felt or what you learned (about 10 seconds).
Note four keywords while you prepare: when, the problem, what you did, the result. Tell the story in the past tense from start to finish.
Sample answer
Two years ago I started a new job as a bank teller in Toronto, and on my second day my manager told me I had to learn the new banking software by Friday, because the trainer was leaving.
At first I was really nervous, because I'd never used anything like it. So I stayed an hour after work every evening and practised with fake accounts. I also asked a coworker, Priya, to show me the shortcuts she used. By Thursday I could open an account in under ten minutes.
On Friday my manager watched me serve three customers, and everything went smoothly. I felt so relieved and actually quite proud. It taught me that asking for help early saves a lot of stress.
Why this answer scores well
- A clear beginning, middle and end, so the listener never gets lost.
- Past tenses used correctly, with time words like "at first", "by Thursday" and "on Friday".
- Specific details (the bank, a coworker's name, ten minutes) make the story vivid.
- It ends with a feeling and a lesson, which answers the second part of the prompt.
Useful phrases
- "I remember one time when…"
- "At first I wasn't sure what to do, so…"
- "In the end…"
- "Looking back, I learned that…"
- "It was one of the most… experiences I've had."
Common mistakes
- Spending half the time setting the scene and running out of time for the result.
- Switching between present and past tense.
- Telling two stories instead of one.
- Forgetting to say how you felt when the prompt asks for it.
Practise Task 2 with real timing in the free speaking drill, then see all 8 speaking tasks.
Want your Task 2 answer scored?
Record your answer in a session and get feedback on all four scoring areas.
Questions
How long is CELPIP Speaking Task 2?
You get 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
Does my Task 2 story have to be true?
No. Raters score your language, not whether the story happened. Choose the story you can tell most clearly.