CELPIP Speaking Task 3: Describing a Scene

• Preparation: 30 seconds
• Recording: 60 seconds

In CELPIP Speaking Task 3, you will be presented with a visual prompt, such as a picture or a scene. You will be given a picture or a scene, and your task is to describe what you see in detail. Your objective is to describe the scene to the best of your ability, providing clear and detailed information about what you see.

Visual Prompt: A picture of a busy city street during rush hour.

Task: Describe the scene, including the location, the activities taking place, and your observations.

Based on this visual prompt, you would need to describe the scene by providing specific details and observations about the busy city street during rush hour.

Picture a big subject. Think about the picture where? what did you see at first the picture?

• Useful sentences or paragraph
• It is the scene of ...

Speak location in the picture and explain who is there or background.

• Useful sentences or paragraph
• It seem to be ...
• I guess ...
• On the left ...
• ... is located right
• At the center of the picture ...
• In the front left ...

• Useful sentences or paragraph
• ... look busy
• ... as usual
• > explain the picture atmosphere

Take a moment to carefully observe the visual prompt. Pay attention to the various elements present, such as people, objects, surroundings, and any significant actions or events taking place.

Organize your description in a clear and logical manner. Start with an introduction where you mention the location or setting of the scene, followed by the main body where you provide detailed descriptions, and conclude with a summary or final observations.

Begin by giving an overview of the scene. Describe the location, weather, time of day, or any other relevant information that sets the context for your description.

Use vivid and descriptive language to bring the scene to life for the listener. Include specific details about the people, objects, colors, movements, or any other noteworthy features of the scene.

Speak clearly and use concise language to express your thoughts. Use appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures to effectively convey your story.

Give a sense of space and perspective by describing the arrangement of objects or people in the scene. Talk about their positions, distances, or relationships to each other.

Mention the activities or actions taking place in the scene. Describe what people are doing, how they are interacting, or any notable events happening.

When describing the scene, use the present tense and active voice to create a sense of immediacy and engagement. For example, say 'I see people walking briskly' instead of 'People are seen walking briskly.'

Share your personal observations, reactions, or feelings about the scene. Discuss any interesting or unusual aspects that catch your attention and explain why they stand out to you.

Remember to practice describing various scenes, develop your ability to provide detailed and engaging descriptions, and work on your fluency and coherence to excel in CELPIP Speaking Task 3.

• It is not possible to describe all situations within the given time anyway. Therefore, the burden of portraying all situations should be felt.
• I will ignore the scene without confidence and accurately describe the scene that is familiar to me and able to express it. Even if you explain details with only 5 ~ 6 of the presented scenes, you can get 9 points or more.

• If a person is making a facial expression, it is also a high-scoring point to describe the current state of the person along with the description of the situation:

Ex) Boys in blue uniforms seem to be defeated in the hockey game, which makes them so discouraged.

• At the end of the scene description, it is desirable to summarize the overall feeling of the picture in one word
• Be familiar with the descriptive expressions of prepositions, adjectives, etc. related to scene description from the usual.
• The direction of the clock (opposite), upper -> lower, lower -> upper, etc. is free, whichever is the better.

• Preparation: 30 seconds
• Recording: 60 seconds

• - Sample answer --

The scene captures an office setting where four individuals engage in a discussion using a laptop. The office exudes an organized and tidy ambiance, suggesting a professional environment, possibly that of a start-up company.

In the foreground, a woman sits at her desk, focused on the laptop screen before her. With a purposeful gesture, she points towards an element on the screen, indicating her involvement in a discussion or presentation. Adjacent to her, a second woman stands, observing the interaction while enjoying a beverage, adding an air of casual engagement to the scene.

To the left of the seated woman, a man wearing glasses stands attentively, his posture indicating an active role in the conversation. He, too, directs his finger towards the laptop screen, displaying a collaborative effort within the group. Opposite him, a fourth individual, another man, appears engrossed in his own laptop, his arms crossed in a thoughtful manner. His focused expression suggests a parallel but separate task at hand.

Collectively, the four individuals in the office exemplify a professional atmosphere, their engagement with the laptops and gestures indicative of a discussion centered around work-related matters. The blend of focused interaction and individual tasks illustrates the collaborative and independent work dynamics commonly found in start-up companies.