Task format at a glance
Preparation time: 30 seconds. Speaking time: 60 seconds. Your response is recorded by the computer and, on the real test, scored later by trained CELPIP raters.
- Example prompt: A busy farmers' market with stalls, shoppers and a musician near the entrance.
A simple plan for your answer
This structure is our independent advice, not an official CELPIP template:
- Start with an overview: the place and the general activity.
- Move in a fixed order — left to right or foreground to background.
- Describe people, actions and small details with precise vocabulary.
- Use present continuous verbs: "a man is carrying…".
Most common mistake
Jumping randomly around the picture, which makes the description hard to follow.
Practise with a timer so you get used to finishing your last sentence before the time runs out — an answer that stops mid-sentence sounds unfinished.
How to practise this task here
Our Task 3 practice uses the real preparation and speaking timers. Record your answer, read the transcript, get an instant free score, and — if you sign in — an AI-estimated practice score with feedback on content, vocabulary, listenability and task fulfillment. There are 30 different Task 3 questions to practise.