CELPIP Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions — Score 9+ Guide

CELPIP Speaking Task 7 is the longest and most challenging speaking task — you have 90 seconds to express and defend your opinion on a debatable topic. It's also where the biggest score differences happen between CLB 7 and CLB 9+. Here's how to master it.

What to Expect

You'll see a prompt like:

"Some people believe that remote work should become the standard for all office jobs. Do you agree or disagree?"

You get 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to respond.

The CLB 9+ Template

Opening — State Your Position (10 seconds)

"I firmly believe that [your clear position]. There are several compelling reasons for this."

Key: Don't be wishy-washy. Pick a side. "It depends" = CLB 6.

Reason 1 + Example (20-25 seconds)

"First and foremost, [reason 1]. This is particularly significant because [elaboration]. For example, [specific example or statistic]."

Reason 2 + Example (20-25 seconds)

"Furthermore, [reason 2]. Research has consistently shown that [supporting detail]. In my own experience, [personal anecdote]."

Counter-argument + Rebuttal (15-20 seconds)

"Of course, some people might argue that [opposing view]. However, I believe this perspective overlooks [your rebuttal]. The evidence clearly suggests that [reinforce your point]."

This is the CLB 9 secret weapon. Acknowledging and countering the opposing view shows sophisticated thinking.

Conclusion (10 seconds)

"In conclusion, for all the reasons I've mentioned, I strongly maintain that [restate position]."

Sample High-Scoring Response

Prompt: "Do you think university education should be free for all students?"

"I strongly believe that university education should be free, or at the very least, heavily subsidized. There are several compelling reasons why I hold this view.

First and foremost, free education creates equal opportunities regardless of family income. Currently, many brilliant students from low-income families are forced to either take on enormous debt or abandon their academic dreams entirely. For instance, in countries like Germany and Norway, where university is free, social mobility rates are significantly higher than in countries with expensive tuition.

Furthermore, an educated population benefits the entire economy. Studies have consistently demonstrated that countries investing in higher education see stronger economic growth, higher innovation rates, and lower unemployment. It's not just an individual benefit — it's a societal investment that pays for itself over time.

Now, some might argue that free tuition would be too expensive for taxpayers. However, this overlooks the long-term return. Graduates earn more, pay more taxes, and are less likely to require social assistance programs, which ultimately offsets the initial investment.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that making university education accessible to all is not only morally right but economically sound."

Why this scores CLB 9+:

• ✅ Clear position from the first sentence
• ✅ Two strong reasons with specific evidence
• ✅ Counter-argument acknowledged and effectively rebutted
• ✅ Advanced vocabulary: "subsidized," "social mobility," "societal investment"
• ✅ Complex grammar: conditional clauses, passive voice, relative clauses
• ✅ Fills the full 90 seconds naturally
• ✅ Strong, confident conclusion

Common Topics to Prepare For

Task 7 topics usually fall into these categories:

Technology & Society

• Should children have access to smartphones?
• Is social media more harmful or beneficial?
• Should AI replace human workers?

Education

• Should university be free?
• Are online courses as good as in-person?
• Should schools teach financial literacy?

Work & Lifestyle

• Is remote work better than office work?
• Should there be a 4-day work week?
• Is work-life balance more important than career success?

Environment & Government

• Should governments ban plastic bags?
• Is public transportation or private cars better?
• Should there be a tax on sugary drinks?

You don't need to prepare specific answers — you need to practice the template so you can apply it to ANY topic.

Advanced Vocabulary for Opinions

Agreeing / Strong Position

• "I wholeheartedly believe..."
• "I'm firmly convinced that..."
• "There's overwhelming evidence to support..."
• "It's abundantly clear that..."

Giving Reasons

• "The primary reason is..."
• "What's particularly compelling is..."
• "This is corroborated by..."
• "A growing body of evidence suggests..."

Counter-arguments

• "Critics might contend that..."
• "While there's some merit to the argument that..."
• "Opponents of this view often cite..."
• "Although [counter], this fails to account for..."

Concluding

• "Weighing all factors, I maintain..."
• "The evidence overwhelmingly supports..."
• "For these reasons, my position remains..."

The 30-Second Preparation Strategy

You only get 30 seconds — use them wisely:

1. Seconds 1-5: Read the prompt. Pick your side IMMEDIATELY.
2. Seconds 6-15: Think of Reason 1 (the obvious one — it comes fastest)
3. Seconds 16-22: Think of Reason 2 (dig deeper — personal experience or broader impact)
4. Seconds 23-28: Think of one counter-argument you can rebut
5. Seconds 29-30: Take a breath. You're ready.

Don't try to plan exact sentences. Plan ideas — the words will come when you speak.

Practice Strategy

Task 7 improves fastest with daily practice:

1. Find a random opinion topic (or use ours)
2. Set a 30-second prep timer
3. Record yourself for 90 seconds
4. Listen back — did you fill the time? Did you counter-argue?
5. Repeat with a new topic

Practice Speaking Task 7 with AI feedback → Get scored on fluency, vocabulary, and structure instantly.