CELPIP Speaking Part 2 – Describing a Past Experience – General Tips
Understand the Task
You’ll be asked to describe a personal experience from the past — for example:
“Describe a time when you helped someone.”
“Describe a memorable trip you took.”
You have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
Structure Your Answer Clearly
Use this simple 4-part structure to stay organized:
- Introduction (5-10 seconds)
○ Say when and where it happened, and who was involved
○ Example: “A few years ago, I helped my friend move into a new apartment in Toronto.”
- Background (optional) (10–15 seconds)
○ Give some context or reason.
○ Example: He didn’t have many friends in the city, so he asked me for help on the weekend.”
- Main Event (25–30 seconds)
○ Describe what you did, step by step.
○ Example: We rented a small truck, packed all his boxes, and carried heavy furniture up three flights of stairs. It was exhausting but fun.”
- Result / Feeling / Reflection (10–15 seconds)
○ End with what you learned or how you felt.
○ Example: “In the end, he was very grateful, and I felt proud that I could help him. We celebrated with pizza afterward.”
Timing Tip
Practice speaking for 60 seconds — not 45 or 75.
A good rhythm: about 10–12 sentences in total.
Language Tips
Use past tenses correctly:
- I went / I helped / I decided / I learned.
Add linking words:
- First, then, after that, finally, in the end, because, so, although.
Include feelings or reactions:
- I was nervous / excited / proud / surprised / embarrassed.
Use specific details instead of vague statements:
- Instead of “It was fun,” say “It was fun because we sang loudly while driving.”
CELPIP Speaking Part 2 – Using Adjectives to Bring Your Story to Life
When you describe a past experience, you’re not just telling what happened — you’re painting a picture for the listener. Using adjectives can make your story more vivid and interesting, which helps you earn a higher score for vocabulary and expression. You don’t need rare or complicated words. Even simple but specific adjectives can make a big difference. Try using adjectives to describe the people, places, and events in your story.
Adjectives to Describe People
Use these to describe how someone looks, acts, or makes you feel:
- friendly – “My boss is very friendly and easy to talk to.”
- helpful – “The staff were helpful and patient.”
- hardworking – “She’s one of the most hardworking people I know.”
- kind – “My teacher was kind and supportive.”
- honest – “He’s honest and always keeps his promises.”
- funny – “My uncle is a funny guy who loves to tell jokes.”
- generous – “My neighbor was generous and offered me a ride.”
- strict – “Our supervisor was strict but fair.”
- shy – “As a child, I was quite shy.”
- reliable – “My coworker is reliable and never late.”
Adjectives to Describe Places
These make your setting more vivid and specific:
- beautiful – “We visited a beautiful park by the lake.”
- quiet – “It was a quiet neighborhood with few cars.”
- busy – “The market was busy and full of people.”
- modern – “The office was modern and well-designed.”
- comfortable – “The café had a comfortable atmosphere.”
- clean – “The streets were surprisingly clean.”
- crowded – “The bus station was crowded and noisy.”
- peaceful – “I enjoyed the peaceful countryside.”
- spacious – “Our classroom was large and spacious.”
- cozy – “We stayed in a small, cozy cabin.”
Adjectives to Describe Events or Experiences
Use these to add emotion or excitement to what happened:
- exciting – “It was an exciting experience to try snowboarding.”
- fun – “We had a fun time at the company picnic.”
- memorable – “It was a memorable day for all of us.”
- challenging – “Moving to a new country was challenging at first.”
- unexpected – “Something unexpected happened during the trip.”
- boring – “The meeting was long and boring.”
- stressful – “It was stressful because we had to finish quickly.”
- embarrassing – “It was embarrassing when I forgot my lines.”
- relaxing – “Our vacation was relaxing and peaceful.”
- amazing – “The concert was amazing — better than I expected.”
Tip:
Try to use at least one adjective from each group when answering Part 2:
“Last year, I went on an exciting trip with my funny friends to a beautiful city.”
This not only adds variety but also makes your answer sound more natural and descriptive, which CELPIP raters love.
CELPIP Speaking Part 2 – Advanced Adjectives to Impress the Examiner (CLB 9+ Range)
Using richer, more specific adjectives can make your story sound vivid and mature — exactly what CELPIP raters look for when they evaluate Vocabulary Range and Precision.
Try to sprinkle two or three of these naturally into your story — don’t overuse them.
Describing People (Character, Attitude, Impression)
Common Advanced / More Precise
nice pleasant, considerate, gracious
hardworking diligent, dedicated, committed
funny witty, humorous, entertaining
friendly approachable, warm-hearted, outgoing
kind compassionate, thoughtful, caring
strict firm, disciplined, demanding
smart bright, insightful, sharp-minded
reliable dependable, trustworthy, consistent
shy reserved, introverted, quiet-natured
calm composed, even-tempered, collected
Example:
“My supervisor was approachable and always gave insightful feedback, which made me more committed to my work.”
Describing Places (Atmosphere, Setting, Impression)
Common Advanced / More Precise
beautiful picturesque, charming, breathtaking
quiet serene, tranquil, peaceful
busy lively, bustling, vibrant
modern contemporary, state-of-the-art, stylish
old historic, antique, traditional
clean spotless, immaculate, well-maintained
cozy inviting, snug, homely
large spacious, expansive, open
dark dimly lit, shadowy, gloomy
bright well-lit, radiant, sunny
Example:
“The restaurant had a cozy, inviting atmosphere with dimly lit corners that made it feel romantic.”
Describing Events or Experiences (Emotional Tone, Impact, Outcome)
Common Advanced / More Precise
exciting thrilling, exhilarating, electrifying
fun enjoyable, delightful, entertaining
memorable unforgettable, remarkable, noteworthy
stressful nerve-racking, intense, overwhelming
challenging demanding, tough, testing
surprising astonishing, unexpected, eye-opening
boring monotonous, tedious, dull
relaxing soothing, rejuvenating, peaceful
amazing incredible, extraordinary, outstanding
embarrassing awkward, cringe-worthy, uncomfortable
Example:
“It was an exhilarating experience — the view from the mountain was absolutely breathtaking, and I felt rejuvenated afterward.”
Pro Tip for CELPIP 9+
Instead of saying:
“It was a nice experience and the people were friendly.”
Try:
“It was a rewarding experience, and the people were warm-hearted and approachable.”
These adjectives sound more precise, mature, and idiomatic, signaling advanced vocabulary without sounding memorized or forced.
Task:
Describe a time you helped someone.
(You have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.)
Level 5 (Basic / Limited Range)
One time, I helped my friend move to a new apartment. He needed help with his boxes, so I went to his house. We carried boxes and furniture. It was very heavy, and we were tired. After that, we ate pizza. I was happy to help him. It was a good day.
Why it’s Level 5:
- Short, simple sentences.
- Limited connectors (and, so, after that).
- Basic vocabulary (good, happy, heavy).
- Very little detail or emotion.
- Understandable but plain.
Level 7 (Competent / Natural but Simple Range)
About a year ago, I helped my best friend move into a new apartment downtown. He didn’t have a car, so I offered to help him with my small truck. We packed his things, carried furniture up to the third floor, and cleaned the old place. It was quite tiring, but we had a lot of fun talking and laughing while we worked. At the end of the day, we ordered some pizza and watched a movie to relax. I felt good because I could help him when he really needed it.
Why it’s Level 7:
- Clear organization and logical flow.
- Natural, conversational tone.
- Uses past tenses accurately.
- Includes some linking words (about a year ago, so, at the end of the day).
- Vocabulary is appropriate but still basic (tiring, fun, relax).
- Could use more precise or descriptive adjectives to sound advanced.
Level 9–10 (Advanced / Fluent, Rich Vocabulary, and Emotionally Expressive)
About a year ago, I helped my best friend move into a spacious apartment in downtown Toronto. He had just started a new job and was a bit stressed about organizing everything, so I offered to lend a hand. We spent the whole day packing boxes and carrying some incredibly heavy furniture up three flights of stairs. It was physically demanding, but we kept each other in a positive mood by joking and playing music. By the evening, the place looked cozy and inviting, and my friend seemed relieved and grateful. Even though I was exhausted, I felt genuinely satisfied knowing I’d made his day a little easier.
Why it’s Level 9–10:
- Smooth storytelling with excellent flow and timing.
- Varied connectors (so, but, by the evening, even though).
- Uses specific and vivid adjectives (spacious, physically demanding, cozy, relieved, grateful).
- Expresses emotion and reflection naturally.
- Sounds fluent and spontaneous, not memorized.
- Demonstrates control of tone and expression.
By: Larry Fedorowick
CELPIP Speaking Part 2 – Describing a Past Experience
