CELPIP Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions

Образец ответа (90 секунд):

“In my view, working from home is definitely more productive than working in an office.

First of all, remote work eliminates commuting time, which allows employees to focus more energy on their tasks. For example, when I started working from home last year, I saved two hours a day that I used to spend on my commute. I redirected that time into completing projects ahead of schedule and even taking a professional development course.

Additionally, home environments often have fewer distractions than busy offices. In an office, colleagues frequently interrupt with questions, and there are constant meetings that break concentration. From my perspective, working alone at home lets me enter a state of deep focus. Research actually shows that many knowledge workers report higher output when they control their own schedules and workspace.

For these reasons, I’m convinced that remote work leads to greater productivity for most people. The combination of saved time and fewer interruptions makes it a superior arrangement.”

Почему этот ответ получает высокий балл:

• Мнение высказано сразу и уверенно (“definitely more productive”)
• Два отдельных аргумента (экономия времени на дорогу + меньше отвлекающих факторов)
• Личный пример в первом аргументе, общий — во втором
• Плавные связки (“First of all,” “Additionally,” “For these reasons”)
• Уверенная лексика на протяжении всего ответа (“I’m convinced,” “superior arrangement”)
• Логическое заключение, повторяющее основную мысль

Образец ответа (90 секунд):

“I firmly believe that all high school students should be required to learn a second language. In today’s interconnected world, being bilingual is not just an advantage, it’s becoming a necessity.

First of all, learning a second language strengthens cognitive abilities and academic performance overall. When I was in high school, I started learning French, and I noticed that my analytical skills improved across all subjects. I became better at identifying patterns in math and understanding complex texts in English class. Studies consistently show that bilingual students score higher on standardized tests, which suggests the mental workout of language learning benefits the entire brain.

Furthermore, a second language opens up career opportunities that are simply unavailable to monolingual candidates. Here in Canada, for instance, many government positions require fluency in both English and French. My cousin applied for a federal job last year and was immediately shortlisted because she spoke Mandarin in addition to English, while other equally qualified candidates were passed over. In a global economy, companies actively seek employees who can communicate across cultures.

For these reasons, I strongly support making second language education mandatory in high school. The cognitive benefits and career advantages make it one of the most valuable skills a young person can develop.”

Почему этот ответ получает высокий балл:

• Уверенное мнение с самого начала (“I firmly believe”)
• Два разных ракурса: когнитивные преимущества (аргумент 1) и карьерные возможности (аргумент 2)
• Личный пример в первом аргументе, пример из жизни родственника — во втором
• Плавные связки (“First of all,” “Furthermore,” “For these reasons”)
• Отсылка к канадскому контексту придаёт конкретику и достоверность
• Сильное заключение, объединяющее оба аргумента

Образец ответа (90 секунд):

“Personally, I think governments should absolutely prioritize investing in public transportation over building new roads. The benefits for both the environment and everyday citizens are too significant to ignore.

To begin with, expanding public transit dramatically reduces traffic congestion and air pollution. When my city introduced an express bus line along the main highway corridor two years ago, commute times on that route dropped by nearly 30 percent. Thousands of drivers switched from their cars to the bus because it was faster and cheaper. The air quality reports that summer actually showed measurable improvements in that part of the city, which was remarkable for just one new route.

On top of that, public transportation makes cities more accessible and affordable for everyone, not just people who can afford to own a car. Building more roads primarily benefits drivers, but buses, subways, and light rail serve students, seniors, low-income families, and newcomers who rely on affordable transit to get to work and school. A friend of mine recently immigrated to Toronto and told me that reliable public transit was the single biggest factor in her ability to find a job and build a new life here.

All things considered, I’m convinced that public transportation investment delivers far greater returns than new road construction. It benefits more people, improves the environment, and builds stronger communities.”

Почему этот ответ получает высокий балл:

• Чёткое, решительное вступление (“should absolutely prioritize”)
• Два отдельных аргумента: экология и пробки (аргумент 1), доступность и равенство (аргумент 2)
• Личное наблюдение в первом аргументе, история друга-иммигранта — во втором
• Эффективные связки (“To begin with,” “On top of that,” “All things considered”)
• Конкретные детали (снижение времени поездки на 30 процентов, данные о качестве воздуха) повышают убедительность
• Заключение лаконично обобщает оба аргумента