01
Make 3-4 different predictions
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. "I think X will happen. Also, Y is likely. Furthermore, Z might occur." Multiple predictions fill the time and show range.
CELPIP
Strategies
Task 4: Making Predictions
A scene about to change. 30 seconds to prepare, 60 to predict what happens next.
30s prep, 60s speaking
What this part tests
- The same image from Task 3 remains on screen.
- Predict what will happen next based on visual evidence.
Key strategies
02
Base predictions on visual evidence
"Because the woman is holding a suitcase, I think she is about to leave for a trip." Always connect your prediction to something you can see.
03
Use a variety of future/conditional structures
Using multiple structures shows grammar range.
Say“will probably”“is going to”“might”“could”“is likely to”“I expect that”
04
Consider both immediate and longer-term outcomes
"In the next few minutes, I think... In the longer term, this could lead to..."
What it looks like
In this picture, what do you think will most probably happen next?
Strong sample response
Based on what I observe in this image, I believe several things are likely to happen next.
First, the young man who is currently stretching will most likely begin jogging along the park path once he finishes his warm-up. He might even run past the woman playing guitar on the right side of the image.
The two boys chasing the pigeons will almost certainly scare the birds away completely, and they might then turn their attention to the boy on the skateboard and want to join him. Meanwhile, the boy on the bicycle could ride further down the path and loop around the park.
As for the woman playing guitar, I think she will probably continue playing and might even attract a small audience of passersby who stop to listen. The small dog on the left side might also wander over toward the children, curious about all the commotion.
Overall, the park is going to become even more vibrant and lively as the afternoon progresses.
How to apply the strategies
- Strategy #1 (Make 3-4 predictions): Four distinct predictions about different subjects in the scene: the man stretching, the boys and skateboarder, the cyclist, and the guitar player.
- Strategy #2 (Base on visual evidence): Each prediction is grounded in what's visible: "the young man who is currently stretching," "the boy on the skateboard," "the woman playing guitar."
- Strategy #3 (Varied future structures): Uses "will most likely," "might even," "will almost certainly," "could ride," and "is going to become."
- Strategy #4 (Immediate and longer-term): Immediate predictions about the current people, plus broader predictions about the overall park atmosphere.