01
Start by describing what's unusual
"What stands out in this image is..." or "The most unusual thing I notice is..." Identify the odd/unexpected element right away.
CELPIP
Strategies
Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation
A picture of something odd. 30 seconds to prepare, 60 to describe and speculate.
30s prep, 60s speaking
What this part tests
- An image shows an unusual or surprising scene.
- Describe what you see and speculate about why it is happening.
Key strategies
02
Describe the scene thoroughly, then speculate
First cover what you see (facts), then transition to what you think is happening (speculation). This natural two-part structure fills 60 seconds.
03
Offer possible explanations
"One possible explanation is... Another reason this might be happening is..." Offering multiple explanations demonstrates creative language use.
04
Use speculative language
These are the key phrases for this task type.
Say“It looks like”“perhaps”“it's possible that”“this could be because”“I imagine that”
What it looks like
You are stuck in a slow-moving city traffic jam, feeling a bit bored, when you spot an incredibly unusual car next to you. Your friend Chris loves unique designs and eco-friendly ideas. Call Chris, describe this astonishing vehicle, and tell him why it's so surprising.
Strong sample response
Hey Chris, you are not going to believe what I am looking at right now! I am sitting in traffic downtown, and there is the most extraordinary vehicle right next to me.
It is a car that is completely covered in living plants and flowers. The entire body appears to be coated in real grass, like an actual lawn, and there are vibrant flowers of every color blooming all over it: red roses along the hood, bright yellow sunflowers near the roof, and purple lavender along the sides. It looks like someone drove a garden right onto the road.
What makes this particularly surprising is that the plants appear to be genuinely alive and thriving. I can only imagine the amount of maintenance this must require, from daily watering to ensuring the soil stays in place while driving.
I immediately thought of you because this is exactly the kind of innovative, eco-friendly design you are passionate about. It is a truly remarkable fusion of nature and urban transportation.
How to apply the strategies
- Strategy #1 (Start with what's unusual): Immediately identifies the unusual element: "the most extraordinary vehicle" covered in living plants.
- Strategy #2 (Describe, then speculate): Thoroughly describes the scene first (grass coating, specific flowers and colors) before moving into speculation.
- Strategy #3 (Offer possible explanations): Questions about maintenance and how the plants stay alive show creative thinking.
- Strategy #4 (Speculative language): Uses "appears to be," "I can only imagine," and "it looks like" throughout.