CELPIP Tips: Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions
The next CELPIP Speaking task asks test-takers to give their opinion about a specific topic. Learn more about Task 7 and practice expressing your opinion!
CELPIP candidates tend to have mixed feelings about this task. Some find it a little easier because you can use your thoughts and ideas to express your opinion about a topic, including examples from your life or from stories you’ve heard. Because you don’t have to look at photos or choose an option, you can use the preparation time to start organizing your response.
On the other hand, this task only allows 30 seconds to prepare your response and then speak you’ll have to speak for 90 seconds which is longer than most of the other questions! Additionally, it can sometimes be difficult to express our opinions due to cultural and language barriers.
The most important thing is to practice expressing your opinion as much as possible and to include a combination of personal opinions, general or cultural opinions, and comparative or conflicting opinions in addition to specific examples.
Let’s look at an example below!
Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions
Preparation: 30 seconds
Recording: 90 seconds
Question: Do you think that young adults should pay rent to their parents if they do not move out by the age of 21? Explain your reasons.
“In my opinion, adult children should pay rent to their parents or contribute in a different way if they are working and earning money. At the age of 21, a lot of young adults are still studying at college or university and they depend on their parents to financially support them. Actually, a lot of parents pay for their children’s accommodations if they live in a dormitory on campus or if they’re going to school in a different city. Therefore, if the students live at home, it’s less costly.
However, if young adults are working full-time and can afford to pay rent, they should pitch in. Of course, every family is different and some parents might ask their adult children to help out in different ways, such as contributing to household work or buying groceries. Not only would paying rent help cover household costs like monthly electric and internet bills, it could also make the young adults feel a sense of responsibility and independence. For example, one of my friend’s parents were very lenient with him and allowed him to live at home rent-free. This friend continued to work part-time at a restaurant, even after graduating from university, because he didn’t feel motivated to get a better paying job.
On the other hand, in some cultures it is customary for adult children to live at home until they get married. I believe that this is perfectly reasonable and has a lot of benefits as well. One reason is that the cost of living is so high these days. So, if adult children continue to live at home, it gives them the chance to save money for their future. It is also a good way to develop and strengthen family bonds and relationships between parents and their adult children.
In my case, I lived at home in my twenties as well and it was a really good experience. I didn’t exactly pay rent but I cooked dinner for everyone 3 days a week and did weekly household chores including vaccuming and laundry. I’m really grateful to my parents because I was able to save money while I lived at home and it helped me save up to buy my own place.”