CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
Task 6 puts you in a dilemma between two people: a colleague who needs your help on the same evening your friend needs a ride, a neighbour whose party keeps your child awake. You choose one person to talk to and say what you would tell them. You get 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
A situation involving two people with competing needs. You choose which person to speak to and say what you would tell them. 60 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.
What this task tests
Dealing with a Difficult Situation
A strong answer explains the problem politely, shows you understand the other person's side, proposes a workable solution, and keeps a tone that fits the relationship. It is scored on Content and Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, and Task Fulfillment.
Celpify's free Test 1 item for Task 6 includes the situation, the timers, a sample answer with a four-trait commentary, and AI feedback on your recording scored the way the real test does.
The trap
Answers that explain the dilemma to the recording instead of speaking to the chosen person miss the task. The prompt asks what you would say. Begin with a greeting to the person and speak to them for the whole 60 seconds.
Try it free
The Test 1 task is open to everyone.
Test 1 · Free
Project Deadline Conflict
1 min · answers and explanations included
All 50 Difficult Situation practice items
One item per test, from Test 1 to Test 50. Test 1 is free; the rest come with a plan.
- Test 1Project Deadline Conflict1 minFree
- Test 2Community Event Complaint1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 3Group Project Conflict1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 4Concerned About Coworker's Health1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 5Flight Cancellation Crisis1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 6Coworker's Costly Mistake1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 7Unfair Rent Increase1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 8Child Dropping Sports1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 9Unpaid Loan to a Friend1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 10Witnessing Workplace Harassment1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 11Embarrassing Wedding Speech1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 12Consistently Late Employee1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 13Neighbor's Fallen Tree1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 14Teen Working Night Shifts1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 15Bad Contractor Payment1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 16Rent-Free Partner Situation1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 17Broken Heirloom Vase1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 18Medical Treatment Disagreement1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 19Idea Credit Dispute1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 20Aging Parent Driving Concern1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 21Tree Damage Neighbour Dispute1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 22Roommate's Partner Living In1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 23Contractor's Substandard Work1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 24Coworker's Confided Policy Violation1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 25Borrowed Car Returned Damaged1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 26Raising Client Rates Conversation1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 27Teacher's Unfair Failing Grade1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 28Sibling Not Helping Aging Parents1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 29Friend Broke Borrowed Camera1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 30Disagreeing With Doctor Treatment1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 31Renovation Crew Blocking Driveway1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 32Friend Who Keeps Cancelling1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 33Credited for a Teammate's Work1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 34Coworker Always Needs Cover1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 35Roommate's Late Weeknight Guests1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 36Used Appliance Broke After Sale1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 37Relative's Unsolicited Advice1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 38Uneven Costs on a Shared Cottage Trip1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 39Neighbour's Barking Dog1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 40Family Trip Beyond Your Budget1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 41Doubtful Job Reference Request1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 42Helping an Elderly Neighbour1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 43Unflattering Photos Posted Online1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 44Clearing a Shared Storage Unit1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 45Friction on a Volunteer Team1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 46Relative Undermining House Rules1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 47Teen Spending All Savings1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 48A Friend Who Overstayed1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 49The Trip Planner Who Keeps Changing Plans1 minIncluded in a plan
- Test 50Pressured to Invest in a Friend's Business1 minIncluded in a plan
How to score higher on Task 6
- Choose the person quickly and start planning what to say. There is no wrong choice; only the delivery is scored.
- Structure the talk in three parts: the problem, why it matters to you both, the solution you propose.
- Use softening language for difficult content: 'I was hoping', 'would it be possible', 'I understand that'.
- Offer something in return. A solution with a trade sounds reasonable and fills the time naturally.
Scored on four traits: Content and Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, Task Fulfillment. Celpify's AI feedback scores the same four traits the way the real test does.
Read the CELPIP Speaking guide for this task and the Speaking score chart.
Task 6 questions people ask
- What is a difficult situation in Task 6?
- A conflict between the needs of two people you know. You pick one person to talk to and explain how you would handle it, speaking to them directly.
- Does it matter which person I choose?
- No. Both choices are acceptable. The score depends on how clearly and politely you handle the conversation.
- How much time do I get?
- 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.
- What tone should I use?
- Polite and respectful, matched to the relationship: friendlier with a friend, more careful with a manager or a neighbour you barely know.
- Is Task 6 practice free?
- The Test 1 item is free with a sample answer. A free account gives 3 AI feedback recordings a day. Tests 2 to 50 come with a plan.