What does Task 8 show?

An unusual object or scene, without words in the image. You describe it to a named person who cannot see it, in 60 seconds after 30 seconds of preparation.

What if I do not know the name of the object?

You are not expected to. Compare it to something familiar and describe its parts, shape, size and colour.

Who am I speaking to?

The prompt names a person, often a friend or family member on the phone, and your description should be addressed to them.

Is Task 8 practice free?

The Test 1 image and prompt are free with a sample answer. A free account gives 3 AI feedback recordings a day. Tests 2 to 50 come with a plan.

CELPIP Speaking · Task 8 of 8

CELPIP Speaking Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation

Task 8 shows a picture of something unusual: a chair with too many legs, a bicycle built for three, a house painted like a giant fruit. You describe it to a named person who cannot see it, usually over the phone, with 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

Prepare

30 s

Speak

60 s

Recorded by

You, recorded through your microphone

Practice items

A picture of something strange, such as an oddly designed object or an unexpected scene. Describe it to a named person who cannot see it. 30 seconds to prepare, 60 seconds to speak.

What this task tests

Describing an Unusual Situation

The task tests whether you can describe an unfamiliar thing with familiar words: shape, size, colour, materials, position, and what it seems to be for. A strong answer also says how you feel about it and what the listener should do. It is scored on Content and Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, and Task Fulfillment.

Celpify's free Test 1 item for Task 8 includes the image, 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

Freezing because you do not know the word for the object costs the most time in Task 8. You are not expected to know it. Say 'it looks like a', compare it to something ordinary, and describe its parts.

Try it free

The Test 1 task is open to everyone.

Test 1 · Free

Broken Toy Robot

1 min · answers and explanations included

Start Test 1 free

All 50 Unusual Situation practice items

One item per test, from Test 1 to Test 50. Test 1 is free; the rest come with a plan.

Test 1Broken Toy Robot1 minFree
Test 2Antique Lamp1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 3Messy Apartment1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 4Damaged Wedding Cake1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 5Modified Car1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 6Wrong Plant Delivery1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 7Lost Luggage1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 8Kitchen Disaster1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 9Street Performer Setup1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 10Wrong Package Contents1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 11Crushed Delivery Package1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 12Wrong Restaurant Order1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 13Baking Disaster Kitchen1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 14Garage Sale Vintage Find1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 15Parking Lot Scratch Damage1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 16Lost Dog Markings1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 17Stained Wedding Dress1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 18Child's Elaborate Blanket Fort1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 19Unfinished Neighbor Yard Project1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 20Damaged Airport Luggage1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 21Apartment Ceiling Water Leak1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 22Damaged Used Bicycle Online Sale1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 23Broken Washing Machine1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 24Damaged Hotel Room1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 25Wrong Online Furniture Order1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 26Damaged Camera Insurance Claim1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 27Vandalized Park Facility1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 28Damaged Musical Instrument Shop1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 29Collapsing Sandcastle on Beach1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 30Lost-and-Found Shelf Items1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 31Antique Ship in a Bottle1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 32Automaton Bird Music Box1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 33Swan Pedal Boat Stranded at a Community Dock1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 34Unidentified Drawer Gadget1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 35Loose Kinetic Sculpture at an Art Fair1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 36Collapsing Giant Pop-Up Book Display1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 37Hand-Built Tree-Shaped Bookshelf1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 38Windmill-Powered Sprinkler Malfunction1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 39Decorated Spring Parade Float1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 40Loose Carousel Horse in a Service Area1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 41Collapsing Snow Dragon at a Contest1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 42Broken Antique Cider Press1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 43Inherited Antique Mantel Clock1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 44Hand-Built Marble-Run Machine1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 45Bird Flock Overruns a Castle Birdhouse1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 46Handmade Festival Kite1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 47Cracked Octopus Teapot from the Kiln1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 48Child's Damaged School Diorama1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 49Elaborate Homemade Phoenix Costume1 minIncluded in a plan
Test 50Storm-Damaged Dome Climber1 minIncluded in a plan

How to score higher on Task 8

Open with a comparison: 'It looks like a normal bicycle, but...'. It gives the listener a picture immediately.
Cover shape, size, colour and material in that order. Four sentences, four features.
Say what you think it is for and whether it would work. The guess counts as content.
Remember the listener: address them by name and suggest what they should do, such as come and see it or buy it.

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 8 questions people ask

What does Task 8 show?: An unusual object or scene, without words in the image. You describe it to a named person who cannot see it, in 60 seconds after 30 seconds of preparation.
What if I do not know the name of the object?: You are not expected to. Compare it to something familiar and describe its parts, shape, size and colour.
Who am I speaking to?: The prompt names a person, often a friend or family member on the phone, and your description should be addressed to them.
How is Task 8 scored?: On four traits: Content and Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, and Task Fulfillment, like the other seven tasks.
Is Task 8 practice free?: The Test 1 image and prompt are free with a sample answer. A free account gives 3 AI feedback recordings a day. Tests 2 to 50 come with a plan.