CELPIP Tip #2: Speaking

Describing Graphic Illustrations

In Part 2, be prepared to gather and guess about information from a visual and the provide responses to it. The first graphic could be an illustration of

1. Activities
2. Event (community or cultural such as Christmas or a craft fair)
3. Living arrangement like a home
4. Celebration (e.g. a birthday)

 
There are 3 questions. The question is spoken so you must listen carefully to the question. It will not appear on the screen. You have 40 seconds

The questions usually involve:

1. Describing what is happening
2. Describing what could possibly happen
3. Giving personal opinions
4. Stating some examples

The skills needed are

1. Describing what you see in a logical way
2. Understanding what you are seeing
3. Observing details in order so you can talk about them accurately
4. Using some descriptive adjectives and verbs accurately

 

If you get good practice with each of these skills you should be able to talk about any visual. 
However you will be better prepared if you can use a few standard sentence structures:

Language Needed

1. Describe what the picture is

 
This is a picture of ……..


    2.  Use  existential “there”
 

In the picture there is/are……..


     3.   Use present continuous
 
The boy is playing……….

     4.   Use speculative sentences with modal
 

I think he could/might be ……..

     5.  Use future sentences to predict what will happen
 

I think the boy will probably 

    6.    Use opinion phrases + should have PP to express how you feel
 

I think the boy should have been more careful

    7.   Giving examples
 

For example I once fell down and someone helped me so I think……