CELPIP Speaking Task 6: dealing with a difficult situation
Why Task 6 is really about a clear decision, how to pick a side fast, and a structure that keeps you polite and persuasive under pressure.
⚡ The short version
- Task 6 gives 60 seconds to prepare and 60 to speak — more prep than most tasks, for a reason.
- You're usually given two options and a problem; commit to one and justify it.
- Tone matters: be diplomatic, not blunt — you're handling a real situation.
Task 6 hands you an awkward situation with no perfect answer — and asks you to deal with it. It's the task that rewards a calm, clear decision over a clever one. The extra prep time is a hint: this one needs a plan before you open your mouth.
What Task 6 actually is
You get a scenario — often a conflict or a tricky choice — usually with two options, and you have to decide how to handle it (frequently by leaving a message for the person involved). You get 60 seconds to prepare and 60 to speak. The grader is listening for a clear decision, sensible reasons, and an appropriate, diplomatic tone.
Pick a side fast and commit
The single biggest mistake is spending your minute weighing both options and never choosing. Don't. In prep, pick one — it genuinely doesn't matter which, there's no "right" answer — and spend your energy justifying it. A confident, well-explained choice always beats a fence-sitting "on one hand… on the other hand…"
A structure that holds up under pressure
Use your 60 prep seconds to load this, then just talk:
- State your choice in the first sentence. "I've decided to…"
- Give two reasons. Why this option, briefly and concretely.
- Address the downside. Acknowledge the other option or the awkward part — it shows judgment.
- Close with a next step. What happens now, or a polite ask.
That's a complete, grown-up response to a real problem in about a minute.
Mind your tone
Because you're usually dealing with a person — a friend, a coworker, a service — how you say it counts. Stay diplomatic: soften with "I understand that…", "I'd really appreciate it if…", "I hope we can…". Blunt or demanding language can pull down your score even when your decision is sound.
Don't over-script
Sixty seconds isn't long. Don't try to memorize full sentences in prep — jot your choice, two reasons, and your closing line, then speak naturally. Natural delivery with small slips beats a stiff, half-remembered script.
For the full picture of all eight tasks, see the CELPIP Speaking tasks explained; for an earlier task that also rewards a clear line, see Task 1: giving advice. When you're ready, practise Speaking with AI feedback and test your decision out loud.
