CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation
Choose who to talk to, then handle an awkward situation tactfully in 60 seconds. Practise below with the exam timer.
Task 6 · Dealing with a Difficult Situation
Two commitments on one evening
You promised to help your neighbour move furniture on Friday evening. Then your manager asked you to attend an important client dinner at the same time. Choose ONE: talk to your neighbour and explain why you cannot help as promised, OR talk to your manager and explain why you cannot attend the dinner.
Quick tips for this task
- Say clearly who you are talking to and what you chose.
- Use polite softeners: I was wondering if, would it be possible.
- Propose a solution that respects both sides.
Ready
- Prep
- 1:00
- Speak
- 1:00
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In CELPIP Speaking Task 6 (Dealing with a Difficult Situation), you read a dilemma with two people involved and choose one to talk to. You get 60 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak. Strong answers say who you are talking to, explain the situation honestly, use polite softeners and offer a fair solution.
How long do you get for CELPIP Speaking Task 6?
60 seconds to prepare — longer than most tasks — and 60 seconds to speak. Use the extra preparation time to decide who you will talk to, the one reason you’ll give and the solution you’ll offer. Then speak as if the person is in front of you.
- 1:00Prep
- 1:00Speak
How should you structure a Task 6 answer?
Open the conversation (about 8 s)
Address the person and soften the start: “Hi Sam, do you have a minute? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Explain honestly (about 20 s)
Say what has happened and why it matters, without blaming. Unfortunately, I’m afraid, it turns out.
Show you understand their side (about 10 s)
“I know you were counting on me, and I feel bad about this.”
Offer a solution and check (about 20 s)
A concrete alternative: another day, someone else to help, a partial solution. End with a question: “Would that work for you?”
Tone carries the score
Task 6 rewards tact. Polite softeners — I was wondering if, would it be possible to, I completely understand — matter as much as grammar here.
Task 6 practice prompts
Each prompt gives you two people to choose from. Original practice material, not real or recalled test questions.
Prompt 1
Two commitments on one evening
You promised to help your neighbour move furniture on Friday evening. Then your manager asked you to attend an important client dinner at the same time. Choose ONE: talk to your neighbour and explain why you cannot help as promised, OR talk to your manager and explain why you cannot attend the dinner.
Prompt 2
A roommate and a quiet week
You have an important certification exam next week. Your roommate has invited friends over to practise with their band every evening this week. Choose ONE: talk to your roommate and ask them to change their plans, OR talk to your landlord about whether a quiet study room in the building could be opened for you.
Prompt 3
A coworker who is falling behind
You and a coworker are presenting a project to your department on Thursday. Your coworker has not finished their part, and the deadline is close. Choose ONE: talk to your coworker and offer a plan to finish on time, OR talk to your supervisor and ask for a short extension.
Prompt 4
Two celebrations on one day
Your best friend’s wedding and your younger sister’s university graduation are on the same Saturday in different cities. Choose ONE: talk to your friend and explain why you will miss the wedding, OR talk to your sister and explain why you will miss her graduation.
Prompt 5
A volunteer shift and a final game
You agreed to lead a volunteer shift at the community food bank on Saturday morning. Then your son’s soccer team reached the final, which is at the same time. Choose ONE: talk to the food bank coordinator and ask to change your shift, OR talk to your son and explain why you cannot attend his game.
What do level 7, 9 and 10 answers to the same prompt sound like?
Three original answers to Prompt 1 (helping a neighbour move vs a client dinner). The speaker chose to talk to the neighbour. Levels are editorial estimates, not official scores.
Hi Tom, I am sorry but I cannot help you on Friday. My manager told me I must go to a dinner with a client and it is very important for my job. I know I promised you and I feel bad. Maybe I can help you on Saturday morning? Or I can ask my brother, he is strong and he can help you. I am really sorry, Tom. Please tell me what you think.
Polite and clear, with a solution, but short and repetitive (“I am sorry”) and the explanation is thin.
Hi Tom, have you got a minute? I’m afraid I have some bad news about Friday. My manager has just asked me to attend a dinner with one of our biggest clients, and since I’m leading that account, I really can’t say no. I know you were counting on me to help with the furniture, and I feel terrible about letting you down. Would it help if I came over on Saturday morning instead? I could also ask my brother whether he’s free on Friday — he’s helped people move before. And if you still need to move on Friday, I’m happy to pay for a couple of hours with a moving company. Just let me know what works best for you.
Softened opening, a clear reason, empathy and several concrete solutions, finishing with a question.
Tom, sorry to catch you like this — do you have a second? I’ve got a bit of a problem with Friday. My manager has asked me to join a dinner with a client we’ve been trying to win for months, and as the person handling the account, I’m not really in a position to turn it down. I hate doing this, because I know you’ve planned the whole move around having an extra pair of hands. So here’s what I was thinking: I could come by early on Saturday and help with anything that’s still left, or, if Friday is fixed, my brother has offered to step in — he’s done this plenty of times. Failing that, I’d be glad to cover a couple of hours with movers. I’d really like to make this right, so tell me which option suits you.
Natural, tactful register (“I’m not really in a position to”, “failing that”), empathy that sounds genuine and a well-ordered set of solutions.
Common mistakes in Task 6
- Not saying who you’re talking to. Make the choice obvious in your first sentence.
- Talking about the person instead of to them. Use you, not he or she.
- Sounding blunt. “I can’t help you. I have a dinner.” is grammatical but not tactful.
- No solution. An apology alone leaves the problem unsolved.
- Explaining both choices. Choose one person and stay with that conversation.
What does the AI feedback check in Task 6?
The report estimates a level range on the four CELPIP criteria with quoted evidence. For Task 6 it checks whether you addressed one person directly, explained the situation, used polite softeners and offered a workable solution, and it shows pace, pauses and fillers on a timed transcript.
It is a practice estimate, not an official CELPIP score — see how we calibrate.
Questions people ask
Does it matter which person I choose in Task 6?
Should I be formal in Task 6?
How should I use the longer preparation time in Task 6?
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Unofficial practice and estimates — not affiliated with Paragon or IRCC, and not legal advice. Read the disclaimer