Understanding Task 7

Task 7 is the second 90-second task on the CELPIP Speaking test. It asks you to state and support a personal opinion on a topic — topics commonly include technology, education, work-life balance, urban planning, environmental issues, community values, and social changes. You have 30 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to speak. Unlike Task 5, you are not persuading a specific listener — you are speaking to a general audience (or the rater) about your own viewpoint.

Task 7 specifically rewards candidates who: state their position clearly in the very first sentence, organize their response around two strong reasons with specific support, use opinion language naturally and with appropriate hedging, and reach a clear, coherent conclusion. Candidates who hedge their position too much ("well, it depends, there are many sides...") or who fail to state a clear position at the start consistently score lower on Task Fulfillment.

The Position-First Rule

The single most important rule for Task 7 is: state your position in the first sentence. Do not build up to your position through background information. Do not say "This is a complex topic with many sides." Do not say "I think there are good arguments for both." Open with a direct, clear statement of your view — and then spend the remaining 80 to 85 seconds proving and supporting it.

Strong vs. Weak Opening Lines

The PRE Support Structure

For each of your two main reasons, use the PRE structure to develop a fully supported argument: Point, Reason, Example.

P — Point: State your reason clearly in one sentence. "One of the main reasons I believe this is [reason]."

R — Reason: Explain why this reason matters or how it supports your position. "This is significant because [explanation of the logic or mechanism]."

E — Example: Provide a specific, concrete illustration. "For example, [personal experience, observed situation, or realistic hypothetical scenario]. This shows that [connection back to your point]."

The PRE structure prevents the two most common Task 7 weaknesses: stating a reason without explanation (which feels underdeveloped) and giving an example without connecting it back to the argument (which feels irrelevant).

Opinion Language: Natural, Varied, and Appropriately Hedged

Task 7 requires you to express a personal opinion, which means using opinion language throughout your response. Using a variety of opinion expressions demonstrates Vocabulary Range and sounds more natural than repeating "I think" fifteen times.

Opinion Language Bank

• Strong opinion: I firmly believe / I am convinced / I have no doubt that / It is clear to me that / The evidence strongly suggests

• Moderate opinion: In my view / From my perspective / The way I see it / I tend to think / I would argue that

• Personal experience basis: In my experience / Based on what I have seen / From what I have observed / Having [experienced/done/studied] this

• Conceding and reaffirming: While I understand that some people feel [other view], I still believe [your position] because / Of course there are other perspectives, but in my view...

Full 90-Second Template for Task 7

Position Statement (8–10 seconds): "[Strong opinion phrase], [your clear position on the topic]. Let me explain why."

Reason 1 — Point (5–7 seconds): "My first reason is [clear statement of reason]."

Reason 1 — Reason and Example (20–25 seconds): "This is important because [explanation of why the reason matters]. For example, [specific, concrete example]. This demonstrates [connection back to your position]."

Transition (3–5 seconds): "My second reason is perhaps even more significant..."

Reason 2 — Point, Reason, Example (20–25 seconds): "[State reason 2]. [Explanation of why it matters]. [Specific example]. [Connection back to position]."

Brief concession (optional, 5–8 seconds): "Of course, I recognize that [one potential counterargument], but I still believe [your position] because [brief response]."

Conclusion (8–10 seconds): "To sum up, [restate position in different words]. [Forward-looking or broader implication statement]."

Worked Example: Complete Task 7 Response

Prompt: "Do you think employees should have the right to work from home permanently? Share your opinion."

Response: "From my perspective, employees who are able to do their work effectively from home should absolutely have that option available to them permanently. Let me explain my thinking. My first reason is that remote work genuinely improves productivity for many people. This is significant because the traditional office environment, while useful for some tasks, actually introduces a lot of interruptions — impromptu conversations, noise, and meetings that could have been emails. I have spoken with many people who say they get significantly more focused work done at home. For example, a colleague of mine, who was a writer for a marketing company, found that her output nearly doubled when she worked from home full-time, simply because she could structure her day around her own energy levels. That is a real, measurable benefit. My second reason is work-life balance, which I think is perhaps the more important consideration. Eliminating a daily commute — which for many Canadians is an hour each way — gives people back hours they can invest in family, health, and personal wellbeing. The data on employee burnout and retention shows that flexibility in where people work is now one of the top factors people consider when choosing an employer. Of course, I recognize that some roles genuinely require a physical presence, and that some people prefer the structure of an office. But those cases should be handled individually, not used as a reason to restrict remote work for everyone. To sum up, I believe that permanent remote work options, where feasible, are good for employees, good for employers, and frankly good for society. It is not just a trend — it is a shift in how we think about what productive work looks like."

Key Takeaways from Lesson 12

• State your position in the first sentence — the Position-First Rule is the most important rule for Task 7.

• Use the PRE structure for each reason: Point → Reason → Example. Connect every example back to your argument.

• Use varied opinion language — rotate strong, moderate, and experience-based opinion phrases throughout.

• A brief concession ("Of course, some people would argue...") followed by a confident reaffirmation signals sophisticated argumentation.

• End with a conclusion that restates your position in different words — do not introduce new arguments in the conclusion.