The CELPIP Phrase & Vocabulary Bank — Phrases Graders Reward

1How to actually memorise a phrase bank (so you can use it under pressure)

Memorising 200 phrases is useless. Memorising 30 phrases that you can deploy in the right slot in 2 seconds is transformative. Here's the method.

Step 1 — Pick 5 phrases per category (opinion stems, concessions, etc.). Don't try to learn all 12 in each section — pick the ones that already feel natural to your style.

Step 2 — Use spaced repetition (Anki, Quizlet, FlexiLingo). One side: a slot description ("opening sentence for Task 7"). Other side: 2–3 phrases that fit. Review daily for 2 weeks.

Step 3 — Drill them in context, not in isolation. For each phrase, write or speak one sentence using it. The phrase doesn't enter active memory until you've produced it 3 times.

Step 4 — Vary them in a single response. Using "In my view" three times in 90 seconds reads as repetition. Using "In my view" once, "What I'd argue is" once, and "My take is" once reads as range.

Tip: The 30-phrase list at the end of this article (section 14) is the curated subset. Memorise those 30 and you have a working phrase deck for both Speaking and Writing.

2Opinion stems — 12 phrases for stating a position

Opening sentences for Task 7 (Speaking opinion) and Task 2 (Writing survey response) need a clear position. These stems do the work.

In my view, ...
I would argue that ...
I'm convinced that ...
My take on this is that ...
Personally, I lean toward ...
If I had to choose, I would say ...
What strikes me as the stronger choice is ...
From where I stand, ...
Honestly, I'd go with ...
The way I see it, ...
I tend to side with ...
Speaking from my own perspective, ...

Register: 1–4 are formal/neutral. 5–7 are professional but warmer. 8–12 are conversational. Match the register to the task — Writing Task 2 leans toward 1–7, Speaking Task 7 can use 8–12 freely.

Tip: Don't use "I think" in CELPIP. It's not wrong, but it's the lowest-band signal. Replace it with any of the phrases above.

3Example connectors — phrases that introduce evidence

Every body point should have one example. These phrases lead into examples cleanly.

For instance, ...
To illustrate, ...
Take, for example, ...
A clear case of this is ...
Consider the situation where ...
Imagine someone who ...
A friend of mine recently ...
In one case I'm aware of, ...
Just last week, ...
A typical example would be ...

Rule: don't use "For example," three times in one response. Vary. Use "For instance," once, "Consider..." once, and a personal frame ("A friend of mine...") once.

Tip: Personal frames ("A friend of mine", "In my own experience") feel concrete even if invented. CELPIP doesn't fact-check. Use them in Speaking Tasks 1, 2, 5, and 7.

4Concession phrases — acknowledging the other side

Strong arguments acknowledge the opposite view briefly before moving on. These phrases do that without weakening your position.

While some might argue that ..., I would still maintain ...
Although ... is true to a degree, ...
Granted, ... has its appeal, but ...
Of course, the other side has a point about ..., yet ...
I can see why people might think ..., but in practice ...
Despite the obvious benefit of ..., the trade-off is ...
Even acknowledging that ..., the bigger consideration is ...
It's fair to say that ..., however, ...

Rule: one concession per response is enough. Two reads as fence-sitting. The concession should be brief (one clause) and the rebuttal should be longer.

Structure: "While [concession], [your position]." The grammatical contrast does the work — the grader sees both sides without confusion about which one you hold.

Tip: In Writing Task 2, place the concession in the introduction or in body paragraph 3. In Speaking Task 7, place it in body point 2 (briefly) before your strongest reason in point 3.

5Cause and effect phrases

Linking causes to effects shows logical reasoning. These phrases lift Coherence and Vocabulary scores.

As a result, ...
Consequently, ...
This leads to ...
The outcome is that ...
Because of this, ...
Owing to ..., ...
Given that ..., it follows that ...
This is why ...
Which is why, in many cases, ...
The end result is that ...

Rule: "because" used three times in 180 words flags a low band. Mix in "since", "given that", "owing to", "as".

Tip: Cause-and-effect chains (X leads to Y, which results in Z) signal advanced reasoning. Use one in your strongest body paragraph.

6Comparison and contrast phrases

Writing Task 2 and Speaking Task 5 are explicit comparisons. These phrases make the comparison structure visible.

Compared to ..., this option ...
While ... offers X, ... offers Y instead
Unlike ..., ...
In contrast to ..., ...
Whereas ... tends to ..., ... typically ...
On one hand ... On the other hand ...
By comparison, ...
The two options differ in that ...
What sets ... apart from ... is ...
Where ... falls short, ... excels

Rule: in a 5-paragraph Task 2 response, use 2 comparison phrases — one in your strongest body paragraph, one in your concession.

Tip: "On one hand / On the other hand" used as the body structure of Task 2 is a low-band move. Use it sparingly — once, inside a single paragraph, not as the whole-essay structure.

7Hedging language for CLB 9+

Hedging shows nuance without weakening your stance. CLB 9+ writers and speakers hedge naturally; CLB 7 writers state absolutes.

In most cases, ...
Generally speaking, ...
For the majority of people, ...
It tends to be the case that ...
More often than not, ...
By and large, ...
In a typical scenario, ...
On the whole, ...
There's a strong case to be made that ...
It's reasonable to say that ...

Rule: use 1 hedge per response, in the topic sentence of body paragraph 1 or 2. Hedging in the conclusion sounds uncertain — keep the conclusion firm.

Tip: Avoid stacking hedges ("It tends to be generally the case that..."). One hedge per claim. Stacked hedges read as evasion, not nuance.

8Formal vs informal swaps (tone calibration)

Tone mismatch is a top-3 score-killer. These swaps help you adjust register fast.

ask → request (formal) / ask (semi) / ask (friendly)
tell → inform (formal) / let know (semi) / tell (friendly)
get → obtain (formal) / receive (semi) / get (friendly)
buy → purchase (formal) / buy (semi/friendly)
help → assist (formal) / help (semi/friendly)
fix → resolve / address (formal) / fix / sort out (semi/friendly)
want → would like (formal) / want / would like (semi) / want (friendly)
happy → pleased (formal) / glad (semi) / happy (friendly)
sorry → apologise (formal) / sorry (semi/friendly)
I'd like → I would appreciate (formal) / I'd like (semi/friendly)

Rule: pick the tone in the first sentence and stay there. "Dear Mr. Davies, I'd like to request that you sort out the issue" mixes formal salutation with informal verb. "Dear Mr. Davies, I'd like to request that you address the issue" matches register.

Tip: When in doubt about register: read the prompt for who you're writing to. Boss / customer service / landlord = formal. Colleague / neighbour = semi-formal. Friend / family = friendly.

9Strong verbs to replace weak ones (the highest-leverage upgrade)

Replacing weak verbs is the fastest way to lift Vocabulary scores. Pick 5–6 swaps to internalise.

got → received, obtained, acquired
said → mentioned, explained, stated, claimed, replied, noted
make → carry out, conduct, complete, arrange
do → perform, handle, manage, undertake
show → demonstrate, indicate, reveal, illustrate
find → discover, identify, locate
go → head, travel, proceed, set off
use → employ, utilise, apply, draw on
good → beneficial, advantageous, valuable, satisfactory
bad → detrimental, harmful, disappointing, unacceptable
big → significant, substantial, considerable
small → minor, modest, slight
important → crucial, essential, key, significant, central
many → numerous, a number of, a range of, several
very + adj → one strong adj (very tired → exhausted; very angry → furious; very small → tiny)

Rule: 2–3 strong verbs per Speaking task, 3–4 per Writing task. More than that reads as a thesaurus dump.

Tip: Internalise 6 swaps you didn't already use. Practice them in writing for 1 week, then in Speaking for 1 week. After 2 weeks, they fire automatically.

10Discourse markers for Speaking

Discourse markers signal structure in spoken English. They're the audible version of paragraphing.

First of all, ... / The first thing is ...
On top of that, ... / Another thing is ...
More importantly, ... / What really matters is ...
But here's the thing — ...
To put it simply, ...
What I mean is ...
The way I see it, ...
At the end of the day, ...
Long story short, ...
All things considered, ...

Rule: use 2–3 different discourse markers per Speaking task. They make your structure audible without sounding scripted.

Avoid: "Firstly... Secondly... Thirdly..." — sounds rehearsed. Use the more natural variants above.

Tip: "At the end of the day" / "All things considered" are great closers for Speaking Tasks 1, 5, 7. They signal the wrap-up without being formal.

11Email-specific phrases for Writing Task 1

Phrases tied to specific email purposes. Memorise the openers — they save 10 seconds of thinking on test day.

Complaint opening: "I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with [X] that I [bought/used] on [date]." / "I would like to bring a serious issue to your attention regarding [X]."

Request opening: "I am writing to request [X], which I will need by [date] for [reason]." / "I would like to ask whether it might be possible to [X]."

Apology opening: "I am writing to apologise for [X] and to explain what happened." / "I owe you an apology for [X]."

Invitation opening: "I'd like to invite you to [event] on [date] at [place]." / "I'm putting together a small [event] and I'd love for you to come."

Closings: "I would appreciate a reply by [date]." / "Please let me know if any information is missing." / "Looking forward to hearing back."

Sign-offs by tone: Formal — "Sincerely," / "Best regards,". Semi-formal — "Best," / "Kind regards,". Friendly — "Thanks," / "Talk soon,".

Tip: Memorise one opener per prompt type and one closing pattern. That's 5 + 1 = 6 phrases that cover almost every Task 1 email.

12Survey-response phrases for Writing Task 2

The 5-paragraph survey response has fixed slots. Memorise one phrase per slot.

Intro stance: "While both options have merit, [chosen option] is the stronger choice for three reasons."

Reason 1 opener: "The first and most obvious reason is ..."

Reason 2 opener: "Another important consideration is ..."

Reason 3 opener: "Most importantly, ..." / "Finally, ..."

Conclusion opener: "For these reasons, I would [chosen option] without hesitation."

Tip: Don't memorise full sentences for the body — only the openers. The body content must come from the prompt. Memorising body sentences leads to canned-feeling responses, which graders penalise.

13Common collocations CELPIP loves

Multi-word collocations are tested as much as single-word vocabulary. These appear repeatedly in CELPIP Reading and Listening, and lift Vocabulary in Speaking and Writing.

raise concerns / raise the issue
address the problem / address the matter
in the wake of
on the heels of
draw criticism / draw attention
endorse a proposal / endorse a candidate
voice support / voice opposition
shed light on
play a role in
have an impact on
place an emphasis on
strike a balance between
weigh the pros and cons
make a strong case for
set a precedent
fall short of
live up to expectations
come to terms with
stand the test of time
meet the demand

Rule: use 2–3 collocations per Writing or Speaking response. They signal advanced vocabulary without trying too hard.

Tip: Build your collocation deck from CBC opinion pieces (FlexiLingo's phrase detection flags them automatically). After 2 weeks of CBC reading + saving, you'll have 30+ recurring collocations on your deck.

14The 30-phrase memorise list (your test-day deck)

If you only memorise 30 phrases, memorise these. Drilled across Speaking and Writing, they cover the most common high-leverage slots.

1. In my view, ... (opinion stem)
2. I would argue that ... (stronger opinion stem)
3. While both options have merit, [X] is the stronger choice. (Task 2 intro)
4. The first and most obvious reason is ... (Task 2 para 2)
5. Another important consideration is ... (Task 2 para 3)
6. Most importantly, ... (Task 2 para 4)
7. For these reasons, I would [verb] without hesitation. (Task 2 conclusion)
8. While some might argue that ..., I would still maintain ... (concession)
9. For instance, ... (example connector)
10. To illustrate, ... (example connector)
11. As a result, ... (cause-effect)
12. Consequently, ... (cause-effect)
13. By comparison, ... (compare/contrast)
14. Generally speaking, ... (hedge)
15. In most cases, ... (hedge)
16. I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with ... (Task 1 complaint)
17. I am writing to request [X] for [reason]. (Task 1 request)
18. I am writing to apologise for [X]. (Task 1 apology)
19. I would appreciate a reply by [date]. (Task 1 close)
20. Sincerely / Best regards (formal sign-off)
21. First of all, ... (Speaking discourse marker)
22. On top of that, ... (Speaking discourse marker)
23. At the end of the day, ... (Speaking close)
24. Let me think about that for a moment ... (Speaking recovery)
25. What I mean is ... (Speaking clarifier)
26. Hey [name], it's me. I just heard about ... (Task 1 Speaking opener)
27. The picture I'm looking at shows ... (Task 3 Speaking opener)
28. Based on what I can see, I'd expect ... (Task 4 Speaking opener)
29. raise concerns / address the issue (collocation)
30. have an impact on / play a role in (collocation)

Tip: Print this list. Drill 5 a day. After 6 days, you have all 30 in active memory. Refresh weekly until test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will graders notice if I use memorised phrases?

Phrases like "In my view" or "For instance" are universal — graders don't penalise them. What graders penalise is full memorised sentences (especially body content) that don't fit the specific prompt. Memorise the slots, not the full responses.

How many phrases should I actually memorise?

Start with the 30-phrase list (section 14). After 2 weeks, expand to add the collocations and discourse markers most natural to your style. 50–60 internalised phrases covers nearly every CELPIP slot.

Should I use idioms in my responses?

Use idioms sparingly in formal writing (Task 1 formal emails). Use them more freely in Speaking, especially friendly tasks (Task 1, Task 6, Task 7). One natural idiom lifts Vocabulary; three forced idioms drop it.

What's the difference between vocabulary and collocations?

Vocabulary is single words. Collocations are multi-word phrases that work together ("raise concerns", "draw criticism"). CELPIP tests both, but collocations have higher leverage because they signal natural usage. Building a collocation deck moves your score faster than memorising rare single words.

Where can I find more phrases like these?

CBC opinion pieces, BBC News, and Canadian podcasts (Front Burner, The Current, The Decibel) are gold mines. FlexiLingo's phrase detection on these sources flags multi-word collocations automatically — save them to your deck and SRS keeps them active.

How do I know if a phrase is too formal or too informal?

Read the phrase out loud as if to your boss in a meeting. If you'd be uncomfortable, it's too informal for formal contexts. Read it again as if to a friend at coffee. If it sounds stiff, it's too formal for friendly contexts. The phrase that fits both moderately well is your safe middle-register choice.