CELPIP-General: Format, Sections and Scoring Explained

How the test is built

This is how the CELPIP General test is built, and how it is scored. Everything on screen comes from the test owner's own pages, and the source is named each time.

The test measures four components: listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is computer delivered and done in one sitting, with a personal timer, a word counter and spell check built in.

Each component has its own time. Listening takes forty six to fifty five minutes. Reading takes forty three to fifty six. Writing takes fifty three minutes. And speaking takes fifteen minutes.

Added together, the four sections come to under three hours.

Inside each component

Now, what is inside each component.

Listening has six parts. Problem solving, a daily life conversation, listening for information, a news item, a discussion, and viewpoints.

Reading has four parts. Correspondence, applying a diagram, reading for information, and viewpoints.

Writing has two tasks: writing an email, and responding to survey questions. Speaking has eight tasks, starting with giving advice and ending with describing an unusual situation.

One more thing. The listening and reading tests contain unscored items used for test development. You cannot tell them apart from the scored ones, so give every question your best effort.

How it is scored

And now, the scores.

Each component gets its own CELPIP level. The top level is twelve.

Levels are calibrated against the Canadian Language Benchmarks. On the official chart, every level from three to twelve lines up with the same CLB level.

So check which levels your application needs, read the test owner's pages for the latest details, and practise one component at a time.

You can practise each component on examstep.ca.