Whether you’re applying for permanent residency, a job, or admission to a Canadian university, appearing for the CELPIP exam can help you reach your goals. The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) Test is a comprehensive test that allows test takers to demonstrate their ability to function in English. The CELPIP test is often seen as an alternative for the IELTS.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)-recognized that the CELPIP exam is accepted as evidence of English language proficiency for programs involving citizenship, permanent residency, and other types of Canadian immigration. It is also accepted by several governments, professional organizations, colleges, universities, and employers.
CELPIP is available in two versions: CELPIP-General Test and CELPIP-General LS Test. Depending on the test you need, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the structure, mode of examination, syllabus, and question types for 2024. This understanding will help you prepare strategically and approach the exam with confidence. Read on to explore the comprehensive CELPIP exam and scoring pattern and ensure you are well-prepared for success.
CELPIP Test Format 2024
CELPIP is available in two versions: CELPIP-General Test and CELPIP-General LS Test. It’s crucial to know which version suits your needs. The General Test is designed for applicants seeking permanent residency or professional advancement, while the General LS Test is primarily for citizenship applications. Both versions assess English language skills but differ in duration.
The CELPIP-General Test takes about three hours, covering Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, while the CELPIP-General LS Test is a one-hour assessment focusing only on Listening and Speaking. Both tests have a similar format for the listening and speaking sections. Below is an overview of the test formats for both versions.
| Section | CELPIP – General Test | CELPIP – General LS Test |
| Components | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Listening, Speaking |
| Duration | 3 hours | 1 hour |
| Accepted | Permanent Residency applications | Canadian citizenship applications |
Exam Pattern for Listening Section
The listening section in the CELPIP exam pattern 2024 consists of 6 parts of a total of 38 questions, along with 1 practice task at the start of the section. Although there are different question types, the candidate has to read the answer choices in the listening test section. The skills of the candidate are measured and scored under categories like meaning, vocabulary, task fulfillment, and listening ability.
CELPIP test duration for the listening section is 47 – 55 minutes. The Listening section of the CELPIP Test is structured to evaluate a candidate’s ability to comprehend spoken English. The table below provides detailed information about this section:
| Component sections | No. of questions | Description | Duration | Skills tested | |
| Preparation Time | Speaking Time | ||||
| Practice Task | 1 | Practice speaking into the microphone. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | 1. Understanding performance standards 2. Review of speaking skills 3. Developing ideas 4. Introduction to vocabulary-building |
| Task 1: Giving Advice | 1 | Help someone to either make a decision or prepare for something. | 30 seconds | 90 seconds | 1. Organizing your thoughts 2. Giving advice 3. Using WH questions for narratives 4. Time expressions 5. Transitions |
| Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience | 1 | Tell a story about a past experience. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Task 3: Describing a Scene | 1 | Look at an illustration and describe what is happening. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | 1. Prepositions of location2. Describing details3. Practice: Describing and making predictions4. Making predictions from a scene |
| Task 4: Making Predictions | 1 | Look at the same illustration and describe what you think will happen next. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Task 5: Comparing and Persuading | 1 | Part 1 – select your preferred option from two choices | 60 seconds | – | 1. Choosing, comparing and persuading2. Inflection and intonation3. Giving effective reasons |
| Part 2 – persuade someone to agree with the option you have made | 60 seconds | 60 seconds | |||
| Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation | 1 | Explain a decision to a friend or family member. | 60 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Task 7: Expressing Opinions | 1 | Explain why you agree or disagree with a statement. | 30 seconds | 90 seconds | 1. Stating an opinion2. Weak vs. convincing reasons |
| Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation | 1 | Describe a picture of an unusual item or situation to someone who cannot see the picture. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| TOTAL | |||||
| 8 tasks | 8 | 15-20 minutes | All Speaking Test skills | ||
Exam Pattern for Reading Section
The Reading section in the exam pattern of CELPIP consists of 4 parts of a total of 38 questions, along with 1 practice task at the start of the section. Candidates need to read the passages and answer the questions. The time allotted for the reading section is 55-60 minutes. The Reading section assesses your ability to understand written English through a variety of question types. Here is the detailed exam pattern for this section:
| Component sections | No. of questions | Description | Duration | Skills tested |
| Practice Task | 1 | – | – | – |
| Part 1: Reading correspondence | 11(6+5) | Answer multiple-choice questions and complete an email response | 11 minutes | 1. Skimming and scanning 2. Synonym-matching pair work activity 3. Timed reading |
| Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram | 8(5+3) | Answer multiple-choice questions and complete an email response | 9 minutes | 1. Understanding coherence and applying logic 2. Locating specific information 3. Recognizing a writer’s purpose and tone 4. Timed reading |
| Part 3: Reading for Information | 9 | Select a paragraph that contains the given information | 10 minutes | 1. Understanding paragraph components 2. Identifying main ideas in paragraphs 3. Timed reading |
| Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints | 10(5+5) | Answer multiple-choice questions and complete a reader’s comment | 13 minutes | 1. Understanding meaning based on context 2. Eliminating wrong answers 3. Identifying viewpoints 4. Fact or opinion 5. Timed reading |
| TOTAL | ||||
| 4 tasks | 38 | Multiple choice, Information matching | 47-55 minutes | All Reading Test skills |
Exam Pattern for Writing Section
The writing section in the CELPIP test pattern consists of 2 tasks with only 1 question each. Candidates need to respond to the given questions and write the answers to them. The skills of the candidate in this section are measured and scored under categories like meaning, vocabulary, task fulfillment, and readability.
CELPIP exam duration for the writing section is 53-60 minutes. The Writing section of the CELPIP Test gauges your ability to write clearly and coherently in English. It involves creating structured responses for different scenarios, as detailed in the table below:
| Component sections | No. of questions | Description | Duration | Length | Skills tested |
| Practice Task Task 1: Writing an Email | 1 | Write an email regarding day-to-day matters. | 27 minutes | 150-200 words | 1. Email format 2. Paragraphing 3. Introduction 4. Synonyms 5. Avoiding repetition 6. Time sequencers 7. Tone and register |
| Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions | 1 | Respond to an opinion survey regarding commonly encountered issues and justify your choice. | 26 minutes | 150-200 words | 1. Expressing an opinion 2. Using conjunctions 3. Supporting details 4. Transitions 5. Concluding sentences 6. Timed writing 7. Peer feedback: Identifying common errors |
| TOTAL | |||||
| 2 tasks | 2 | 53 – 60 minutes | All Writing Test skills | ||
Exam Pattern for Speaking Section
The speaking section in the exam pattern of CELPIP consists of 8 tasks and one question for each. Candidates need to reply to the questions appearing on the screen prompt by speaking. The time allotted for the speaking section is 15-20 minutes. The Speaking section assesses your oral communication skills by asking you to respond to various prompts. The following table outlines the structure of this section:
| Component sections | No. of questions | Description | Duration | Skills tested | |
| Preparation Time | Speaking Time | ||||
| Practice Task | 1 | Practice speaking into the microphone. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | 1. Understanding performance standards 2. Review of speaking skills 3. Developing ideas 4. Introduction to vocabulary-building |
| Task 1: Giving Advice | 1 | Help someone to either make a decision or prepare for something. | 30 seconds | 90 seconds | 1. Organizing your thoughts 2. Giving advice 3. Using WH questions for narratives 4. Time expressions 5. Transitions |
| Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience | 1 | Tell a story about a past experience. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Task 3: Describing a Scene | 1 | Look at an illustration and describe what is happening. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | 1. Prepositions of location 2. Describing details 3. Practice: Describing and making predictions 4. Making predictions from a scene |
| Task 4: Making Predictions | 1 | Look at the same illustration and describe what you think will happen next. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Task 5: Comparing and Persuading | 1 | Part 1 – select your preferred option from two choices | 60 seconds | – | 1. Choosing, comparing and persuading 2. Inflection and intonation 3. Giving effective reasons |
| Part 2 – persuade someone to agree with the option you have made | 60 seconds | 60 seconds | |||
| Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation | 1 | Explain a decision to a friend or family member. | 60 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| Task 7: Expressing Opinions | 1 | Explain why you agree or disagree with a statement. | 30 seconds | 90 seconds | 1. Stating an opinion 2. Weak vs. convincing reasons |
| Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation | 1 | Describe a picture of an unusual item or situation to someone who cannot see the picture. | 30 seconds | 60 seconds | |
| TOTAL | |||||
| 8 tasks | 8 | 15-20 minutes | All Speaking Test skills | ||
CELPIP Scoring Pattern 2024
Each section of the CELPIP test is scored on a scale from 1 to 12, with 12 being the highest score. The scores from each section are then converted to a CELPIP-General score, which is a total score out of 12. All four components such as Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking of the CELPIP-General Test and the CELPIP-General LS Test are given a CELPIP level.
Below is a chart of score rubric of each CELPIP level and its corresponding description. As the CELPIP test scores have been evaluated against the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels, the CLB level equivalencies are presented for your information.
| CELPIP LEVEL | CELPIP DESCRIPTION | CLB LEVEL |
| 12 | Advanced proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 12 |
| 11 | Advanced proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 11 |
| 10 | Highly effective proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 10 |
| 9 | Effective proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 9 |
| 8 | Good proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 8 |
| 7 | Adequate proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 7 |
| 6 | Developing proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 6 |
| 5 | Acquiring proficiency in workplace and community contexts | 5 |
| 4 | Adequate proficiency for daily life activities | 4 |
| 3 | Some proficiency in limited contexts | 3 |
| M | Minimal proficiency or insufficient information to assess | 0,1,2 |
| NA | Not Administered: test taker did not receive this test component | / |
Scoring the CELPIP Reading and Listening Components
All CELPIP Reading and Listening questions are in the multiple choice or similar format. All the answers to CELPIP Reading and Listening questions are scored dichotomously: a response is either correct or incorrect. Questions that are left blank are scored as incorrect. A computer marks the multiple-choice questions, and the score is out of 38 for each section.
Scoring the CELPIP Writing and Speaking Components
The writing and speaking components of the CELPIP-General Test are scored by qualified raters trained to apply consistent criteria to assess test taker performances based on standard scoring rubric.
Speaking: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, and Task Fulfillment
Writing: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability, and Task Fulfillment
Each dimension is divided into five performance levels. Performance descriptors are provided for each level in each dimension.
Additionally, the Speaking and Writing sections are also assessed for CELPIP-General Writing and Speaking scores, which are individual scores out of 6.
The final CELPIP score is determined by taking the average of your CELPIP-General score, CELPIP-General Writing score, and CELPIP-General Speaking score.
For example, if you receive a CELPIP-General score of 10, a CELPIP-General Writing score of 8, and a CELPIP-General Speaking score of 9, your overall CELPIP score would be: (10 + 8 + 9) / 3 = 9. This overall score out of 12 represents your proficiency in English as assessed by the CELPIP test.
Conclusion
Make sure you are fully prepared to tackle the test and achieve your desired score by understanding the CELPIP Test format and scoring criteria. Familiarize yourself with the test structure and practice regularly to enhance your skills in each section. Start your preparation today and boost your chances of achieving your desired CELPIP score in 2024!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Structure of the CELPIP Exam?
Ans: The CELPIP exam consists of two main types: CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS. The CELPIP-General Test includes four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, with a total duration of around 3 hours.
The CELPIP-General LS Test only includes the Listening and Speaking sections and takes about 1 hour. Each section assesses real-life language skills, focusing on everyday tasks like reading emails, having conversations, and interpreting news.
Is CELPIP Easier Than IELTS?
Ans: The answer to whether CELPIP is easier than IELTS depends on the individual. Some find CELPIP easier due to its computer-based format and the Canadian English accents used in the listening section, which might feel more familiar to those planning to live in Canada.
Others prefer IELTS, especially for its paper-based option and international scope. The level of difficulty can vary based on personal strengths in language skills, comfort with computers, and familiarity with the accents and vocabulary tested.
Is CELPIP Written or Computer-Based?
Ans: The CELPIP exam is entirely computer-based. Test-takers complete all four sections—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—using a computer. Responses are typed for the writing section, and for the speaking section, candidates record their answers using a microphone. This format makes it convenient for those comfortable with computers and allows for faster test results.
