What Is CELPIP? Complete Test Overview

What Is CELPIP? Complete Test Overview | CELPIP Store

CELPIP (the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) is a computer-delivered English test that measures how well you listen, read, write and speak in everyday Canadian situations. Most people take it to prove their English to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), either for permanent residence or for citizenship.

This guide explains what the test is, the two versions, what each section looks like, how scores work and who accepts the results. If you are new to CELPIP, start here.

What CELPIP is, in one minute

CELPIP is a general English test. It does not test academic English or specialist vocabulary. Instead, it uses everyday topics such as work, neighbours, shopping, travel and community life. The test is run by Paragon Testing Enterprises, and the official website is celpip.ca.

Some key facts about the test:

It is fully on a computer. All parts of the test, including Speaking, are delivered on a computer in one sitting.
There is no face-to-face interview. In the Speaking test you reply out loud to prompts on the screen, so there is no separate speaking appointment.
It uses one North American accent. The official guidebook describes the test as using a single North American accent and easy-to-understand everyday English.
Scores are given as levels from 0 to 12. These levels are lined up with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB), which IRCC uses for its language rules.

The two versions: CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS

There are two versions of the test. Choosing the right one matters, because each one is accepted for different applications.

	CELPIP-General	CELPIP-General LS
Skills tested	Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking	Listening and Speaking only
Total time	Under 3 hours, one sitting	About 1 hour 10 minutes, one sitting
Main use	Permanent residence (for example, Express Entry) and professional designations	Canadian citizenship applications

In short: if you are applying for permanent residence, you need CELPIP-General. IRCC's Express Entry page says, "You must take the CELPIP-General test." If you are applying for citizenship, you can use CELPIP-General LS, which IRCC accepts as a two-skills (listening and speaking) test. For a deeper comparison, read our post on CELPIP General vs CELPIP General LS.

What is in the CELPIP-General test?

The CELPIP-General test has four sections. According to celpip.ca, here is how each one is built.

Listening (46 to 55 minutes)

Listening has 6 parts and 38 questions. You hear recordings and answer multiple-choice questions on the screen. You also need to read the answer choices.

Listening to Problem Solving (8 questions)
Listening to a Daily Life Conversation (5 questions)
Listening for Information (6 questions)
Listening to a News Item (5 questions)
Listening to a Discussion (8 questions)
Listening to Viewpoints (6 questions)

Reading (43 to 56 minutes)

Reading has 4 parts and 38 questions. The texts are things you might read in daily life, such as emails, notices and short articles.

Reading Correspondence (11 questions)
Reading to Apply a Diagram (8 questions)
Reading for Information (9 questions)
Reading for Viewpoints (10 questions)

Writing (53 minutes)

Writing has 2 tasks, and you type your answers on the computer.

Writing an Email
Responding to Survey Questions

Speaking (15 minutes)

Speaking has 8 tasks. You read a question on the screen, prepare for a short time and then speak into a microphone.

Giving Advice
Talking about a Personal Experience
Describing a Scene
Making Predictions
Comparing and Persuading
Dealing with a Difficult Situation
Expressing Opinions
Describing an Unusual Situation

The CELPIP-General LS test has the same Listening and Speaking sections, without Reading and Writing.

Good to know: celpip.ca says the test may contain unscored Reading or Listening questions used for test development. They look the same as scored questions, so treat every question as if it counts.

How CELPIP scores work

You get a separate level for each section you take. Levels go from 0 to 12, and each level has a description. For example, level 4 means "adequate proficiency for daily life activities," and level 12 means "advanced proficiency in workplace and community contexts." For Listening and Reading, a very low number of correct answers is shown as "M" on the official conversion tables.

CELPIP levels are calibrated against the Canadian Language Benchmarks. For most levels, the CELPIP level and the CLB level have the same number, so CELPIP 7 is CLB 7 and CELPIP 9 is CLB 9. This makes it easy to compare your result with IRCC rules, which are written in CLB levels.

Listening and Reading levels come from the number of questions you answer correctly. Writing and Speaking are scored by raters, and Paragon checks how closely raters agree to control the quality of ratings. To learn more, see CELPIP Levels Explained and How CELPIP Is Scored.

When you get your results

CELPIP results come quickly. Scores are posted online in your CELPIP account a few business days after your test date, and you get an email when they are ready. You can then download your Official Score Report as a PDF. Your scores stay viewable in your CELPIP account for 2 years from your test date.

Who accepts CELPIP?

CELPIP is designed for Canada, and it is widely used for immigration. Here is who accepts it, based on the official pages:

IRCC for permanent residence. CELPIP is one of three approved English tests for Express Entry, together with IELTS General Training and PTE Core. Only CELPIP-General is accepted for this.
IRCC for citizenship. Both CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS are accepted as proof of language for citizenship.
Professional bodies and schools. celpip.ca says CELPIP-General is accepted for professional designations and by some universities, colleges and vocational programs. Always check with the organization first.
Australia. celpip.ca says the Australian Department of Home Affairs accepts CELPIP-General for visa purposes.

Important IRCC rules to remember

Getting the right score is only part of the job. IRCC also has rules about which results it accepts.

Express Entry results must be less than 2 years old. This applies on the day you create your Express Entry profile and on the day you submit your permanent residence application. IRCC says it will refuse an application that uses expired results.
Citizenship needs CLB 4 or higher in speaking and listening. This applies to applicants between 18 and 54 years old when they sign their application.
Use an approved test only. IRCC says it does not accept any other third-party test results for citizenship.

Program rules can change, so check the IRCC page for your program before you book. Our guide to CELPIP scores vs CLB levels can help you understand what level you are aiming for.

How to get ready for CELPIP

Because CELPIP is fully computer-based and timed, practice under real test conditions helps a lot. A good plan for a beginner looks like this:

Learn the format. Know every part and task above, so nothing on test day is a surprise.
Take a practice test. Find your starting level in each section.
Focus on your weakest skill. Most people need the most work on Writing or Speaking.
Practise on a computer. Type your Writing answers and record your Speaking answers with a timer.
Take full tests again. Check your progress every week or two.

You can start today with our free CELPIP practice test, which follows the real test format. To save your results and track your progress, create a free CELPIP Store account.