General Information about CELPIP

What is CELPIP?

CELPIP stands for the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. It is a language assessment test designed to evaluate a person’s English proficiency for immigration, citizenship, and professional purposes in Canada. The test is accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and other organizations. It is computer-based and assesses English skills in four areas:

  1. Listening
  2. Reading
  3. Writing
  4. Speaking

There are two versions of the CELPIP test:

  • CELPIP-General: For permanent residency applications and other professional designations.
  • CELPIP-General LS: For Canadian citizenship applications, assessing only Listening and Speaking.

CELPIP vs. IELTS

Both CELPIP and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are recognized English proficiency tests in Canada, but they have key differences:

FeatureCELPIPIELTS
Test FormatFully computer-basedPaper-based or computer-based
AccentCanadian English accentVariety of accents (British, American, Australian, etc.)
Skills AssessedListening, Reading, Writing, SpeakingListening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Scoring1-12 points per skill0-9 bands per skill
Test DurationAbout 3 hours (single sitting)2 hours 45 minutes (may be split over two days)
FocusTailored for Canadian contextsGlobal English usage

Why choose CELPIP?

  • Familiar Canadian accent and scenarios.
  • One-sitting format.
  • Fully computerized, eliminating handwritten tasks.

CELPIP Test Format

The CELPIP-General test includes four sections:

  1. Listening (47–55 minutes)
    • Multiple-choice questions based on conversations and audio clips.
    • Sections include Listening to Problem Solving, Listening to a Daily Conversation, and Listening for Information.
  2. Reading (55–60 minutes)
    • Passages followed by multiple-choice questions.
    • Tasks include Reading Correspondence, Reading to Apply a Diagram, and Reading for Viewpoints.
  3. Writing (53–60 minutes)
    • Two tasks:
      1. Writing an email.
      2. Responding to survey questions.
  4. Speaking (15–20 minutes)
    • Eight tasks:
      1. Giving advice.
      2. Describing a scene.
      3. Making predictions.
      4. Expressing opinions.

CELPIP Test Duration

The CELPIP-General test lasts approximately 3 hours and is completed in a single sitting.
The breakdown of the duration is:

  • Listening: 47–55 minutes
  • Reading: 55–60 minutes
  • Writing: 53–60 minutes
  • Speaking: 15–20 minutes

This structure eliminates the need for scheduling multiple test sessions, making CELPIP more convenient for many test-takers.

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