As one of the requirements for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), the Express Entry Programs, as well as the Citizenship application, you must take an English test for many of the immigration programs in Canada. In this Blog Post, we will be focusing on the CELPIP.
Something to emphasize is that depending on your application you will have to take a different test:
For BC PNP and Express Entry immigration paths you will need the CELPIP- General with all four tasks: Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.
For the Citizenship, you will only have to take the CELPIP-General LS which consists of the Listening and Speaking tasks, and only if you have previously not taken a test for Permanent Residency.
CELPIP’s tests are all computer based and focus mainly on the North American Accent. Your results will be available online in 4 to 5 days and there are accessible study materials in the form of sample tests, videos, online information sessions and courses both through CELPIP or online.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TEST
In order to book your CELPIP exam, please click on the link below and follow the instructions:
https://www.celpip.ca/take-celpip/find-a-test-date/
- When you click on the link, you will be directed to CELPIP’s official page. To book a test, add the information in the “Filter” section in order to have see the best dates and places for taking your CELPIP test in your Area:
- Select the country you live in.
- Select the Region/Province/State you live in.
- Select the city or nearest city to where you live.
- Tick either AM or PM.
- Tick either GENERAL (for Permanent Residency) or LS (for Citizenship) in the CELPIP Test Type.
- Tick which one of the three choices in the Test Dates.
- Tick either Friday, Saturday or Sunday in the Test Day section.
- Click Apply. This will result in the website filtering your answers to give you available locations and times based on your choices.
- Scroll down through the choices and upon finding the perfect time with available spots, click on Register Now.
- Once you click on Register Now, a new page will open, and a small notice will pop up with a reminder to have your acceptable identity document and an accepted form of payment on hand in order to complete the registration. Click Continue.
- The Page will ask you a few questions:
For the question “What is the primary reason for taking the test?” Click on Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and then click on either “Immigration/Permanent Resident (PR) status” in Canada, or “Canadian Citizenship”.
- You will be sent to a new page where you will need to create a new Account and provide your information such as your email address, password, first name, last name, birth date and gender.
- Tick all three boxes under Service Terms.
- You will then be taken to “Proof of Identity”. Add all the information using your Passport and click next.
- In this last page, “Confirmation and Add to Cart” check that you have added all your information correctly as there is no way of changing it after this, and you will not be able to sit your exam without the correct Identity Document.
- Click Edit to edit any of the information or Add to Cart.
- Once you’ve clicked “Add to Cart” you’ll be sent to their Check-out page where you can browse through the featured products (study materials) that you can add and buy in order to study for your exam.
- Simply add any product you wish or click “Proceed to Checkout”.
- Review your Shopping cart and click “Checkout”.
- In the next page, add your shipping and billing address (if they are the same, leave the tick at the top, otherwise please fill out the form).
- Click next, review your order, and billing/shipping information and add your credit card payments to finalize the registration.
- You will receive instructions related to where to go and what to bring in an email or will be able to see this information on your CELPIP Account.
TASKS
For the General Test:
Listening:
You will listen to passages and answer questions. The test is composed of 1 practice task and 6 sections with different questions:
You will be required to read the answer choices and choose multiple answer choices.
The duration for this task is 47-55 minutes.
Please note that this test contains unscored items for test development, and they will be formatted exactly like the scored items.
Reading:
For this task, you will be asked to read different texts and answer questions. This task is composed of 1 practice task and 4 parts with different questions:
You will be required to read and choose multiple answer choices.
The duration for this task is 55-60 minutes.
Writing
In the writing task you will asked to write a formal or informal email and respond to Survey Questions. The task is thus composed of two sections with a question each:
As part of the task you will need to write using your computer.
The duration for this task is 53-60 minutes.
Speaking
For the speaking part, CELPIP requires you to also take this task in front of a computer which can be intimidating to some. The test is composed of 8 speaking tasks with one question each:
This task asks you to read the questions and reply with a variety of phrases, vocabulary and description depending on the task.
The duration for this task is very short. You only have 15-20 minutes.
Please note that this test contains unscored items for test development, and they will be formatted exactly like the scored items.
For the General LS test (Citizenship only):
Listening:
You will listen to passages and answer questions. The test is composed of 1 practice task and 6 sections with different questions:
You will be required to read the answer choices and choose multiple answer choices.
The duration for this task is 47-55 minutes.
Please note that this test contains unscored items for test development, and they will be formatted exactly like the scored items.
Speaking
For the speaking part, CELPIP requires you to also take this task in front of a computer which can be intimidated to some. The test is composed of 8 speaking tasks with one question each:
This task asks you to read the questions and reply with a variety of phrases, vocabulary and description depending on the task.
The duration for this task is very short. You only have 15-20 minutes.
Please note that this test contains unscored items for test development, and they will be formatted exactly like the scored items.
SCORES
Your test scores will be available online through your CELPIP Account. Below is a list of the prices of extra copies or priority shipping and other additional copies of your cost report:
For more information on how to understand scoring and the rating procedures, please visit CELPIP’s website:
https://www.celpip.ca/take-celpip/test-results-scoring/
PROS and CONs
HELPFUL LINKS TO STUDY:
CELPIP offers a free sample test so that future test-taker to get an idea of what they can expect from the different tasks:
https://secure.paragontesting.ca/InstructionalProducts/
It also offers various books and study materials for a price, and can purchase when registering for a test or on their website:
https://secure.celpip.ca/RegWebApp/#/product-shopping
Moreover, Paragon Testing enterprises also provides a free sample test :
Ashton College also offers a reading test preparation article with some tips such as reading and summarizing news articles, writing to Anglophone friends to enhance your vocabulary, and reading more English books to enhance your understanding and grasp of the language:
https://www.ashtoncollege.ca/celpip-test-reading-task-preparation/
Lastly, if you wish to find tips and sample exams, we suggest you search for “CELPIP Sample Exam” or “CELPIP Exam tips” on Youtube, where you will find very extensive and helpful videos.
Lastly, here are some useful links to blogs in order to understand the test and how to prepare for it further:
https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/english-proficiency-celpip-test/
https://www.newcomerscanada.ca/how-to-prepare-for-a-celpip-test/
Writing:
https://www.exampreparationgvv.com/celpip-writing-tips/
https://www.eslreddeer.com/celpip-preparation/celpip-writing-tips/
Speaking:
http://discoverenglish.ca/celpip-speaking-test-dos-donts/
https://www.ashtoncollege.ca/celpip-speaking-task-tips-techniques/
Reading:
http://celpipexamtips.blogspot.com/2018/10/dos-and-donts-to-ace-celpip-reading-exam.html
Listening:
https://www.ashtoncollege.ca/celpip-listening-task-tips-and-techniques/
https://www.hightestscore.com/celpip/celpip-listening-tips-guidelines/
Please do focus on the Reading and Writing parts as they have proven to be the most difficult to ace for native and non-native English Speakers.
Good Luck!