The CELPIP-General test format
Four components in one sitting of under three hours, all on a computer: Listening, Reading, Writing, then Speaking.
| Listening | 6 parts, 38 questions, 46 to 55 minutes |
|---|---|
| Reading | 4 parts, 38 questions, 43 to 56 minutes |
| Writing | 2 tasks, 53 minutes |
| Speaking | 8 tasks, about 15 minutes, recorded |
| Scores | A level from 1 to 12 for each component |
Listening
You hear each recording once. The questions come after it, so the habit that matters is keeping track of what changes as people talk.
- Part 1, Problem Solving: 8 questions on a conversation in three sections
- Part 2, Daily Life Conversation: 5 questions
- Part 3, Listening for Information: 6 questions
- Part 4, News Item: 5 questions
- Part 5, Discussion: 8 questions
- Part 6, Viewpoints: 6 questions
Reading
Each part has its own timer. Several questions are blanks in a reply or email that you complete from a drop-down list.
- Part 1, Correspondence: 11 questions
- Part 2, Apply a Diagram: 8 questions
- Part 3, Reading for Information: 9 questions
- Part 4, Viewpoints: 10 questions
Writing and Speaking
Writing is an email (Task 1) and a response to a survey (Task 2), each 150 to 200 words. Speaking is eight short tasks recorded by the computer, each with 30 or 60 seconds to prepare and 60 or 90 seconds to speak.
Unscored questions
Listening and Reading contain unscored questions used to develop the test. They look the same as scored ones, so answer every question with the same care.
Next step
Questions people ask
How long is the CELPIP-General test?
Under three hours, in one sitting: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, in that order.
Is CELPIP Speaking face to face?
No. You speak to the computer, which records each answer. Each task gives you preparation time and then a fixed time to speak.
How many questions are in CELPIP Listening and Reading?
38 in each: Listening has six parts and Reading has four. Some questions in each are unscored.