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The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program is a general English proficiency test that demonstrates your command and ability to function in the English language. The test is conducted by Paragon Testing Enterprises. While there are many other proficiency tests that Canada accepts, CELPIP is one of the leading tests for taking Canadian citizenship and permanent residency. These tests can be taken online from the registered testing locations. If you want to study in Canada, then you must know all about it. Here in this blog, we cover all details about CELPIP.
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Must Read: Check Out These Honest Study in Canada Reviews
Why Take CELPIP?
If you want to study in Canada and broaden your horizons over there, you must give the CELPIP. It is a good alternative to IELTS/ TOEFL tests. Mentioned below are some reasons why you must take the CELPIP test.
- Unlike the other tests that take place in two slots, CELPIP can be attempted in just one sitting.
- While English is one language, it has many accents and not everyone can understand each of them. CELPIP only uses a single accent- the North American Accent.
- You do not have to wait for months, or even weeks to receive the result as you receive it in mere 4-5 days.
- Once you have registered for the test, you receive free sample tests, preparation courses and webinars.
Who Accepts CELPIP?
CELPIP tests are accepted by different governments, professional organizations, colleges, and universities. You can take CELPIP tests if you are looking for:
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Permanent Resident Status
- Various Provincial Nominee Programs
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSP)
- Start-up Visa Program
- Canadian Citizenship
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Universities and Colleges
Many universities and colleges in Canada accept the CELPIP. They are mentioned below.
- Western Community College
- TLC-Edmonton Training for Foreign Caregivers
- Think Tank Training Centre
- Sprott Shaw College
- SELC Career College Vancouver
- Rhodes Wellness College
- Pacific Rim Early Childhood Institute
- Pacific Link College
- Pacific Coast Community College
- Pace Canada College – Health Care Assistant
- Olds College
- Northern Lights College – Health Care Assistant
- NorQuest College ELP (English Language Proficiency)
- McKenzie College
- MaKami College
- Gateway College Great Plains College
- Focus College
- First College
- Dominion Herbal College
- Dalhousie University – UBC Certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies and Procedures Program
- Coast Mountain College
- Canadian Arts & Sciences Institute
- Brock University – Masters Preparation Certificate in Education
- Bow Valley College
- Ashton College
- Ascenda School of Management
- Alberta Institute of Massage
Professional Organizations
Certain professional organisations also accept the CELPIP. If you get a good job in Canada, all you have to do is attempt the CELPIP and get going. The names of the organisations are mentioned below.
- UBC Sauder School of Business Mortgage Brokerage in British Columbia Course
- Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission (SREC)
- Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
- Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC)
- Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA)
- Professional Business Accountants’ Society of Canada
- Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)
- College of Denturists of Ontario (CDO)
- BC Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program
- BC Corrections
- Alberta Human Services – Child Care Certification
CELPIP Test
There are two types of CELPIP exams that you can take, depending on the type of immigration you are looking for. There is CELPIP General and CELPIP General LS.
CELPIP Exam Pattern
The following data illustrates the CELPIP exam pattern 2023:
CELPIP Exam Pattern: General Test
The CELPIP exam pattern for the general test includes four sections. It is a 3-hour long exam and the fee is USD 280 (INR 22,836) The following are the sections in the general test:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
Listening Section
The listening section consists of 6 parts and a total of 38 questions. There is a practice test as well. The questions are in the MCQ format. The candidate would have to attentively listen to the recording and answer the questions accurately. This section is 47-55 mins long and is designed to assess skills like meaning, vocabulary, listening ability and task fulfilment.
| No. of Parts | Details | No. of Questions |
| Practice Task | 1 | |
| 1 | Listening to problem-solving questions | 8 |
| 2 | Listening to daily life conversations | 5 |
| 3 | Listening for information | 6 |
| 4 | Listening to a news item | 5 |
| 5 | Listening to a discussion | 8 |
| 6 | Listening to viewpoints | 6 |
Reading Section
The reading section of the CELPIP exam general test consists of 4 parts and a total of 28 questions. This section as well as a practice test. The candidate would have to carefully read the passage and answer the given questions. The duration of the section is 55-60 mins.
| No. of Parts | Details | No. of Questions |
| Practice Task | 1 | |
| 1 | Reading correspondence | 11 |
| 2 | Reading to apply a diagram | 8 |
| 3 | Reading for information | 9 |
| 4 | Reading for viewpoints | 10 |
Writing Section
The writing section of the CELPIP exam general test consists of 2 parts with 1 question in each. The candidate would have to give a response to the questions as per the requirements. The section is designed to assess skills like meaning, vocabulary, readability and task fulfilment. The duration of the section is 53-60 mins.
| No. of Parts | Details | No. of Questions |
| 1 | Email Writing | 1 |
| 2 | Response to the question | 1 |
Speaking Section
The speaking section of the CELPIP exam general test consists of 8 parts with one question in each section. The candidate would be required to verbally reply to the question appearing on the prompt screen. The duration of this section is 15 – 20 mins.
| No. of Parts | Details | No. of Questions |
| Practice Task | 1 | |
| 1 | Giving advice | 1 |
| 2 | Talking about a personal experience | 1 |
| 3 | Describing a scene | 1 |
| 4 | Making predictions | 1 |
| 5 | Comparing and persuading | 1 |
| 6 | Dealing with a difficult situation | 1 |
| 7 | Expressing opinions | 1 |
| 8 | Describing an unusual situation | 1 |
CELPIP Exam Pattern: General LS Test
The General LS Test of the CELPIP exam has only 2 sections namely listening and speaking.
Listening Section
The listening section consists of 6 parts and a total of 38 questions. There is a practice test as well. The questions are in the MCQ format. The candidate would have to attentively listen to the recording and answer the questions accurately. This section is 47-55 mins long.
| No. of Parts | Details | No. of Questions |
| Practice Task | 1 | |
| 1 | Listening to problem-solving questions | 8 |
| 2 | Listening to daily life conversations | 5 |
| 3 | Listening for information | 6 |
| 4 | Listening to a news item | 5 |
| 5 | Listening to a discussion | 8 |
| 6 | Listening to viewpoints | 6 |
Speaking Section
The speaking section of the CELPIP EXam General LS Test consists of 8 parts with one question in each section. The candidate would be required to verbally reply to the question appearing on the prompt screen. The duration of this section is 15 – 20 mins.
| No. of Parts | Details | No. of Questions |
| Practice Task | 1 | |
| 1 | Giving advice | 1 |
| 2 | Talking about a personal experience | 1 |
| 3 | Describing a scene | 1 |
| 4 | Making predictions | 1 |
| 5 | Comparing and persuading | 1 |
| 6 | Dealing with a difficult situation | 1 |
| 7 | Expressing opinions | 1 |
| 8 | Describing an unusual situation | 1 |
Also Read: IELTS and GMAT Scores to Study in Canada
CELPIP General test is accepted by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency and professional designations. The test is suitable if you are looking for employment in Canada. However, only select universities take CELPIP as proof of English proficiency. The CELPIP General test monitors your performance on the basis of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in the English language. The General Test has ‘two unscored items’ in the Listening and Reading tests that are used for test development. While that particular test will not be scored, you cannot tell which question comes under the unscored items. So, it’s best if you put your best efforts into every question.
CELPIP Test Scoring
You can check your CELPIP results on the account. And will receive an official mail by the organization when your result is out. You can download the PDF of your test results and can access it for 2 years from your CELPIP result declaration.
- You can also apply for a hard copy of your results ($20 each)(INR 1631), priority shipping and re-evaluation of your tests. The latter of this is only available till six months after taking the test.
- Your result can be anywhere from NA- 12. Here, NA stands for ‘Not Administered: test taker did not take the test’ and 12 is for ‘advanced proficiency in workplace and community contexts.
Even though all the sections are scored, there are some unscored parts in the listening and reading sections.
The following data represent the scoring of the CELPIP Exam for both types i.e. General Test and General LS Test.
| Level | Description |
| 12 | Advanced proficiency in workplace and community contexts |
| 11 | Advanced proficiency in workplace and community contexts |
| 10 | Highly effective proficiency in workplace and community contexts |
| 9 | Effective proficiency in the workplace and community contexts |
| 8 | Good proficiency in workplace and community contexts |
| 7 | Adequate proficiency in workplace and community contexts |
| 6 | Developing proficiency in workplace and community contexts |
| 5 | Acquiring proficiency in workplace and community contexts |
| 4 | Adequate proficiency in daily life activities |
| 3 | Some proficiency in limited contexts |
| M | Minimal proficiency or insufficient information to assess |
| NA | Not Administered: test taker did not receive this test component |
CELPIP Test Schedule
The schedule for CELPIP is mentioned below. You can take a look here:
- You must register on the official website, to take the CELPIP test.
- You will have options to take the test from different locations in your country. There are only a few countries where you can take CELPIP.
- Once registered, you will receive an email from the organization, you must take an online or hardcopy of confirmation mail to your test location.
- On the day of the test, you must reach the location with a face mask.
- Take your ID proof for verification.
- Take the test with all the precautions and rules in mind.
Locations
You can apply to take the test anytime in the next three months of your registration. The test is available in 7 countries including:
- Canada
- United States
- United Arab Emirates
- India
- Philippines
- Singapore
- China
Also Read: Study in Canada Without IELTS
Study Material for CELPIP Exam
The candidates who wish to prepare for the Exam can access both paid or unpaid versions of study material from online resources. They can access the materials directly from the CELPIP test conducting authority available on the CELPIP website. The following are the types of study material available:
- General CELPIP practice test
- CELPIP study guides, vocabulary skills in the form of Ebooks and PDFs
- General Overview of CELPIP Exam – Live sessions, Webinars, recorded videos etc.
- CELPIP accelerate – Section-wise preparation
CELPIP vs IELTS
Both CELPIP and IELTS are often pitted against each other as both of them are English proficiency tests. Tabulated below are the main differences between the two:
| Criteria | CELPIP | IELTS |
| Number of Tests | 4 for General LS2 for General | 4 for IELTS General4 for IELTS Academic |
| Difficulty | Hard | Hard |
| Score Range | NA- 12 | 1-9 |
| Number of Sittings | 1 | 2 |
| Duration | 3 Hours | 2 and a half hours11-14 minutes for the speaking test |
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FAQs
The range of the CELPIP scoring band is between M – 12. M being the lowest and 12 being the highest.
M is the lowest score in CELPIP which means the candidate has minimal proficiency or insufficient information to assess.
The CELPIP General Test is a 3-hour long test.
This was all about the CELPIP. We hope we have answered all your queries regarding the same. If you need any assistance in preparing for the test or applying to universities in Canada get in touch with our experts at Leverage Edu. Sign up for a free session today!
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