Competitive exams with flying colors are an important part of the application process if you want to go study abroad. Especially those that are needed to prove your knowledge of a certain language spoken in the country where you want to study. One such mandatory language proficiency exam is CELPIP.
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) is an English language test that candidates take to demonstrate their English language proficiency. This test is accepted by the Canadian government for immigration purposes. In addition, the English language proficiency test is also accepted by many colleges, universities, and other educational institutions in Canada. The test is administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises, a subsidiary of the University of British Columbia (UBC).
Do you know?
Canada has seen exponential growth in the number of Indian students year after year. According to Statistics, in 2021, 621,565 international students hold study permits for various levels of study. The number of international students in Canada studying only in higher education institutions is currently 388,782 students.
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What all is covered in this post?
To make it easier for you, we have created a quick guide to everything you need to know about the CELPIP exam.
What is the CELPIP exam?
CELPIP full form is the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program and is an English language test that allows test takers to demonstrate their ability to speak English. The CELPIP test is designed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for use by individuals applying for Canadian permanent resident status and citizenship.
This test is fully computer-delivered at our partner testing centers, takes approximately 3 hours to complete, and is completed in one sitting. The test is divided into 4 components: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Unlike other English proficiency tests, the CELPIP test does not involve a conversation with a person for the speaking component. Instead, you will respond to on-screen prompts for the oral portion of the test.
Since the test is completed on a computer, your results will be delivered within 4-5 days of the test date and your results will be delivered to you online.
It has 2 versions – CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS.
CELPIP General Test
The CELPIP Common Test is accepted by IRCC, the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, and the Real Estate Board of British Columbia. In the general CELPIP test, the candidate’s reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills are tested.
CELPIP-Common LS test
The CELPIP-General LS Test analyses the candidate’s functional listening and speaking skills. This LS test is taken by those who need proof of listening and speaking skills in order to obtain Canadian citizenship. The overall CELPIP test takes almost 3 hours to complete and can be completed in one sitting without a separate interview.
Why opt for CELPIP exam?
If you want to study in Canada and broaden your horizons there, you should take the CELPIP. It is a good alternative to IELTS/TOEFL tests. Below are some reasons why you should take the CELPIP test.
- Unlike other tests that take place in two slots, CELPIP can be attempted in one go.
- Although English is one language, it has many accents and not everyone can understand every one of them. CELPIP uses only one accent – the North American accent.
- You don’t have to wait for months or even weeks to get your results as you will get them in just 4-5 days.
- After registering for the test, you will receive free sample tests, preparation courses, and webinars.
Who accepts CELPIP exam scores?
CELPIP tests are accepted by various governments, professional organizations, colleges, and universities. You can take the CELPIP tests if you are looking for:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Canadian Citizenship
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Permanent Resident Status
- Start-up Visa Program
- Various Provincial Nominee Programs
Professional Organizations
- Alberta Human Services – Child Care Certification
- Association of Saskatchewan Realtors
- BC Corrections
- BC Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program
- Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)
- Professional Business Accountants’ Society of Canada
- Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA)
- Real Estate Council of British Columbia (RECBC)
- Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
Universities, Colleges, and Vocational Programs
- Alberta Institute of Massage
- Ascenda School of Management
- Ashton College
- Bow Valley College
- Canadian Arts & Sciences Institute
- Dalhousie University – UBC Certificate in Immigration: Laws, Policies and Procedures Program
- Gateway College Great Plains College
- MaKami College
- NorQuest College ELP (English Language Proficiency)
- Northern Lights College – Health Care Assistant
- Olds College
- Pace Canada College – Health Care Assistant
- Pacific Coast Community College
- Sprott Shaw College
- Think Tank Training Centre
- TLC-Edmonton Training for Foreign Caregivers
- Western Community College
CELPIP exam fees in India
The CELPIP test registration fee is Rs. 10845 plus taxes. To register for the CELPIP test, candidates must make the payment via Money Transfer. Registration for the CELPIP test closes one business day before the exam date or if the session is full, whichever comes first.
Express Rating Fee:
| Particular | Fees |
| Express Rating – General Test | $100.00 CAD + tax($150.00 CAD + tax for international testing) |
| Express Rating – General LS Test | $70.00 CAD + tax |
| Regular Rating – General Test and — General LS Test | Free |
CELPIP exam dates
CELPIP general test dates are available throughout the year, so you can choose your CELPIP exam date whenever it’s convenient for you. This test is currently available in three locations in India and the administration (Paragon Testing Enterprises) plans to add more test locations in India soon.
How to find CELPIP 2023 test date?
Both CELPIP General Test and CELPIP LS are administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises. Currently, only CELPIP general test is available in India. It is currently held in 7 states. Candidates can check the dates and register for the most convenient for them.
What ID is used to register for the CELPIP Common Test?
Candidates can use the following IDs to register for the CELPIP Common Test:
- Passport
- Refugee travel document
What ID to use in the test center?
- The document proving the candidate’s identity must be the same as the one he used during registration.
- Candidates must carry an original ID; a photocopy of the ID is not accepted.
- The ID must be valid and not expired.
CELPIP exam format and pattern
In this section, we will inform you about the format and pattern of CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS.
Exam pattern
| Exam Name | Components | Exam Time |
| CELPIP-General | ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking | 3 hours |
| CELPIP-General LS | ListeningSpeaking | 1 hour and 10 minutes |
Exam format
It is important to know the format to give yourself the best chance of getting a good score. In CELPIP-General LS, you will only do the Listening and Speaking components. The total test time for the CELPIP-General LS Test is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. On the other hand, the total time for the CELPIP general test is around 3 hours.
Listening- Total allotted time for this section is 47-55 minutes.
| Components | Number of questions asked |
| Practice Task | 1 |
| Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving | 8 |
| Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation | 5 |
| Part 3: Listening for Information | 6 |
| Part 4: Listening to a News Item | 5 |
| Part 5: Listening to a Discussion | 8 |
| Part 6: Listening to Viewpoints | 6 |
Reading: Total allotted time for this section is 55-60 minutes.
| Components | Number of questions asked |
| Practice Task | 1 |
| Part 1: Reading Correspondence | 11 |
| Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram | 8 |
| Part 3: Reading for Information | 9 |
| Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints | 10 |
Writing: Total allotted time for this section is 53-60 minutes.
| Components | Number of questions asked |
| Task 1: Writing an Email | 1 |
| Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions | 1 |
Speaking: 15-20 minutes is the total allotted time for this section.
| Components | Number of questions asked |
| Practice Task | 1 |
| Task 1: Giving Advice | 1 |
| Task 2: Talking about a Personal Experience | 1 |
| Task 3: Describing a Scene | 1 |
| Task 4: Making Predictions | 1 |
| Task 5: Comparing and Persuading | 1 |
| Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation | 1 |
| Task 7: Expressing Opinions | 1 |
| Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation | 1 |
CELPIP score chart
Candidates can check their CELPIP test results online within eight working days. Alternatively, those who need a CELPIP assessment a little earlier can choose Express Rating and receive their assessments online in three business days.
Applicants will be notified by email as soon as their CELPIP score is available. Candidates can access their results online in their CELPIP account. They can review the results for two years from the date of taking the test.
CELPIP listening score chart
| CELPIP Level | Listening Score (Out of 38) |
| 10-12 | 35-38 |
| 9 | 33-35 |
| 8 | 30-33 |
| 7 | 27-31 |
| 6 | 22-28 |
| 5 | 17-23 |
| 4 | 11-18 |
| 3 | 7-12 |
| M | 0-7 |
CELPIP reading score chart
| CELPIP Level | Reading Score (Out of 38) |
| 10-12 | 33-38 |
| 9 | 31-33 |
| 8 | 28-31 |
| 7 | 24-28 |
| 6 | 19-25 |
| 5 | 15-20 |
| 4 | 10-16 |
| 3 | 8-11 |
| M | 0-7 |
CELPIP results
Students can check their CELPIP results on their CELPIP accounts. You will get an official notification from the organization about your result. They can download the PDF of the test results and have access to it for 2 years from the CELPIP result declaration.
You can also apply for a hard copy of your results ($20 each) (INR 1,631), priority shipping, and re-scoring of your tests. The last of them is available only six months after passing the test.
Your result can be anything from NA-12. Here, NA stands for “Not Administered: Participant Did Not Take the Test” and 12 stands for “Increased Knowledge in the Workplace and Community Context.”
In Conclusion
So, here you have the tricky essentials of the CELPIP exam. We hope you have some clarity about the matter now. Although if you are preparing for the CELPIP exam, it is enough evidence that you have decided where you want to see yourself in the future, career decision is one of the most important things in your life and you may want to talk to industry experts. Know yourself in and out!
iDreamCareer is on a mission to reach every state and every child to ensure that talent is appropriately delivered to the industry.
Talk to our study abroad experts to know yourself in and out! We have helped several brilliant but confused minds to select their most-suited career choices. We have helped many students like Anjana Prasanna who was not very confident about her capabilities. Later with the help of career guidance and moral support from our study abroad experts she got an offer from King’s College London! We have also helped several brilliant but confused minds like Aayush, and Tapan to select their most-suited career choices.
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- A Guide to universities in Canada
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- EduCanada – Info on International scholarship opportunities for non-Canadians
- Waiting to be a Scholarship Awardee?
- Top 50 Scholarships for Indian Students
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FAQs
They both have the same difficulty level. The CELPIP test has a longer speaking and listening section than the IELTS, so if these are not your strong points, the IELTS exam has a better chance of success. When we compare the difficulty of CELPIP and IELTS, there is no obvious difference between them. Both exams are difficult and require a good level of English and serious preparation.
Each test taker’s performance, that is, the test taker’s responses to all tasks in the component, is evaluated by multiple raters. Each CELPIP speaking performance is assessed by a minimum of three speaking assessors and each CELPIP written performance is assessed by a minimum of four writing assessors.
CELPIP results are considered valid by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for two years from the date the results are released. If the CELPIP results become invalid, the affected candidate is removed from the pool and will not be eligible for an ITA for permanent residence.
Anushree has 4+ years of experience in the career counseling industry as a Senior Content Writer. She has also worked as a Social Media Marketing Expert for a startup and Content Quality Analyst for Publishing and E-learning Industry. She has done her Master’s in Commerce and PGDM in Finance & Trade and Marketing & HR, but she is currently following her passion for writing.
Thanks for the blog.