CELPIP – What happens on the Test Day?

If you recently signed up for the CELPIP general test, you must be busy preparing. CELPIP evaluates a test taker’s English speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills and is used for permanent residence applications and professional designations. You may have already checked out the CELPIP-general online sample test and hopefully feeling good about your upcoming exam. Whether you joined a CELPIP preparation program, or have been studying on your own, it helps to know what exactly happens on the day of the test.

Information Session 

You should arrive 45 minutes before the exam start time to check in. If you don’t, you may not be allowed to write the test. Once you arrive at the centre, one of the staff from the test centre will give everyone a low down on the proceedings of the day. There will be other candidates there as well, so that should calm your nerves a bit. The staff will start by telling you the things you can and cannot bring into the centre. Items that are prohibited include phones, pens/pencils, paper, anything else they may specify. You can only take your ID (for example, your passport) and your bottle of water.

If the centre has lockers, you’d be asked to store your belongings in the locker; if not, they will have some other kind of storing facility for your things, which you will leave behind before entering the testing area.

Next, they will assign a random number to you, and when they call out that number, you will walk to them with your ID and a copy of the email that you must have received from CELPIP. The email must carry your registration number, type of test (general or LS), time, day, test location and so on.

Seating

Once the staff verifies your ID and your identity, they will walk you to your seat. Your table will be separated from the next person with a partition of some sort. You’d be asked to leave your water bottle at a designated area. After they seat everyone, they will go to each person separately to give instructions about how to log into the system. They will provide you with your login information. Please listen to them carefully.

Know that if you’re related to someone or know them well – a spouse, partner, relative or friend – the proctor will seat you two separately. The next step will be to check your headset. You should be able to hear the sample recording that will play and be able to record yourself as well.

Follow the rules

The proctor/s will tell you when it is time to start the test. However excited you may be, do not begin before they say so, or you may be disqualified. Don’t talk or discuss anything with the person next to you. The proctor will check once again if you’re carrying your phone or anything else you’re not supposed to. This is the second and last chance to come clean. If you are, now is the time to surrender those things. Use the washroom before the test starts. You can certainly go while the exam is underway but since the exam can’t be paused, you will be losing valuable time.

Be patient

Three hours is a long time to sit still, and the questions may seem endless, but the key is to remain patient and not rush through questions just because you’re bored. Remember, if you don’t get your desired scores, you may have to retake the test and go through the entire process again. And that will not be fun. Not only that, you will also have to spend another three-hundred dollars.

Listen to the instructions

Take the time to listen to the recorded instructions for every section. Not only are these instructions helpful, they also give you a little breather. Also, if you have finished a portion, wait for the timer to end on its own instead of skipping or clicking next because again, you want to give yourself all the break time you can. 

Revise

Once you’re done with a set of questions, don’t rush to the next. Some of the parts can be tricky, and at times when you re-read, you will see that your first choice wasn’t accurate. If you want to score well, you may want to keep some time to revise. Again, patience helps. Do not get pressured by others who may have finished their exam and are leaving the exam room. Take your time.  

Don’t skip any questions     

There’s no negative marking, so do not skip any questions. Attempt everything even if you don’t know the answer. Look at every section carefully before hitting next, scroll down fully.  Sometimes, in our haste or exhaustion, we may unsee parts. Be careful.

Zone out

The size of the test centre and the number of candidates usually decides the noise level in the room. You may be distracted during the listening test, especially when the headset isn’t a noise-cancelling one or others are excessively loud. This may happen even after the proctor may have already requested all candidates to speak softly. You have to find a way to zone out and focus on the task at hand. The key is not to get irritated.

Call for help 

If you need extra scrap paper to make notes, request for more. You can ask for as many as you want. If there are any issues with the machine or the headset, raise your arm and call for help. Do not try and fix things on your own. If the test has stopped abruptly, you may have to login again. But don’t worry, it will start from where you left off.

Once you’re done with the test, get the proctor’s attention. They will walk you out of the test centre. Collect your belongings and exit the facility quietly. That’s it. You’re done. Don’t overthink and work yourself up. Wait calmly for the results.

According to the recent announcement, you can now check your scores online within 4-5 business days. The hard copy of your scores will come in the mail in a week or ten days. 

If you’re having trouble with any of the components of the CELPIP test, consider joining a CELPIP Preparation program. Good luck.

CELPIP Writing Task Tips

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) Test allows test-takers to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language. CELPIP is entirely computer-delivered and can be completed in one sitting. There’s no need for setting up additional appointments, unlike IELTS, where candidates have to book the speaking component of the test on a separate day causing inconvenience. CELPIP also has the added advantage of not needing human interaction for the speaking test.

The CELPIP Test, which uses the English commonly spoken in Canada, consists of two versions: CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS.

The CELPIP-General Test consists of the following components, totaling about 3 hours:

· Listening (47-55 minutes)
· Reading (55-60 minutes)
· Writing (53-60 minutes)
· Speaking (15-20 minutes)

While the CELPIP-General LS Test contains of only two components: listening and speaking.

Tips for the Writing Section

The writing test has two tasks. In task 1, which is 27 minutes long, you will be asked to write an email in response to a situation. Task 2 is 26 minutes long, and you will be asked to respond to a survey and write about the option you chose and why.

Be Patient

Be patient throughout the exam and follow all the instructions. The exam is three hours long and will test you, but stay calm and try not to rush through the sections in frustration. Take the breaks the test gives you to think of your response. Apart from giving you a moment to collect your thoughts, these breaks also give you a breather.

Writing tip 1: Each time you feel getting frustrated with the length of the exam, take a deep breath, think of the larger purpose of taking the test and continue.

Make mental notes

Because there’s not much time before the start of every section, making mental notes for each question may help. Think about things like how should I open, what should I say in the next paragraph, then the next, then finally how I should close the letter.

However, if you’re more comfortable, you can scribble your thoughts in the paper the test centre will provide you with. Make a quick outline and write down all your ideas and thoughts in the order you will expand on them.

Also note that because the word limit is 150-200 words for task 1, don’t bother about starting with a greeting like dear sir and madam or a subject line. Neither do you need to close the letter with ‘regards’ or ‘yours faithfully.’ Focus only on the main content.

Writing tip 2: Make sure your sentences are monotonous. There should be variations. For example, don’t say: I am writing to you…I feel…I think. Instead, use variations like, Because this is a serious matter, I believe…or For the sake of this argument, let’s say…Essentially, use different sentence structures and vocabulary.


Grammar, Vocabulary, Word Choice

A good vocabulary, error-free writing, and appropriate word choices can get you higher scores.

Writing tip 3: To write better, you need to read more. Go your local library and pick up fiction or a non-fiction book and give yourself a week or a two-week deadline to finish the book before starting a new one. Note down words you find difficult to understand, learn their meaning and how to use them in a sentence. If you do this often enough, your communication will continue to become richer.


Word Count is important

As far as possible, stick to the word count limit. You may go over or under by about 5-10 words, but that should be the extent of it. The word count feature will only tell you the number of words. It won’t warn you that you have gone over. It’s your responsibility to keep an eye on it. The suggested word count limits are there for a reason. You can go under or above a little but as far as possible stick to the word count.

Writing tip 4: If you’re over the word limit, don’t panic. Go line by line and cut down anything that doesn’t contribute to the overall message.

Revise, revise, revise
Once you finish the section, go through it once or twice to catch any typos or spelling errors. When you keep some time for revision, you may notice things you may have missed earlier. Revising can help you reduce your mistakes if any. So don’t skip this part.

Writing tip 5: Take the CELPIP writing sample test that is available on the official paragon testing website. The first time, do it without revising or editing and check the score you get. The second time around, take the time to review. Also note the time it takes for you to finish the test.

Why CELPIP?

CELPIP is widely accepted and helps you prove English language proficiency for*:

a. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
b. Real Estate Council of Alberta and British Columbia (RECBC)
c. Association of Saskatchewan Realtors
d. Alberta Human Services – Child Care Staff Certification
e. BC Corrections
f. BC Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program
g. Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)
h. Professional Business Accountants’ Society of Canada
i. Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
j. TLC-Edmonton Training for Foreign Caregivers
k. Organizational employment requirements

Sign up for a CELPIP Prep Course

Whether you’re taking CELPIP for the first time, or are retaking the test to improve your scores, Ashton’s CELPIP preparation program is perfect for you.

Check out these blogs for tips on speaking, listening and reading components.

Why Ashton College?
· Our program focuses on each of the CELPIP Test components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking

· You become familiar and comfortable with the format before taking the test
· We only have small class sizes and experienced teachers, which ensures personalized attention
· In-class assignments improve your English language skills and vocabulary.
· Take-home exercises and assignments reinforce your learning
· Learn with other like-minded individuals

Enrol today and start working towards getting your desired CELPIP test score. Our Speaking module begins soon.

Other Useful Links- How to Study for CELPIP

CELPIP Reading Study Tips for Success

Both the CELPIP-General Test and the CELPIP-General LS Test can be challenging to non-English speakers. But it’s not something that can’t be fixed with some practice. Joining a CELPIP preparation program is also an effective way to get better at CELPIP.

In this blog, we will discuss tips for acing the reading part of the test.

CELPIP Reading

There are four parts in the reading task, which takes about 55 minutes to complete. You will get 10 minutes each to read each passage and answer the questions. As with the other questions, you won’t be able to go back to a section. Also keep an eye on the time on the right-side top corner, which ticks along. You don’t want to run out of time.

The four parts are reading correspondence, reading to apply a diagram, reading for information and viewpoints

Reading Part 1: Reading Correspondence

The following examples are from the free sample test that is available on the official CELPIP website.

The first part is reading correspondence. The message is on the left, and the questions are on the right side. Read the entire passage once before looking at the questions. Some of the options could be confusing. For instance, the fifth question: Maria and Jack are worried about…is slightly tricky. It could easily be option number 2, which is “Marco not speaking the language.” But if you read it a little carefully, you will know that the right answer is “Marco’s lack of experience,” which is evident when Maria says in the letter, “We think he’s so young to be so far away…” So remember, you may need to infer meaning in some of the cases, as not all options will be apparent.  

This section is followed by a “response to the message” by Mea. All the information you need is in the passage, but you still need to watchful. For example, look at the fill in the blank number 10. The right option is “he can’t use that now.” The reason for that is that from the letter Mea now knows that Marco is leaving Vancouver and moving to Tokyo, so a sofa won’t be the most appropriate present for him. But one could be confused with the other options as well because they all seem plausible. It’s up to you to extract the right information. So carefully read the passage a couple of times, don’t just skim.    

Reading Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram

For this section, you need to use more of your deduction skills because not everything is obvious. For example, let’s look at fill in the blank 1: Buses are the “least comfortable.” Now, this is not mentioned. We deduce this from the description. Things such as ‘no checked baggage, no washrooms, no stops, only morning trips to Seattle’ let us know that choosing to travel by bus will not be the most sensible decision. We also learn that train, though relaxed, isn’t a good option, because it costs more when compared to airfares. Plus the station is far from the hotel. The other options, apart from the station, were a parking lot, airport, and stop.

In the follow up section (fill in the blank 7), we figure the primary purpose of the trip is ”to speak at a conference,” because the first line of Peter’s message to Janice says, “You will find attached our presentation file.” So we know they are going to speak at the event. That way you can eliminate the other options that included, “To attend a business meeting,” “To visit a tourist attraction and To visit a doctor.”     

   

Reading Part 3: Reading for Information

Now the questions get progressively harder, passages longer. Again, the questions can be tricky here. For instance, fill in the blank 2: Narwhals are also referred to as death-like. The words “death-like” isn’t part of the passage, but if you read closely you can find that “corpse whale” is mentioned in the first paragraph. You will also notice that these are statements and that there are no drop-downs with options.

If we look at question number 8, it declares that the narwhal population is in jeopardy. Now, if you read though the passage again, you will realise that this is not addressed. Don’t panic. You can choose E, which means that the information is “not given in any of the above paragraphs.” It’s important to remember, you do have this option and should use it if you believe you can’t find the answer in the passage.

Reading Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints

This part, just like the last, could get challenging. For instance, the fill the blank 2, the right choice is “was inspired by his own successful experience as a student” could be easily replaced with “is part of medical treatment for overweight children with ADHD”. Having a decent vocabulary helps, especially when options are too similar. You will be able to differentiate between words like “produced, confirmed, contradicted, and yielded” etc.

However, drawing meaning from context is also a great strategy when you don’t know what the word means. For example, in the following screenshot of the comment by a visitor, say you don’t know the meaning of the word, “fade.” From context you can deduce that when students play for long periods, they will get tired; when students are tired, they will feel sleepy, hence fade could mean “being sleepy” or “not paying attention”.   

This section is followed by a response. In this case, it’s in the form of comments made by a visitor to the website page.

Answer to fill in the blank 1 is “bring exercise into the classroom,” and we know this by the last line in paragraph 1 that reads, “…he decided to infuse academic studies with physical activity in his own classroom.” Physical activity equals exercise, hence the choice. Sometimes you may get lucky and find that the current and the following or previous answers are closely connected. 

Consider filling in the blanks 8 and 9. Because the students are exercising more, they will be tired during the school day, and therefore the choice, “are most likely to fade,” and the next statement is…”It would be a mistake to,” and we know it should be “overwork the students prior to the end of a busy school day.”

When all else fails, that is, you have tried to infer the answer, eliminated the wrong choices, reread the passage, and are still unclear, then make a guess. Since there’s no penalty or negative marks for wrong answers, there’s no risk. 

Again, if any of this feels like too much work, you can save yourself some headache and join a CELPIP preparation program that is offered by many colleges and institutes in Canada and get better at all aspects of your English proficiency exam.

  

Tips for Success - CELPIP Test Writing Section

An important element of your application to come to Canada is proven English (or French) language skills to demonstrate your ability to communicate comfortably with others in the country. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada only accepts CELPIP as an English language proficiency test. 

To improve your chances of coming to Canada, you want to obtain a high comprehensive ranking system score (CRS). The CRS takes into consideration occupation, family status, age, language skills, amongst other things. If you do well on the language exam, your overall points will be higher, and therefore, your chances of being invited to apply for a permanent residency will increase as well.

The CELPIP measures your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Writing can be a challenging part of the exam when English isn’t your first language. We’ve assembled a few tips to help make the writing portion of the CELPIP test easier.

Format of the Writing Portion of the CELPIP Test

The writing section of the test is 53 to 60 minutes long and includes writing an email as well as responding to questions. These questions may consist of information from the listening and reading components. Therefore, you will want to remember some of the information you heard or read earlier in the exam to complete the written portion, but brand new information may be included in this part of the exam as well.

You will be asked to complete two tasks: writing an email and a written response to a question. This CELPIP sample test shows you what to expect. Each of the two sections in this CELPIP sample test is a little less than 30 minutes long. In the first section, you will write a short email in response to an unfortunate experience at a restaurant. In the second task, you will respond to a survey and choose one of the two options presented to you. You will need to explain your reasons for your choice.

The writing portion of the exam you take won’t be identical to this CELPIP sample test, but it will be similar in that the written sections will be about as long and will require you to think about situations in a similar way, gather your thoughts and write short communications. There are other CELPIP study materials available online that allow you to see CELPIP writing samples, practice, and understand what to expect from your exam.

Tips for Practicing and Doing Better on the Writing Portion of the CELPIP Test

There are many ways to improve your English writing skills and score higher on the writing portion of your CELPIP test.

Some of them are as follows:

-        Find news or popular culture information in English and read or listen to them. Spend several minutes writing about what you learned. Try to capture the main points of the information and any supporting points. When you are done, compare what you wrote to the passage you read or listened to for accuracy.

-        Begin an English correspondence with a friend and have them ask questions about things you both know about. Continue to write in English while clarifying information and responding.

-        Keep reading and writing. Reading properly-written English will improve your writing skills as it will illustrate correct word usage, sentence structure, grammar, and so on. Practicing writing will give you confidence in your writing skills, especially as your CELPIP test day approaches.

Enroll in a CELPIP Prep program

If you’re not feeling confident about your English writing skills as you get closer to your CELPIP exam, you might want to consider taking a CELPIP preparation program.

Many education institutions offer courses to help you prepare for your CELPIP test. Look up CELPIP Vancouver for preparation courses. The benefit of taking these courses is that they are specifically designed to help you do better with your English language skills. You can choose the module you want to focus on: writing, listening, reading, or speaking. Alternatively, you can register for all four modules.

Additionally, exam preparation courses include CELPIP sample tests, CELPIP study materials to work with in-class as well as on your own to practice with. You’ll be able to ask your instructor for help with the work you do in class and to turn to when you need help with something you might be working on at home.

Even if you don’t take a preparation course, make sure you practise with as many sample CELPIP tests as possible. Find sample tests at the site along with other study materials and guides to help you.

Taking a timed sample test on a computer (which is how you’ll take your CELPIP exam) will also help you determine your preparation levels. It will help you decide your next steps: whether to keep practicing on your own, or to join a CELPIP prep program, or register for the test.

Know that you may find the CELPIP test challenging, but also know that you have the option of giving the test again if you aren’t pleased with your scores. Good luck.

Which Test is Better: CELPIP or IELTS?

There is still an ongoing debate over which test is better: CELPIP or IELTS? Some test takers claim that CELPIP is the easier one out of the two. Eventually, it is up to you to see which test format you’re most comfortable with. Here are some of the reasons why CELPIP is so popular:  

·       CELPIP test is entirely computer-based, unlike the paper-based IELTS test. You won’t be as exhausted as you may be if you were to hand-write the entire three-hour long paper. Can you imagine the hand cramps?

·       Since there is no human interference, the test is less prone to errors. It also removes the human bias factor.

·       You can complete the test in a single sitting, including the Speaking Test. For the IELTS test, on the other hand, you’ll be asked to come the next day to take the speakisg section part of the exam. Inconvenient much?

·      You can get your results in 8 business days. However, if you need your scores urgently, you can choose the Express Rating option and get your test results in 3 business days.

·       Did you know that if you make a spelling mistake in the writing section, a red line will highlight the typos? Now that’s a life-saver.

·       CELPIP has flexible exam schedules, unlike IELTS where you may have to wait months to get a slot. You can also choose from multiple test centers as per your convenience.

How to prepare

Whether you are taking CELPIP for the first time, or are thinking of retaking the test to improve your scores, preparation is essential. Either you can practice on your own by using the many free and paid resources available on the official CELPIP website, or you can enroll in a CELPIP Preparation Program. Whichever path you choose, it is up to you to work hard and get your desired score. 

What should you look for in a preparation program?

The preparation program should focus equally on each of the CELPIP Test components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking

·       Make sure that the class sizes are small, and the teachers have years of experience behind them.

·       If possible, take a sample class before signing up to be sure that you’ll be receiving top quality instruction.

·       It will help if you get personalized attention from the faculty so that you can get all your questions and doubts answered.

·       If not already part of the program, insist on take-home exercises, which will reinforce your learning.

·       There should be several in-class assignments, which will improve your English language skills and vocabulary.

The CELPIP Test is widely accepted. It helps you prove English language proficiency for*:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), including Permanent Resident Status and Citizenship. | Real Estate Council of Alberta and British Columbia (RECBC) | Association of Saskatchewan Realtors | Alberta Human Services – Child Care Staff Certification | BC Corrections | BC Health Care Assistant (HCA) Program | Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) | Professional Business Accountants’ Society of Canada | Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission |TLC-Edmonton Training for Foreign Caregivers | Organizational employment requirements

*Refer to the IRCC website for the latest information regarding language requirements.


There are bound to be nerves before the test like it is before any test or exam. However, if you’re well prepared, CELPIP or IELTS should be a walk through the park. Best of luck. We know you’ll do well.

Study Tips for Doing Well on the CELPIP Test

Do you have a CELPIP test coming up? Are you starting to get nervous? Are you worried about how to prepare for the test? How you will do in the four CELPIP skills areas—listening, speaking, reading, and writing? We get it. Tests and exams of any kind make us anxious. Some people still have nightmares about giving a math test even years after having finished school. It never gets easy, but preparation can give you a lot of confidence. Follow these tips below and we promise, CELPIP will be a breeze.

CELPIP Skills Areas

Remember all four areas are equally important and that you can’t afford to take any section lightly. When you’re taking your sample tests, follow these guidelines and apply the same rules when you’re giving the test for real.

TIPS FOR THE WRITING SECTION

Read the Instructions

Follow all the instructions carefully and make sure you have answered all parts of the question. Sometimes when test takers are in a rush, they skip parts of the instructions and don’t realize their mistake until it’s too late.

Pro-tip: Slow down, take your time and be thorough.

Structure and Organize Your Writing

Start with a quick outline and write down all your ideas and thoughts in the order you will expand on them. Depending on the task: being asked to write an email or respond to a survey question, don’t forget simple things like addressing the person you’re writing to, the subject and the appropriate email closings.

Pro tip: Split your time between outlining, writing and revising. Keep enough time for each activity.  

Pay Attention to Grammar, Vocabulary, Word Choice

A wide range of vocabulary, error-free writing, and appropriate word choices will get you a higher score. CELPIP has a big advantage over IELTS here. If you make an error while writing, the screen will alert you about the mistake in the form of a red line. Isn't that great? So grammar and vocabulary. How can you improve these two areas?

Pro tip: A quick brush up on basic grammar helps. This easy to understand, helpful blog by Grammarly is awesome if you want a refresher without getting too bored.

Building vocabulary takes a little longer but isn’t impossible. Pick up a good book and note down all the words you have trouble understanding. Then go to dictionary.com, enter your word, note the meaning and see how they use it in a sentence. Do this exercise often enough and your vocabulary bank will be rich with new words in no time.   

Another great technique to use here is finding out the meaning of a word based on context. For example, look at this sentence from Monkey Beach, a novel by Eden Robinson: “…be sucking my thumb next—”. He looked around, furtively. Apparently, no one had heard. The hunters sat, stuffing themselves with this easy meal…fruit.

Now suppose you don’t know the meaning of the word “furtively”, let’s try to get the meaning from the context. This line is spoken by Ralph, one of the main characters in the book. Right after he says what he does, he looks around, as if he were embarrassed. So we can deduce that furtive might mean secretly. If you read a few lines before and after the word you don’t know the meaning of, in most cases, you will be able to use context to guess the meaning.   

Watch That Word Count

The suggested word count limits are there for a reason. You can go under or above a little but as far as possible stick to the word count.

Pro tip: You will find a word counter under every writing task. Use that as a way to keep a check on.

Always Revise

Keep enough time to revise. If you leave time to review your work, you will see things you missed the first time around. Revision alone can save you a lot of marks. So don’t skip this part.

TIPS FOR THE READING SECTION

Read, Read, Read

We can’t stress this enough. Read novels, magazines, short stories, articles, magazines, but not in your native language, in English. It will be exhausting at first but stick with it because by reading you pick up things subconsciously.

Pro Tip: If you’re not much of a reader, don’t go for 300-pager novels. Pick up thin ones that are around the 120-150 page mark, even around 200 pages. That way you won’t get overwhelmed.

Speed Read

There’s no reason for you to go through everything word by word. Even if you skim through, you should be able to answer the questions. Go through the entire text once, note down any important section/phrases/ideas that stand out for you. Then jump to the questions. This way you will save valuable time. 

Check out how the author of this blog learned to read 300% faster in 20 minutes.

Trust your Instinct   

If you have read and understood an article/essay, you will likely know the answers to most of the questions. Read out the list of answers and see if one matches yours, instead of referring to the text every time.

Check Before Moving On

Once you finish a section, make sure that you have answered all the questions. Even if you don’t know the answer to a particular question, select the one you feel has the highest probability of being right. Unlike some of the other competitive exams, there’s no negative marking in CELPIP, so it’s better to answer everything. It increases your chances of getting a better score.  

TIPS FOR THE LISTENING SECTION

It’s important you train your ears to understand the Canadian accent. Watch Canadian movies, TV shows, news, and radio shows, anything that features Canadian speakers. When you come to the listening section of the test:

Listen Carefully

This is the most obvious advice but still the most important. Since you cannot repeat an audio file, it is critical for you to pay attention. Try not to get distracted when the recording is playing. Stay focussed. Keeping notes helps, at least of parts you feel are important. You can use short forms/abbreviations of words to help you take notes faster.

Pro tip: Suppose you hear something you can’t understand, forget about it and focus on what’s being said next.  

Watch the Clock

Most sections are timed, so if you don’t know the answer to a particular section, take a guess and move on. There’s hardly a chance you will suddenly know the answer at the end to come back and make a selection. Most times you may forget to go back until it’s too late, so don’t take a chance.

TIPS FOR THE SPEAKING SECTION

CELPIP offers free, live, interactive lessons with their instructors to help prepare you for the speaking section. The sessions will teach you how to handle speaking test challenges and give you valuable tips specific to each Speaking Task.

Talk English, Walk English, Eat English

Since CELPIP tests your ability to use English in everyday situations, the best way to prepare for the speaking test is to talk in English as much as possible. Talk to bus drivers, sales clerks, café staff, friends, and family; anyone you can find. Because the more you speak, the more confident you will become.

Pro Tip: Unlike IELTS where an examiner converses with you, CELPIP is delivered entirely through a computer, including the speaking test. You can use your phone as a recording device and speak into it so you can be used to having a non-human test experience.

Take Your Time

Just like we do in real life, take a few seconds to figure out how you’re going to respond to a question.

Talk Clearly and Slowly

Even if you’re feeling nervous, try to speak calmly. Before you start the test, you will be asked to test the recording device. This is when you figure out what volume, the speed you want to talk at. Also how far or close you want to be to the microphone. And most importantly, answer all the prompts as well as you can. Prompts are timed, so remember to stay on topic and not ramble. If you catch yourself doing that, pull back and return to the topic.

Reduce Filler/Favorite Go-To Words

When you’re taking the speaking test, it’s important to not use too many filler words: umm, like, actually, you know, right, O.K., so etc.; you get the idea. The point is to show you’re comfortable speaking English. Again, that comfort and confidence will only come when you talk in English often with different people.

Do Not Try To Change the Way You Speak

Putting on an accent is never advisable so don’t try to speak like a “Canadian” or an “American”. You may end up losing marks. Speak the way you normally speak and just focus on speaking correctly.

Keep taking sample tests to get better, and don’t forget to time yourself. There are lots of resources online, but the official CELPIP website is your best for accurate information on everything about the test.

If you still need help with CELPIP preparation, you may want to look at prep courses, like the one offered by Ashton College. Once you're ready for your CELPIP exam, book it at one of Ashton Testing Services test centers located in Vancouver and Abbotsford, BC. 

Good luck. We know you’ll do well.