The CELPIP General and CELPIP General LS grading

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) is a fully computerized language test designed to assess candidates' English level.

Preparation for CELPIP

This exam primarily assesses candidates' communication skills in both professional and everyday contexts. The skills tested are as follows:

• Listening (General & LS) = 38 questions – approximately 55 minutes
• Reading (General) = 38 questions – approximately 60 minutes
• Writing (General) = 2 tasks – approximately 60 minutes
• Speaking (General & LS) = 8 tasks – approximately 20 minutes

The candidate will receive a result for each skill tested, as well as a final score. For each section of the test, the score can be:

• N/A (= not administered): the candidate did not take this section of the test.
• M (= minimum competence): the candidate's level is too low to be assessed.
• between 3 and 12: 3 being a low level, and 12 being an advanced level.

Test results are available online via the candidate's CELPIP account within 4 to 5 business days after taking the exam. An email notification will be sent to the candidate as soon as their score is available: they can then download it in PDF format or view it via their CELPIP account for a period of 2 years.

Listening

The Listening exam consists of 38 questions. A correct answer is worth 1 point; an incorrect answer is worth no points. It is therefore possible to obtain a total of 38 points on this test. This result is then reduced to a score of 12, which corresponds approximately to:

This table is an example: question difficulty levels may fluctuate, and therefore the final raw score for a given level may vary slightly from test to test.

Reading

The Reading exam consists of 38 questions. A correct answer is worth 1 point; an incorrect answer is worth no points. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a total of 38 points on this test. This result is then reduced to a score of 12, which corresponds approximately to:

This table is an example: question difficulty levels may fluctuate, and therefore the final raw score for a given level may vary slightly from test to test.

Writing

For this section, 4 points will be assessed:

• the content and coherence of the writing: the organization of ideas and the use of examples.
• the vocabulary used: relevance, correct use, level.
• readability: paragraph formatting, use of linking words and transitions, spelling, punctuation.
• the execution of the various tasks: compliance with instructions, tone used, number of words, relevance.

This section is marked by a qualified examiner, trained to apply the standard marking scheme to mark the candidate. He or she will then give a score of M (= minimum proficiency) or from 3 to 12 for this section.

Speaking

For this section, 4 points will be assessed:

• the content and coherence of the writing: the organization of ideas and the use of examples.
• the vocabulary used: relevance, correct use, level.
• expressive skills: rhythm, pronunciation, intonation, use of interjections, self-correction, grammar and sentence structures.
• the execution of the various tasks: compliance with instructions, tone used, length of intervention, relevance.

This section is marked by a qualified examiner, trained to apply the standard marking scheme to mark the candidate. He or she will then give a score of M (= minimum proficiency) or from 3 to 12 for this section.

Understanding your score