By CELPIPOnlineTests.com
CELPIP General runs in this order: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The test takes just under three hours on a computer at a test centre. The tables below show section times and question counts, followed by the tasks and test-day rules. General LS includes only Listening and Speaking.
Formats can change, so check the official CELPIP test format page before you book. If you are new to CELPIP and want the bigger picture first (who accepts it, how scoring works), start with our complete CELPIP test guide.
CELPIP test format at a glance
Listening and Reading are multiple choice. Writing and Speaking ask you to produce your own answers under a timer. Check-in comes on top of the test time.
| Section | What you do | Time allotted | Questions or tasks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | Listen to recordings across six parts and answer questions | 46 to 55 minutes | 38 questions in 6 parts |
| Reading | Read a message, a diagram, an information text and viewpoints | 43 to 56 minutes | 38 questions in 4 parts |
| Writing | Write an email and respond to a survey question | 53 minutes | 2 tasks |
| Speaking | Record answers to on-screen prompts through a headset | 15 minutes | 8 tasks |
CELPIP publishes the Listening and Reading times as ranges rather than fixed numbers, so your sitting may run a few minutes shorter or longer than someone else's. Every section runs on its own timer, which stays on screen.
CELPIP General and CELPIP General LS
General LS is the two-skill version used for Canadian citizenship. Its Listening and Speaking sections have the same parts, questions and timings as CELPIP General, and the whole test takes about 70 minutes.
| Test version | Skills | Total time | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CELPIP General | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Just under 3 hours | Permanent residence, Australian visas and professional designation |
| CELPIP General LS | Listening and Speaking | About 70 minutes | Canadian citizenship |
For Express Entry, IRCC says you must take CELPIP General, not General LS. You can confirm this on the IRCC Express Entry language test page, and our General vs General LS comparison covers the differences in more detail.
CELPIP Listening format
Listening comes first. You hear recordings of everyday situations, each played once, and answer multiple choice questions. You also have to read the answer choices on screen, so reading speed matters here too.
| Part | Questions | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Listening to Problem Solving | 8 | 8 min |
| Part 2: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation | 5 | 5 min |
| Part 3: Listening for Information | 6 | 6 min |
| Part 4: Listening to a News Item | 5 | 5 min |
| Part 5: Listening to a Discussion (video) | 8 | 9 min |
| Part 6: Listening to Viewpoints | 6 | 8 min |
Because you cannot replay the audio, take short notes on names, choices, reasons, numbers and changes of opinion rather than trying to write every word. If you are unsure of an answer, choose the best option and move on so you are ready for the next recording. Our CELPIP Listening tips cover note-taking for each part, and a timed CELPIP Listening practice test gets you used to hearing each recording only once.
CELPIP Reading format
Reading has four parts, and each part has its own timer. The questions ask you to find details, follow the main idea, make inferences and match reworded meaning to the text.
| Part | Questions | Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Reading Correspondence | 11 | 11 min |
| Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram | 8 | 9 min |
| Part 3: Reading for Information | 9 | 10 min |
| Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints | 10 | 13 min |
Pace yourself against the clock for the part you are on, not the whole section. Locate the evidence for a question, read it closely and then compare the answer choices. Part 4 has the longest timer; our Reading Part 4 guide covers it in detail, and the CELPIP Reading tips explain how the approach changes for the other parts.
CELPIP Writing format
Writing has two timed tasks. Official CELPIP study materials give 27 minutes for Task 1 and 26 minutes for Task 2, and suggest 150 to 200 words for each. You type your answers, and the screen shows a timer, a word counter and spell-check. For email and survey structures you can adapt, see our CELPIP Writing templates with sample answers.
| Task | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1: Writing an Email | 27 minutes | Write an email that covers every point listed in the prompt, in a tone that suits the reader |
| Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions | 26 minutes | Choose one of two options and explain your choice with reasons and detail |
Each task has its own clock. One workable split is about 5 minutes to plan, 17 to 18 minutes to write and the last 4 minutes to check that you covered every point. For how the tasks are rated, see the CELPIP Writing test guide.
CELPIP Speaking format
Speaking is recorded through a headset, not with a live examiner. For each task you read a prompt on screen (some include a picture), get a short preparation time, then record your answer. When the time runs out, the screen moves on by itself. Other test takers may be speaking in the room at the same time, which is normal.
| Task | What you need to do | Prep | Speak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Giving Advice | Help someone solve a problem | 30 sec | 90 sec |
| 2. Talking about a Personal Experience | Describe something that happened to you | 30 sec | 60 sec |
| 3. Describing a Scene | Describe the people, places and actions in a picture | 30 sec | 60 sec |
| 4. Making Predictions | Say what is likely to happen next in the same picture | 30 sec | 60 sec |
| 5. Comparing and Persuading | Choose between two options, then persuade someone | 60 sec to choose, then 60 sec | 60 sec |
| 6. Dealing with a Difficult Situation | Handle an awkward situation politely | 60 sec | 60 sec |
| 7. Expressing Opinions | Give and support your view on a question | 30 sec | 90 sec |
| 8. Describing an Unusual Situation | Describe an unusual object or scene to someone who cannot see it | 30 sec | 60 sec |
The CELPIP Speaking test guide explains what a strong answer looks like for each task, and the CELPIP Speaking practice tests use the same preparation and recording timers.
Do all CELPIP questions count toward your score?
No. The Listening and Reading sections may include unscored items used for test development. They look exactly like scored questions and can appear anywhere in those two sections, so you cannot tell which ones they are. Give every question the same effort.
How the sections are scored
You receive a separate CELPIP level for each skill. Listening and Reading are scored by computer, and a blank answer counts as wrong, so always choose an option. Speaking is scored by trained raters, and CELPIP describes Writing scoring as an AI-human hybrid that its raters review. Your report also includes an average, but IRCC uses the individual results. Our complete CELPIP guide explains how levels map to CLB, and the CELPIP score you need for Canada PR sets out the minimum for each Express Entry program.
What happens on CELPIP test day
The official test-day instructions require arrival 45 minutes before your test. Check-in closes 15 minutes before the scheduled start. Late arrivals are refused entry without a refund or transfer.
- At check-in, staff scan your ID and take your photo, which is printed on your score report.
- Store everything except your ID in a locker or belongings bag, with electronic devices switched off.
- Sit at your workstation and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Complete Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in order, each on its own timer.
- Return your pen and notepaper when you finish. Your scores appear in your CELPIP account, usually in 2 to 4 business days.
What to bring and what the test centre provides
Bring the original, valid, unexpired photo ID you used to register, and your test confirmation email in print or on a device. The name on the confirmation email must match your ID exactly. Photocopies and expired documents are refused, and you will not get a refund or transfer. Check the accepted ID for your country on the official CELPIP test day page.
The test centre provides the computer, a standard QWERTY keyboard, a headset with a microphone, a pen and notepaper. You do not need to bring your own headset.
Breaks, food and test day problems
The test does not pause for any reason. If you need the washroom or more notepaper, raise your hand. Staff will escort you and run another security check when you come back, but your time keeps running, and your test ends if you are away from your workstation for more than 20 minutes. Use the washroom before check-in.
Eating, drinking and chewing gum are not allowed in the test room. If you need drinks, snacks or accessibility equipment during the test, submit a special accommodations request and get it approved in advance. CELPIP asks for at least two months' notice.
How to practise for the CELPIP format
Practise on a computer with headphones, type your Writing answers, and record your Speaking answers so the setup feels normal on test day. Use timed practice for each section, then take a full CELPIP General mock test in Exam Mode, which keeps strict timers, to check your pacing and stamina in the official order. For a day-by-day schedule that builds this in, follow our 30-day CELPIP study plan.
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