Last Updated: December 10, 2023
CELPIP - Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program or the CELPIP is an English language exam taken by people looking for permanent residency, citizenship, or professional designation in Canada. This test is accepted by the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) as proof of English language proficiency for immigrants and for people looking to get Canadian citizenship. CELPIP is also accepted by many colleges, universities, and professional organizations in Canada.
There are two types of CELPIP tests offered. The type of CELPIP test to be taken by a candidate depends upon the purpose of taking the test. The two CELPIP tests are:
CELPIP General Test
This test is taken by applicants looking to immigrate to Canada for education, permanent residency, and professional purposes. This test tests the English language proficiency in four areas, namely Speaking, Reading, Listening, and Writing.
CELPIP - General LS Test
This test is taken by people looking to get Canadian citizenship. Some professional organizations may also require taking the CELPIP - General LS test. This test tests English language proficiency in two areas, namely Speaking and Listening.
CELPIP Test Format
CELPIP is a computer-based test that is administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises. Candidates are tested on all the sections at the time of the test. Unlike other tests like IELTS, candidates don't need a separate appointment for the Speaking section.
The test is based on everyday conversations in a North American accent. The English is simple, aiming to evaluate the basic communication and comprehension skills of the candidate.
CELPIP - General Test Format
The time allotted for the CELPIP - General test is around 3 hours. There are four sections and each section is allotted a specific amount of time.
- Listening section This section is 47-55 minutes long and consists of 6 tasks. The candidate will listen to the questions and select the correct answer choice by reading the available options.
- Reading section This section is 55-60 minutes long and consists of 4 tasks.
- Writing section This section is 53-60 minutes long and consists of 2 tasks. The first task includes writing an email and the second task includes responding to a survey.
- Speaking section This section is 15-20 minutes long and consists of 8 tasks. The candidates have to read the questions and speak out the answers.
CELPIP - General LS Test Format
The time allotted for the CELPIP - General LS test is around 1 hour and 10 minutes. There are only two sections. The time division among these two sections is given below:
- Listening section This section is 47-55 minutes long and consists of 6 tasks. The candidate has to listen to the questions and select the correct answer choice by reading the options available.
- Speaking section This section is 15-20 minutes long and consists of 8 tasks. The candidate has to read the questions and then speak out the answers.
Registration for the CELPIP
Registration for either of the CELPIP tests can be easily done online or in person. In-person registration can only be done in Canada since the Paragon offices are located in Vancouver and Toronto. The registration for the test has to be done beforehand.
There is no registration done at the testing site.
Documents required for registration
Any
one of the following photo IDs are accepted for registering for the CELPIP test:
- Valid Passport booklet
- Refugee travel document
- For US citizens, US passport card
- For China residents, China resident ID card
US Passport Card
- For UAE citizens, Emirates ID
If registering for non-immigration or non-citizenship purposes, then any
one of the following documents would
also be accepted:
- Canadian driver's license
- Canadian Provincial identification card
- Canadian permanent resident card
The document used by the candidate at the time of registration has to be brought by them to the test center for verification purposes. Failure to produce the original document proof used for registration will lead to the candidate being denied to take the test.
CELPIP Testing Locations and Fee
CELPIP - General test is offered internationally in many countries and more and more centers are being added constantly. Currently, the test is offered in 22 countries including Canada. There are many testing locations available in these countries. CELPIP - General LS test, on the other hand, is only offered in Canada since it is mostly for candidates looking to get Canadian citizenship.
The registration fee for the CELPIP - General LS test is CAD 195.
The registration fee for CELPIP - General test is:
| Country | Cost |
| Canada | CAD 285 |
| Mexico | MXN $3,799 |
| Brazil | BRL $905 |
| Hong Kong | CAD 335 |
| Qatar | CAD 435 |
| Sri Lanka | CAD 240 |
| Nepal | CAD 230 |
| Saudi Arabia | CAD 460 |
| Kuwait | CAD 360 |
| Bangladesh | $232 |
| Pakistan | $195 |
| Japan | ¥25,000 |
| Nigeria | ₦76,000 |
| Australia | AUD 355 |
| United Kingdom | GBP £170 |
| Republic of Korea | CAD 273 |
| Singapore | CAD 310 |
| UAE | CAD 340 |
| Philippines | CAD 235 |
| India | ₹12,500 |
| China | CAD 360 |
| USA | CAD 285 |
Procedure at the time of the test
Candidates are expected to arrive at the test center at least 45 minutes before the start time. Candidates arriving after 15 minutes before the test time will not be allowed to take the test and there will be no refunds.
Candidates will have to show the original photo ID upon check-in which should be the same one used for registration. The card will be scanned for verification. The email or printed proof of the appointment has to be shown as well.
Upon verification, which also includes taking a photo of the candidate, the candidate will have to deposit all of their personal belongings in a locker, except the photo ID which has to be visible on the candidate's desk at all times.
There are no breaks built into the test time and once the candidate starts the test, the timer will not pause for any reason. If the candidate takes a break, the timer will tick on.
CELPIP Scores
The CELPIP score is available in 4-5 calendar days after taking the test. It is a scaled score calculated from the raw score achieved by the candidate in each component. The score can be any of the following values:
- NA: which means the candidate did not take that component.
- M: which means minimal proficiency or insufficient information to score the candidate.
- 3-12: where 3 is for some proficiency in limited contexts and can vary up to 12, which means advanced proficiency in workplace and community contexts.
The score can be accessed online by logging into the CELPIP account. The candidate will get an email notification when the results are available. The results can be downloaded and printed to send it over to third-party organizations. The test results can be accessed for 2 years from the date of the test.
A hard copy of the test can be requested for a fee of CAD 20 per copy. The report is sent via Canada Post's standard delivery service. There is an option to request priority shipping which costs more depending upon the address where the report is being shipped to. A tracking number is provided in this case.
Re-evaluation of CELPIP score
The candidate can request for re-evaluation of the CELPIP scores in any number of components they want within 6 months of taking the test. A single component can be re-evaluated only once. Once a re-evaluation request has been submitted, it cannot be rescinded and it takes up to 2 weeks to get the result of the re-evaluation. There is an additional cost associated with requesting a re-evaluation which is refunded in case the score changes in that component.
Rescheduling/Cancelling the testing appointment
If the candidates wish to reschedule the test to a different day/time, or location or to cancel the appointment, they need to notify Paragon at least 7 calendar days before the test day. If the cancellation is done 9 calendar days before the test day, the candidate will be eligible for a 50% refund of the registration fee. If the testing appointment is rescheduled 7 calendar days before the test date, they are required to pay a transfer fee of $50.
In case the cancellation is done less than 7 calendar days before the test date, the candidate is not eligible for any refund. In case of rescheduling the testing appointment, the candidate might be allowed to reschedule their test, even if they request so less than 7 calendar days before the test date, if the request is accompanied by a genuine document to support the transfer, for example, a medical condition.
Retaking CELPIP test
Candidates have to wait for a minimum of 4 calendar days between two test attempts although it is advisable to prepare for the test again before taking another attempt.
