Hi there!
What is the CELPIP?
We know this is too sudden, but have you ever heard of “CELPIP“?
In the first place, you might already know the test because you are visiting our site just now.
CELPIP is simply an English language proficiency test in Canada.
Who will take CELPIP?

What are any English tests you know?
If someone ask you:

IELTS or TOFEL
We think you will answer that way.
However, possibly you’ve never heard of CELPIP test, because CELPIP is one of the tests required to prove English language proficiency to apply for PR (permanent residence) in Canada.
Who will take CELPIP test?
English Language Proficiency Test
English test required to apply for PR in Canada
In the previous chapter, We mentioned that CELPIP is one of the tests required to prove English language proficiency to apply for PR in Canada. Actually, There are TWO of the tests to prove English language proficiency.
They are CELPIP General and IELTS General Training.
Categories in Each Test
CELPIP and IELTS include the following categories:
CELPIP General:
- English language test to prove English proficiency in order to apply for permanent residence or to obtain a professional designation.
- Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking tests
CELPIP General LS:
- English language test to prove English proficiency in order to apply for Canadian citizenship or to obtain a professional designation.
- Listening and Speaking tests
IELTS General Training:
- English language test to prove English proficiency in order to apply for permanent residence or to obtain a professional designation in countries where English is the official language such as USA, UK, Australia, Canada and so on.
- Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking tests
IELTS Academic:
- English language test to prove English proficiency in order to enroll in University, College, or other post-secondary institutions in countries where English is the official language such as USA, UK, Australia, Canada and so on.
- Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking tests
It seems that some countries will replace IELTS Academic score with IELTS General Training when applying for PR. However, Canada only accepts CELPIP General and IELTS General Training scores as English language proficiency.
Format of Each Test
The format of the test is different between CELPIP and IELTS.
CELPIP
- Test Takers must perform all four skills in the CELPIP by computer (mouse click, typing, and voice input) in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
- You will take the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking tests, all in approximately 3 hours.
- You are able to reduce the test time to shorter than 3 hours at your own pace. You can proceed to the next screen by clicking on the “NEXT” button at the top right corner of the PC monitor screen. However, you CANNOT go back to the previous screen after you go to the next screen.
- Test Takers may progress in different sections of the test differently, which is why the sections they are answering will differ. For example, you may be in the middle of a writing test, but another candidate may be taking a speaking test.
- It could be that you have trouble concentrating because of the sound of others speaking.
IELTS
- You can now choose between Paper-based IELTS and Computer-delivered IELTS for the three skills of Listening, Reading and Writing. Of course you have to make a choice when you apply. You will NOT be able to make a choice on the day of the tests.
- You will be required to complete the three skills of Listening, Reading and Writing tests either by filling in answer sheets or typing in the computer, and Speaking test in person with Examiners. IELTS is a one-on-one test, so you won’t have the same difficulty concentrating with other people talking as CELPIP.
- You will take the Listening, Reading, and Writing tests in approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, and only take the Speaking test at a different time.
You are able to do “Copy & Paste” in CELPIP and Computer-delivered IELTS Writing test by typing on keyboard instead of writing by hand on the answer sheets. There is also a word count counter in the screen so you don’t have to count the number of words by yourself.
CELPIP
General |
CELPIP
General LS |
IELTS
General Training |
IELTS
Academic |
|
Listening | Computer | Computer | Computer or
Hand Writing |
Computer or
Hand Writing |
Reading | Computer | N/A | Computer or
Hand Writing |
Computer or
Hand Writing |
Writing | Computer | N/A | Computer or
Hand Writing |
Computer or
Hand Writing |
Speaking | Computer | Computer | In Person | In Person |
English Level Required to Apply for PR
CLB: Canadian Language Benchmark is a measure of the level of language.
There are many categories of immigration programs in Canada, including FSWP: Federal Skilled Worker Program and PNP: Provincial Nominee Program, which have different CLB Levels required. You need to check carefully the program you are going to apply.
CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
2 | 2 (M) | 2 (M) | 2 (M) | 2 (M) |
1 | 1 (M) | 1 (M) | 1 (M) | 1 (M) |
M: Minimal proficiency or insufficient information to assess
There are no CLB1 and CLB2 levels, both of which are “M” level.
CLB | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
11 | 9 | 8.5 | 8 | 8 |
10 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
9 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
8 | 7.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
6 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
5 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
4 | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
The official languages of Canada are English and French. Therefore, when you apply for PR, you can apply for the scores of the French proficiency test TEF Canada or TCF Canada as well as English.
You can apply as a Bilingual when you apply for PR, if you have proof of scores below:
- Proof of CLB7 or higher scores in English and proof of NCLC5 or higher scores in French
- Proof of CLB5 or higher scores in English and proof of NCLC7 or higher scores in French
The validity of the certificate for applying for PR is limited to two years from the date of tests.
CLB Descriptor
CELPIP LEVEL | CELPIP DESCRIPTOR | CLB DESCRIPTOR | CLB LEVEL |
11, 12 | Advanced proficiency in workplace
and community contexts |
Fluent advanced proficiency | 12 |
11, 12 | Advanced proficiency in workplace
and community contexts |
Adequate advanced
proficiency |
11 |
10 | Highly effective proficiency in
workplace and community contexts |
Developing advanced
proficiency |
10 |
9 | Effective proficiency in workplace
and community contexts |
Initial advanced proficiency | 9 |
8 | Good proficiency in workplace
and community contexts |
Fluent intermediate proficiency | 8 |
7 | Adequate proficiency in workplace
and community contexts |
Adequate intermediate proficiency |
7 |
6 | Developing proficiency in workplace
and community contexts |
Developing intermediate proficiency |
6 |
5 | Acquiring proficiency in workplace
and community contexts |
Initial intermediate proficiency | 5 |
4 | Adequate proficiency for
basic daily life activities |
Fluent basic proficiency | 4 |
3 | Some proficiency in limited contexts | Adequate basic proficiency | 3 |
M | Minimal proficiency or insufficient
information to assess |
Initial or developing basic proficiency | 0, 1, 2 |
Which one is better CELPIP or IELTS?
We feel like ☟
- Difficulty: CELPIP = IELTS
- Number of easy to solve questions: IELTS has more than CELPIP
- Non-response rate: CELPIP rate is fewer than IELTS rate
- Test time: CELPIP test time is shorter than IELTS test
- Test fee: CELPIP cost is cheaper than IELTS cost
We often heard that CELPIP is easier than IELTS.
Maybe it’s because CELPIP is in Canadian English only, but IELTS is in a variety of English accents such as British, American, Canadian, Aussie and so on. We think that’s true as far as the audibility of Listening test.
However, we don’t think either one is easy when we think about the whole tests and details.
Difficulty
Sample questions are available on the official website. You can also solve practice questions on the test preparation site, although most of them are paid for.
Personally, after trying several, I found the level of difficulty to be comparable in terms of grammar and the types of words in the questions.
Number of Easy to Solve Questions
We think less difficult questions and easier to solve questions are similar but different.
For example, in the Listening test, CELPIP is certainly easier to understand the accent. However, We think that IELTS is easier to answer in terms of the format of the test.
Because in the case of IELTS, you will be able to see the answer sheet or the answer PC monitor before you take the test. So you can imagine what you will be asked to do.
On the other hand, CELPIP is asked after you have heard the entire Listening test audio first. This means that you have no idea what you are going to be asked. So you have to make sure you don’t miss anything throughout the audio and conversation.
IELTS is easier to prepare for than the Canadian CELPIP because there are more related books and websites related to IELTS than the Canadian CELPIP.
Non-Response Rate
If you have a question you don’t understand, the difference is that if you have a question that you don’t understand, you can either answer it with blank, or you can answer it anyway.
In the case of CELPIP, the Listening test and Reading test are all 4-choice questions. Even if you don’t know the answer at all, if you choose one of them anyway, there is a 25% chance that you will get the correct answer.
In the case of IELTS, you will be asked to write or type specific numbers, proper nouns and words. Therefore, if you accidentally miss a question, you will have to give a blank answer or write it in a guess.
Test Time
In the case of CELPIP, you will take the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking tests all at once in approximately three hours.
The IELTS test takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes for Listening, Reading, and Writing tests, but the Speaking test takes longer if you include the waiting time. However, the Speaking test has a longer waiting time including the waiting time, which has the advantage of allowing more time between tests.
Test Fee
IELTS is depending on the region and venue, the fees may be higher.
CELPIP
- $280
IELTS
- $309.00 (Kitchener, Ontario only)
- $319.00 (all locations outside of Kitchener, Ontario)
- $324.00 (Computer-delivered)
Eventually, which one is better for you?
Test taker for whom CELPIP is suitable
- Test taker who wants to answer all the questions. (People who want to avoid blanks.)
- Test taker who is comfortable with Canadian English.
- Test taker who is comfortable with recording to a microphone in the Speaking test.
- Test taker who thinks that a cheaper test fee is better.
Test taker for whom IELTS is suitable
- Test taker who chooses the advantage of being able to take trends and measures based on the availability of relevant books and strategy sites.
- Test taker with a keen sense for predicting the content of questions from answer sheets.
- Test taker who prefers to do Speaking test with a real person.
- Test taker who wants the reassurance that IELTS is better known.
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