What to bring
- One valid, unexpired, government-issued photo ID (passport, PR card, Canadian driver's licence)
- Your test confirmation email or registration number
- Water in a clear bottle (allowed in your locker, not at the station)
- Light layers. Test centres tend to be cold
What NOT to bring (or leave in your locker)
- Phone: off, in the locker
- Smart watches: not allowed, even in the locker at some centres
- Books, notes, and your own scratch paper. The centre provides scratch paper
- Food and drinks. They are not allowed in the test room. Eat before you arrive
What happens on arrival
- Check-in: ID verification, signature, photo taken by the invigilator
- Locker assignment for personal belongings
- Escort to assigned workstation with headset and mic
- Headset and mic test. Always do this carefully
- The test runs straight through: Listening, then Reading, then Writing, then Speaking
No scheduled break
CELPIP-General is one sitting of about three hours. There is no break between Reading and Writing. If you need the washroom, raise your hand and a supervisor will take you. The timer keeps running. If you are away from your computer for more than 20 minutes, the test can be ended. Use the washroom before you go in. A water break works the same way: the clock does not stop.
If something goes wrong
Raise your hand. Every workstation is monitored. Technical issues are logged and, in rare cases, the test is rescheduled free of charge. Never try to fix the computer yourself.