| Skill | Who scores it | What they look at |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | A computer | Each question right or wrong, then adjusted for the form |
| Reading | A computer | Each question right or wrong, then adjusted for the form |
| Writing | Several raters | Four dimensions, across both tasks |
| Speaking | Several raters | Four dimensions, across all eight tasks |
The score report shows one CELPIP level per skill. There is no single average. What a level is worth for immigration is in what CLB levels mean.
Listening and Reading
A computer marks each scored question right or wrong. A blank is wrong. No person reads these answers, and the writing rubric is not used. A few questions are tryouts: they look like the rest, they can appear anywhere, and they do not count. You are not told which ones they are. The raw number of correct answers is not printed on the report. One form of the test can be slightly harder than another, so that number is adjusted before it becomes a CELPIP level. The same raw score is not automatically the same level on every form.
Listening
Six parts. Thirty-eight scored questions.
| Part | Name | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Listening to Problem Solving | 8 |
| 2 | Listening to a Daily Life Conversation | 5 |
| 3 | Listening for Information | 6 |
| 4 | Listening to a News Item | 5 |
| 5 | Listening to a Discussion | 8 |
| 6 | Listening to Viewpoints | 6 |
| Total | 38 |
| CELPIP level | Approximate score /38 |
|---|---|
| 10–12 | 35–38 |
| 9 | 33–35 |
| 8 | 30–33 |
| 7 | 27–31 |
| 6 | 22–28 |
| 5 | 17–23 |
| 4 | 11–18 |
| 3 | 7–12 |
The six parts are in Listening practice.
Reading
Same method as Listening. Four parts, thirty-eight scored questions.
| Part | Name | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading Correspondence | 11 |
| 2 | Reading to Apply a Diagram | 8 |
| 3 | Reading for Information | 9 |
| 4 | Reading for Viewpoints | 10 |
| Total | 38 |
| CELPIP level | Approximate score /38 |
|---|---|
| 10–12 | 33–38 |
| 9 | 31–33 |
| 8 | 28–31 |
| 7 | 24–28 |
| 6 | 19–25 |
| 5 | 15–20 |
| 4 | 10–16 |
| 3 | 8–11 |
The four parts are in Reading practice.
Writing
Raters score both tasks together, as one performance, so the report has one Writing level. Four to six raters work separately. They do not see each other's marks. If they disagree, one more experienced rater scores the same work without seeing the first marks. You stay anonymous, and the assignment is random.
- Task 1: Writing an Email
- Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions
What raters look at
| Dimension | The question | What feeds it |
|---|---|---|
| Content/Coherence | Are the ideas organized and actually developed? | How many ideas, how good they are, the order, and the examples |
| Vocabulary | Is the word choice wide enough, and does it sound natural? | The words you pick, whether they fit, range, and precision |
| Readability | Can someone read this straight through? | Paragraphs, connectors, grammar, spelling, and punctuation |
| Task Fulfillment | Did you do what the prompt asked, in the right tone? | Relevance, completeness, tone, and length |
Both tasks are in Writing practice.
Speaking
Same idea as Writing: all eight tasks are one performance and one Speaking level, and the formula that turns the four ratings into that level is not published. Three to five raters score independently. If they disagree, a further rater scores it without seeing the first marks.
- Giving Advice
- Talking about a Personal Experience
- Describing a Scene
- Making Predictions
- Comparing and Persuading
- Dealing with a Difficult Situation
- Expressing Opinions
- Describing an Unusual Situation
What raters look at
| Dimension | The question | What feeds it |
|---|---|---|
| Content/Coherence | Are the ideas organized and actually developed? | How many ideas, how good they are, the order, and the examples |
| Vocabulary | Is the word choice wide enough, and does it sound natural? | The words you pick, whether they fit, range, and precision |
| Listenability | Can someone follow you without working for it? | Rhythm, pronunciation, intonation, pauses, restarts, and grammar |
| Task Fulfillment | Did you do what the prompt asked, in the right tone? | Relevance, completeness, tone, and length |
All eight tasks are in Speaking practice.