How the CELPIP Test Has Changed: The 2015 Format vs Today
By Natania · Study tips · Published · 4 min read
CELPIP-General has been a computer-delivered, three-hour test of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking for over a decade, but its format has not stood still. In 2015 the Listening test had eight possible parts, of which you were given seven, and the Reading test ended with a separate unscored part. Today Listening has six parts and Reading four. If you are using an older prep book, video or practice test, it helps to know what changed so you practise the test you will actually take. This post compares the 2015 format, as Paragon published it, with the current one.
Has the CELPIP test format changed?
Yes, mainly in Listening. The 2015 test drew seven of eight Listening parts, including two short-question parts that no longer exist; today's test has six fixed parts. Writing, Speaking and the level scale are largely the same.
| Component | 2015 | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 47 minutes; 8 possible parts, 7 given | About 47–55 minutes; 6 parts, 38 questions |
| Reading | 60 minutes; 4 scored parts plus an unscored Part 5 (8–11 items) | About 55–60 minutes; 4 parts, 38 questions |
| Writing | 53 minutes; email and survey response | About 53–60 minutes; email (27 min) and survey response (26 min) |
| Speaking | 20 minutes; practice task plus 8 tasks | About 15–20 minutes; practice task plus 8 tasks |
| Total | 180 minutes | About 3 hours |
How has CELPIP Listening changed since 2015?
Two short parts were dropped. In 2015 Listening could start with Identifying Similar Meanings and Answering Short Questions, eight questions each, and you did not know in advance which seven of the eight parts you would get. The other six parts are today's whole test, in the same order.
| 2015 part | Questions | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1: Identifying Similar Meanings | 8 | No longer in the test |
| Part 2: Answering Short Questions | 8 | No longer in the test |
| Part 3: Listening to Problem Solving | 8 | Part 1 |
| Part 4: Listening to a Daily Life Conversation | 5 | Part 2 |
| Part 5: Listening for Information | 6 | Part 3 |
| Part 6: Listening to a News Item | 5 | Part 4 |
| Part 7: Listening to a Discussion | 8 | Part 5 (the video) |
| Part 8: Listening to Viewpoints | 6 | Part 6 |
Those six parts add up to 38 questions, the number on today's test. The current test may still include unscored questions used for research, mixed in so you cannot tell which they are.
How has CELPIP Reading changed since 2015?
The four scored parts are the same, with the same question counts: Correspondence (11), Applying a Diagram (8), Information (9) and Viewpoints (10). What changed is the unscored material: in 2015 it was a separate Part 5 of 8–11 items, inside a 60-minute section.
Even then, Paragon said the unscored items could appear anywhere and look like any other part, so the advice is unchanged: give every question your full effort, because you cannot tell which ones count.
Have CELPIP Writing and Speaking changed?
Very little. The 2015 test had the same two Writing tasks, an email and a survey response, and the same practice task plus eight Speaking tasks, from Giving Advice to Describing an Unusual Situation.
That makes older Writing and Speaking material the most reusable part of any old prep book: the task types, structure and timing advice still apply. Check that a sample answer fits today's word range of 150–200 words.
Has CELPIP scoring changed?
The scale and descriptors from 3 to 12 are the same, still matched one to one with CLB levels. The bottom of the scale changed: in 2015 everything below 3 was reported as M, while the current chart separates levels 2, 1 and 0 and adds NA for a component you did not take.
Are old CELPIP practice materials still useful?
Partly. Writing and Speaking practice carries over almost completely, and so do the Reading parts. Skip any practice for the old Listening Parts 1 and 2, and do not use an old full test to judge your timing or level.
- Useful: Speaking and Writing prompts, Reading passages, and the Listening parts that still exist.
- Not useful: Identifying Similar Meanings and Answering Short Questions practice.
- Misleading: old full-length tests, whose section lengths and question counts no longer match the real test.
- For a reliable level check, use a current official practice test or a mock test built on today's format.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CELPIP test still about three hours?
Yes. It was 180 minutes in 2015 and is about three hours today, all four components in one sitting.
Was CELPIP on paper in 2015?
No. CELPIP-General was already completely computer-delivered at a test centre, and you needed to use a mouse and keyboard.
Keep reading
CELPass is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Paragon Testing Enterprises. CELPIP is a trademark of Paragon Testing Enterprises. Check the official CELPIP website and IRCC for current test rules and requirements.