CELPIP-General vs CELPIP-General LS: Which Test Do You Need?
By Megan · Scores and immigration · Published · Updated · 6 min read
Paragon offers two versions of the CELPIP test for people dealing with IRCC, and the booking page asks you to pick one before anything else. Pick the wrong one and you pay for a result that IRCC cannot use for your application. This post is about that choice: what each test contains, which applications accept which test, and the situations where people most often get it wrong. Requirements change, so confirm the current rules on the IRCC website and the official CELPIP website before you book.
What is the difference between CELPIP-General and CELPIP-General LS?
CELPIP-General tests all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) in about three hours, and is the version IRCC accepts for permanent residence. CELPIP-General LS tests only Listening and Speaking in about an hour, and is intended for Canadian citizenship.
| CELPIP-General | CELPIP-General LS | |
|---|---|---|
| Skills tested | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Listening, Speaking |
| Approximate length | About 3 hours | About 1 hour |
| Main IRCC use | Permanent residence, including Express Entry, and other programs that need all four skills | Canadian citizenship |
| Typical requirement | Depends on the program, often CLB 5 or CLB 7 in every skill | CLB 4 in Listening and Speaking (applicants aged 18–54) |
| Fee | Higher | Lower |
| Scoring | Levels M and 3–12, each equal to the same CLB level | Same scale |
The Listening and Speaking sections are the same in both versions. The only thing CELPIP-General LS removes is Reading and Writing, which is exactly why it cannot replace the full test for programs that set a minimum in all four skills.
Which CELPIP test do I need for permanent residence?
CELPIP-General. Express Entry programs and most other permanent residence routes ask for a level in all four skills, so a Listening and Speaking result alone does not meet the requirement, however high it is.
This also applies if you only need CLB 4 or CLB 5 in Reading and Writing. Federal Skilled Trades, for example, sets a lower line for Reading and Writing than for Listening and Speaking, but it still needs a level in each of the four. Provincial Nominee Program streams set their own rules, so check your province's requirements, but expect them to ask for all four skills.
Which CELPIP test do I need for citizenship?
Either works, because citizenship looks only at Listening and Speaking. CELPIP-General LS is shorter and cheaper and is the usual choice. A CELPIP-General result also shows Listening and Speaking levels, and IRCC accepts it for citizenship even after it has expired, so you do not need to book a second test if you already have one.
Before booking anything, check whether you need a test at all. Citizenship applicants aged 18 to 54 generally need proof of language ability, but IRCC also accepts some other kinds of proof, such as certain education completed in English or French. The details are covered in our citizenship post and on the IRCC website.
Can I use a CELPIP-General LS result for anything other than citizenship?
Rarely. It is built for the citizenship requirement, and any program that sets minimums in Reading and Writing will not accept it. If an employer, regulator or school mentions CELPIP, ask them which version they accept before you book.
The same caution applies to CELPIP Online, the version taken at home. It uses the same format, but IRCC does not accept it for immigration or citizenship. For anything IRCC decides, book a test at a test centre and check the version on the booking page.
Which should I book if I need both permanent residence and, later, citizenship?
Book CELPIP-General for permanent residence now, and decide about citizenship when you get there. By the time you are eligible to apply for citizenship, your permanent residence result will almost certainly be older than two years, but IRCC accepts expired CELPIP results for citizenship, so it can still be your proof if Listening and Speaking are 4 or higher.
IRCC accepts CELPIP results for two years from the test date for permanent residence. For citizenship there is no time limit: IRCC accepts expired results. If you do need a new test for citizenship, CELPIP-General LS is usually enough.
- Applying for PR now: CELPIP-General.
- Applying for citizenship now, with no other plans for the result: CELPIP-General LS.
- Applying for citizenship and you already hold a CELPIP-General result, even an expired one, with 4 or higher in Listening and Speaking: you do not need a new test.
- Not sure which program you will use: CELPIP-General, because it covers every IRCC purpose that CELPIP-General LS covers.
Is CELPIP-General LS easier than CELPIP-General?
The Listening and Speaking sections are identical, so they are equally hard. CELPIP-General LS feels easier mainly because it is shorter and because the citizenship target, CLB 4, is lower than most permanent residence targets.
Shorter does not mean you can skip preparation. In Speaking, answers that stop after one or two sentences give the raters little to score, and a misunderstood question in Listening Part 1 or Part 5 can cost several answers at once. A few weeks of timed practice on the exact task types usually matters more than which version you book.
What mistakes do people make when choosing a version?
The most common mistake is booking CELPIP-General LS for a permanent residence application because it is cheaper and shorter. The result is a valid CELPIP result that IRCC cannot use for that application, and the fee is spent.
- Booking CELPIP Online for an IRCC application. It is not accepted for immigration or citizenship.
- Booking CELPIP-General LS for Express Entry, a PNP stream or another PR program.
- Booking a new test for citizenship without checking whether an old CELPIP-General result, even an expired one, or another accepted proof already covers it.
- Booking CELPIP-General for citizenship only, and paying for two extra sections you do not need.
- For a PR application, not checking whether the result will still be valid on the day the application is submitted.
Fees and cancellation rules differ by version and by country, and they change. Confirm the version name, the price and the cancellation terms on the official CELPIP website before you pay.
How do I know I am ready for the test I picked?
Measure your level in each skill the version tests, under real timing, and book when you are comfortably above the line you need rather than just at it.
For CELPIP-General LS that means Listening and Speaking practice only. For CELPIP-General, make sure Reading and Writing are not quietly below your target: many candidates focus on Speaking and find out on results day that Writing was the section that missed. The free CELPass diagnostic predicts a CLB for each section in about 25 minutes. It is an estimate from an independent practice site, not an official score.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take CELPIP-General LS and later add Reading and Writing?
No. Each test is a separate sitting with its own result. If you later need all four skills, you book and take the full CELPIP-General.
Does CELPIP-General LS use the same score scale?
Yes. Listening and Speaking are reported on the same M and 3–12 scale, and each level equals the same CLB level.
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.