CELPIP Speaking: How to Go From CLB 9 to CLB 10
By David · Speaking · Published · 7 min read
At CLB 9 your Speaking answers are already clear, organised and complete. CLB 10 is the level where a rater stops noticing the effort: ideas come with nuance, words land exactly, delivery sounds like natural conversation and the answer finishes cleanly as time runs out. The gap is small, which is exactly why it is hard to close by doing more of the same practice. This post shows what changes on each of the four Speaking dimensions, with original CELPass before-and-after examples, then gives a focused routine and an honest look at whether the extra level is worth it for you.
What changes between CLB 9 and CLB 10
Speaking is rated on Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability and Task Fulfillment. A CLB 9 speaker usually does everything the task asks. A CLB 10 speaker does it with more depth and less visible effort. The table is our practical summary from practice answers, not an official rubric.
| Dimension | Typical CLB 9 answer | Typical CLB 10 answer |
|---|---|---|
| Content/Coherence | Two or three developed points in a clear order | Points that build on each other, with a qualification or trade-off |
| Vocabulary | Accurate, varied everyday words | Precise, idiomatic words chosen for the listener and situation |
| Listenability | Clear, with occasional pauses, fillers or small slips | Smooth rhythm, natural stress and intonation, quick self-repair |
| Task Fulfillment | Covers every part, uses most of the time | Covers every part for the specific listener and lands the close on time |
Content/Coherence: add nuance, not more points
At CLB 9, most answers have a solid structure: opening, two developed points, a close. To go further, make the points connect and show that you have weighed the situation. A short qualification ("that said", "the only catch is") signals mature reasoning without adding length. Here is one point from a Task 7 opinion answer on whether workplaces should switch to a four-day week.
- Before (around CLB 9): "I agree with a four-day week because people will have more rest. When people rest more, they work better, so the company will also benefit."
- After (around CLB 10): "I'm in favour, mainly because rested people make fewer mistakes. My cousin's accounting firm tried it last spring, and what surprised them wasn't the morale boost, it was that error rates went down. That said, it only works where the workload can actually be squeezed into four days; I can't see it working for a hospital ward without hiring more staff."
The second version has the same opinion, but it gives a concrete example, an unexpected angle and a limit on the claim. That is what depth sounds like in 90 seconds.
Vocabulary: choose the exact word for this listener
CLB 9 vocabulary is varied and correct. CLB 10 vocabulary is precise and natural: phrasal verbs and idioms used the way people actually use them, and words chosen to suit the person you are talking to. Rare words are not the goal. A misused idiom costs more than a plain word.
| Around CLB 9 | Around CLB 10 |
|---|---|
| The apartment is cheaper, so you can save money. | The rent's about $300 lower, so you'd finally be able to build up an emergency fund. |
| The park is very busy and many people are there. | The park is packed: every bench is taken and there's a line snaking back from the ice-cream truck. |
| I think the man will be in trouble with his boss. | I suspect he's about to get an earful from his manager. |
| You should think about it carefully before you decide. | I'd sleep on it before you sign anything. |
Build vocabulary by situation, not by list. After each practice answer, write down one idea you expressed in a general way and find the phrase a fluent speaker would use for it. Then use that phrase in your next three answers until it comes out without thinking.
Listenability: sound like conversation, not a recitation
Listenability covers pronunciation, rhythm, intonation, grammar and fluency. At CLB 9 the listener understands everything, but may notice a flat rhythm, frequent "um", or a sentence restarted from the beginning. At CLB 10 these become rare, and when a slip happens it is repaired quickly and smoothly.
- Stress the words that carry meaning: "It's not the PRICE that worries me, it's the COMMUTE." Contrastive stress makes your argument easy to follow.
- Use contractions naturally (you'd, it's, I've). Speaking without them often sounds stiff at this level.
- Replace fillers with short thinking phrases that sound deliberate: "Let me put it this way...", "The way I see it..."
- Repair without restarting: "He's going to... actually, he's already started to slip on the ice." Fix the word and keep moving.
- Vary your pace: slow down slightly on your key point and your close, speed up a little on background detail.
An accent is not a problem as long as you are easy to understand. The aim is clarity and natural rhythm, not a native-speaker accent.
Task Fulfillment: the listener and the clock
At CLB 10, every task sounds aimed at its listener. In Task 5 you persuade a specific family member using what matters to them; in Task 6 you handle a delicate conversation with tact; in Task 8 you describe an object so clearly that someone could picture it. The timing also gets tighter: the closing line lands in the last few seconds instead of trailing off or getting cut mid-sentence.
- Before (Task 6 opening, around CLB 9): "Hi Sam. I'm sorry but I can't come to help you on Saturday because I have another plan."
- After (around CLB 10): "Hey Sam, have you got a second? I've been dreading this call, honestly. I know how much you were counting on me for Saturday, and I feel terrible, but something's come up that I really can't get out of."
The second opening softens the bad news, shows empathy and sets up the explanation. It sounds like a real phone call to a real friend, which is what the task asks for. Practise your closings too: have a one-sentence close ready for every task so you can drop it in whenever you see about five seconds left.
A two-week routine for the last level
Doing more full practice tests rarely moves a CLB 9 speaker. Targeted repetition does. This routine takes about 30 minutes a day.
- Record one answer to a fresh prompt with the real timer, rotating through all eight tasks.
- Transcribe it, word for word, including fillers and restarts. This is the step most people skip, and the one that shows you the most.
- Mark three things on the transcript: one general word to make precise, one point to deepen with an example or qualification, and one filler or restart.
- Record the same prompt again straight away, fixing those three things.
- Once a week, listen to your first and last recordings back to back. You should hear smoother rhythm and more specific content.
Feedback from someone else helps, because it is hard to judge your own fluency. A teacher, a fluent friend or a scoring tool that rates the four dimensions can tell you which one is holding you back.
Is CLB 10 in Speaking worth it?
Sometimes, but less often than CLB 9. Under the published CRS grid, a single applicant's first-language points for one skill go from 31 at CLB 9 to 34 at CLB 10 (29 to 32 with a spouse). The skill-transferability points already peak at CLB 9 in all four skills, so CLB 10 adds no more there. If you are a few points short of a draw cut-off, three points can matter; if a skill is still below CLB 9, raising that one is usually worth much more. Points and rules change, so confirm with IRCC's own CRS tool.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a native-like accent for CLB 10?
No. Raters judge how easy you are to understand, along with rhythm, intonation and accuracy. A clear accent from any background can reach the top levels.
Should I use idioms to show advanced vocabulary?
Only ones you use naturally and correctly. One well-placed expression helps; a forced or slightly wrong idiom hurts more than a plain word.
How long does it take to go from CLB 9 to CLB 10?
There is no fixed timeline. The last levels are the slowest to move, and progress depends on focused feedback more than on hours of practice.
Is it bad to finish a task a few seconds early?
A few seconds is fine. What matters is that you finish with a clear closing sentence rather than trailing off or being cut off in the middle of a new idea.
Can I get my Speaking score re-evaluated if I just missed CLB 10?
Paragon offers a paid re-evaluation for Speaking and Writing, requested within a set period after the test, with the fee refunded if your level goes up. Check the current terms on the official CELPIP website.
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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.