Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints

What happens in Part 4

• You answer questions about the article's arguments, then complete the reader's comment.
• This is the longest and hardest reading text.

Tips for a higher score

• Note who holds each opinion: the writer, an expert they quote or the critics they describe.
• In the comment, decide whether the reader agrees or disagrees before filling the gaps.

Common mistakes

• Running out of time: save at least 13 minutes for this part.

Step-by-step strategy for Part 4

1. Skim for the writer's position. Spend about 2 minutes reading the title, the first paragraph and the last paragraph to find the main argument. Note in a few words whether the writer is for, against or mixed.
   • I believe
   • in my view
   • it is time to
   • we should
   • the real problem is
2. Read the questions and mark who they ask about. Take about 1 minute to see whether each question is about the writer, an expert they quote or the critics they describe. Many wrong options state a real opinion from the text, but someone else's.
   • according to
   • critics argue
   • supporters claim
   • some say
   • the writer suggests
3. Locate answers paragraph by paragraph. Use about 5 minutes for the article questions. Read around each answer for contrast words, because the writer often presents an idea only to reject it.
   • however
   • yet
   • while it is true that
   • admittedly
   • nevertheless
   • even so
4. Decide the reader's stance, then fill the comment. Allow about 4 minutes. Read the whole comment first and decide whether the reader agrees, disagrees or partly agrees, then choose each gap so it fits that stance and the article's facts.
   • I couldn't agree more
   • I take issue with
   • that said
   • the writer overlooks
   • to be fair
5. Time check and fill every blank. With about 1 minute left, answer anything still empty. This is the last part of the section, so there is no later time to come back to it.

Part 4 vocabulary and signal words

Part 4 sample tests (40 free practice tests)

Each test has the full text, every question and the answer key. Choose your answers and check them on the page.

• Banning Plastic Straws: Environmental Impact vs. Accessibility
• Banning Smoking in Cars With Children: Safety vs. Personal Freedom
• Cash vs. Digital Payments
• Cooking at Home vs. Eating Out
• Cycling to Work vs. Carpooling
• Digital Art Versus Traditional Art Creation
• Electric Cars vs. Gas Cars
• Handmade Crafts vs. Mass-Produced Goods
• Handwritten vs. Digital Notes: Weighing the Pros and Cons
• Hiring Professionals vs. Do It Yourself
• Implementing School Start Time Changes: Health vs. Logistics
• Installing Speed Bumps: Traffic Safety vs. Emergency Response

All 40 Part 4 sample tests · Full-length Reading practice tests (all parts, 38 questions)

Practice ideas for Part 4

1. An opinion piece arguing that cities should make public transit free, quoting a transport researcher who supports the idea and describing critics who worry about cost. Questions ask who holds which view; the reader's comment partly agrees.
2. An article questioning whether schools should ban phones in class, with the writer favouring clear limits rather than a full ban. Questions test the writer's attitude (cautious, critical); the comment comes from a teacher who disagrees.
3. An opinion piece on remote work and small downtown businesses, weighing employee benefits against empty streets. Questions focus on concession phrases; the comment adds a shop owner's experience.
4. An article arguing that national parks should limit visitor numbers with a reservation system, citing crowding and wildlife damage, and answering objections about fairness. The comment raises a point the writer overlooked.
5. An opinion piece on whether older homes should be protected as heritage buildings or replaced with denser housing. Questions ask which argument the writer rejects; comment gaps must stay consistent with the reader's stance.

Reading Part 4 questions, answered

More CELPIP Reading

• Part 1: Reading Correspondence
• Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram
• Part 3: Reading for Information