The CELPIP-General test takes approximately 3 hours to complete, with no scheduled breaks between sections (though you can take restroom breaks at your own pace, but the clock continues). All sections are completed in one sitting at an official CELPIP test centre.

Here is a breakdown of each section:

1. Listening (47–55 minutes)

The listening section consists of 6 parts with a total of 38–45 questions. You will hear conversations, news items, discussions, and other spoken passages. Each audio clip is played once, but you can take notes. Question types include multiple choice, matching, and completing sentences.

What to expect:

• Problem solving (e.g., listening to a voicemail and identifying the issue)
• Daily life conversations (e.g., between colleagues or neighbours)
• Information from news or announcements
• Discussions or interviews
• Longer conversations with opinion identification

Pro tip: Because you hear each clip only once, focus on the main ideas and supporting details. Practice active listening in everyday North American English contexts.

2. Reading (55–60 minutes)

The reading section has 4 parts with a total of 38–45 questions. You will read a variety of texts – from emails and advertisements to informational articles and opinion pieces.

What to expect:

• Reading correspondence (e.g., an email chain between two people)
• Understanding visual information (charts, graphs, diagrams combined with text)
• Reading informational passages
• Reading for viewpoints (e.g., comparing two different opinions on the same topic)

Questions test your ability to find specific details, infer meaning, understand the writer’s purpose, and distinguish facts from opinions.

3. Writing (53–60 minutes)

The writing section consists of 2 tasks. You will type your responses directly into the computer. A spell-check and word counter are available, but there is no grammar correction tool.

Task 1 (27 minutes): Writing an email. You are given a situation (e.g., writing to a landlord, a colleague, or a store manager). You must write a well-organized, polite, and clear email of approximately 150–200 words.

Task 2 (26 minutes): Responding to a survey question. You are asked to choose an opinion or propose a solution to a community issue. You will write about 150–200 words, supporting your position with reasons and examples.

The scoring focuses on content, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar. Since the test uses North American English, spelling like “color” instead of “colour” is acceptable, but consistency is key.

4. Speaking (15–20 minutes)

The speaking section has 8 tasks that are recorded. You will see prompts on screen and have a short preparation time (usually 30 seconds) before recording your response. Your answer time ranges from 30 to 90 seconds depending on the task. No other humans are involved – you speak into a microphone, and a certified rater later evaluates your recording.

Types of tasks:

• Giving advice (e.g., a friend asks for restaurant recommendations)
• Talking about a personal experience
• Describing a picture (you see an image and must narrate what is happening)
• Comparing and persuading (e.g., which of two options is better for the workplace)
• Dealing with a difficult situation (e.g., handling an unhappy customer)
• Expressing opinions
• Describing an unusual situation
• Predicting future outcomes (based on an image or scenario)

The key is to speak clearly, stay on topic, and use natural intonation. The computer records exactly what you say, so nervous fillers (“uh”, “um”) can affect your score.