CELPIP CELPIP-General test format: the four skills, number of questions and timing
Updated 11 Nov 2026
CELPIP-General tests all four skills, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, in one sitting on a computer, Speaking included (you speak into a microphone, your answers are recorded and rated later). CELPIP-General LS has only Listening and Speaking, identical to those parts of the General test, and is mainly used for citizenship.
Here is the timing from the official site:
Source: celpip.ca, Test Format & Scoring page, viewed 11 Nov 2026.
All together the test takes about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours. You do Listening, Reading, Writing and then Speaking, with no official break between them.
Listening: 6 parts, 38 scored questions
| Part | Task | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Listening to Problem Solving | 8 |
| Part 2 | Listening to a Daily Life Conversation | 5 |
| Part 3 | Listening for Information | 6 |
| Part 4 | Listening to a News Item | 5 |
| Part 5 | Listening to a Discussion (video) | 8 |
| Part 6 | Listening to Viewpoints | 6 |
Each recording plays only once. In Parts 1 to 3 the questions are read aloud and you answer while the timer runs, so you can't read the questions ahead. Part 5 is a video of three people talking, and the questions often ask who said what.
Reading: 4 parts, 38 scored questions
| Part | Task | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Reading Correspondence (letters, emails) | 11 | about 11 minutes |
| Part 2 | Reading to Apply a Diagram | 8 | about 9 minutes |
| Part 3 | Reading for Information (match to paragraph A–E) | 9 | about 10 minutes |
| Part 4 | Reading for Viewpoints (opinion article) | 10 | about 13 minutes |
Each part has its own timer. When time runs out, the test moves on to the next part.
Writing: 2 tasks, 53 minutes
- Task 1, Writing an Email: 27 minutes, about 150–200 words.
- Task 2, Responding to Survey Questions: 26 minutes, about 150–200 words. You get two options, pick one and explain why.
The screen has a word counter but no spell check.
Speaking: 8 tasks, about 15 minutes
| Task | Type | Prepare | Speak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giving Advice | 30 s | 90 s |
| 2 | Talking about a Personal Experience | 30 s | 60 s |
| 3 | Describing a Scene | 30 s | 60 s |
| 4 | Making Predictions | 30 s | 60 s |
| 5 | Comparing and Persuading | 60 s to choose + 60 s | 60 s |
| 6 | Dealing with a Difficult Situation | 60 s | 60 s |
| 7 | Expressing Opinions | 30 s | 90 s |
| 8 | Describing an Unusual Situation | 30 s | 60 s |
Recording starts as soon as preparation time ends, and the test moves to the next task when speaking time is up.
Unscored questions
Listening and Reading include some unscored questions that CELPIP uses to try out items for future tests. They're mixed in and look exactly like the others, so you can't tell which ones count. That's why the real test can run a little longer than 38 questions, and why every question deserves your best effort.
Where to start
CELPIP has a free sample test on celpip.ca that shows the Listening and Reading answers when you finish. Do it first to get used to the screens and the pace. Tips for each part are in the Reading and Speaking posts in this Guide.