CELPIP · Reading
CELPIP Reading Test: Format, Parts and Practice
The CELPIP Reading test is the second section of CELPIP-General. It has 4 parts and 38 questions: correspondence, a diagram with an email, an informational passage and a viewpoints article. Each part has its own time limit, from 9 to 13 minutes. Your result is a Reading level from 1 to 12.
- Parts
- 4
- Questions
- 38 (11 + 8 + 9 + 10)
- Time per part
- 11, 9, 10 and 13 minutes
- Section time
- About 43 to 56 minutes in total
- Scoring
- CELPIP level 1 to 12 for Reading
How CELPIP Reading works
Reading follows Listening. It has four parts, each with its own timer: Reading Correspondence (11 questions, 11 minutes), Reading to Apply a Diagram (8 questions, 9 minutes), Reading for Information (9 questions, 10 minutes) and Reading for Viewpoints (10 questions, 13 minutes). Time you save in one part does not carry over to the next.
The texts are practical: letters and emails, schedules and price lists, an informational article, and an opinion piece with a reader's comment. Questions include multiple choice, completing sentences in a reply or comment, and matching statements to paragraphs, with a not-given option in Part 3.
Your 38 answers produce a Reading score on the CELPIP level scale from 1 to 12, aligned with CLB levels and reported separately from the other three skills.
CELPIP Reading tasks
Tips that work
- Learn the time limit of each part and pace yourself to about a minute per question.
- Read for purpose first, then scan for details. Most questions point to one or two sentences.
- Expect paraphrase: the correct answer rarely copies the text word for word.
- In reply and comment blanks, check that your choice agrees with the original text, not just the sentence around the blank.
Questions candidates ask
How long is the CELPIP Reading test?
The four parts have time limits of 11, 9, 10 and 13 minutes. Including instructions, the section takes about 43 to 56 minutes. Check the official CELPIP site for the latest timing.
Which Reading part is the hardest?
Many candidates find Part 4, Reading for Viewpoints, hardest, because the article is long and the questions focus on opinions and reasoning. Part 2 is tight on time, with 9 minutes for 8 questions.
How is CELPIP Reading scored?
Your 38 answers are converted to a CELPIP level from 1 to 12 for Reading. The level corresponds to a CLB level, which is how most requirements are stated.
Where can I practise CELPIP Reading?
EnglishHub has exam-style practice for all four Reading parts, with per-part timers modelled on the published test, as part of 200 practice sets for CELPIP. There are also 50 full mock tests, and the first one is free.
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