CELPIP · Reading · R2

CELPIP Reading Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram

CELPIP Reading Part 2, Reading to Apply a Diagram, gives you a visual, such as a schedule, poster, price list or comparison chart, plus an email that refers to it. You have 9 minutes for 8 questions. You combine information from both texts to complete sentences in a reply and answer questions about the situation.

Questions: 8
Time: 9 minutes
Texts: A diagram (schedule, poster, chart or list) and an email
Answer type: Four options per question
Scoring: Counts toward your CELPIP Reading level (1 to 12)

How it works

1The diagram appears first, alongside an email from someone who needs to make a choice.
2Read the email to find the person's needs: times, budget, ages, limits.
3Complete sentences in a reply by choosing the option that fits both the diagram and the email.
4Answer the remaining questions about the diagram and the email before time runs out.

Sample question

Original sample · not from an official test

Diagram: Northside Community Centre, Art Classes Watercolour: Mon 7-9 p.m., $80, adults only Clay for Kids: Sat 10-11 a.m., $60, ages 6-12 Family Sketching: Sun 1-2 p.m., $15 per visit, all ages Email (excerpt): My son is 8 and I'd love us to do something creative together. We're away most Saturdays, and I'd rather not commit to a full course yet. Reply: I think ______ would suit you both best.

AWatercolour
BClay for Kids
CFamily Sketching
Da private art tutor

Show answer

Answer: Family Sketching

Watercolour is adults only. Clay for Kids is on Saturdays, when they are away, and is a full course. Family Sketching is open to all ages, runs on Sunday and is paid per visit, so it meets every condition in the email.

Tips that work

List the email writer's conditions before reading the diagram in detail. Each condition eliminates options.
Check every column: an option can match the day and price but fail on age or a requirement in small print.
Watch for calculations such as totals, differences or which option fits a budget. Do the maths rather than guessing from which number looks familiar.
At 9 minutes for 8 questions, move quickly. The diagram is short; the work is in matching it to the email.

Common mistakes

Choosing an option that matches most conditions but breaks one.
Picking a number that appears in the email (such as a budget limit) when the question asks for a price from the diagram.

Questions candidates ask

What kind of diagrams appear in Reading Part 2?

Practical visuals: schedules, flyers, price lists, program comparisons or simple charts. They look like something you might see on a notice board or website, and they always connect to the email you read alongside them.

Why is Part 2 so short on time?

It has the shortest time limit of the four reading parts, 9 minutes for 8 questions. The texts are short, but the questions require cross-checking, so practise scanning a diagram for one condition at a time.

Do I need maths skills for Part 2?

Only simple arithmetic, such as adding costs, comparing times or checking a budget. The challenge is reading carefully enough to know which figures to use.