About CELPIP

How CELPIP Works

CELPIP-General — tests all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). Used for permanent residency, visa applications, professional or academic purposes.

The CELPIP-General Test is now officially accepted by the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs as proof of English language proficiency for a wide range of visa applications.
CELPIP can be used to meet English requirements such as Functional, Vocational, Competent, Proficient, and Superior English, depending on the visa type.
When CELPIP Is Used:

While CELPIP-General LS is used for Canadian citizenship, for Australia, CELPIP-General may be accepted where functional, vocational, or competent English is required in the visa process.


CELPIP-General Test Structure

Component Time (approx.) What’s Tested
Listening 46–55 minutes Listening to conversations, daily situations, news items, discussions, info and problem-solving tasks
Reading 43–56 minutes Reading emails, correspondence, diagrams, information passages, viewpoints
Writing ~ 53 minutes Writing an email and responding to survey questions — tests coherence, grammar, tone, writing skills
Speaking ~ 15 minutes Responding to on-screen prompts to demonstrate spoken English (e.g., describing situations, giving opinions, making predictions)

Full test time is typically under 3 hours — all done in one sitting.