Practice English for CELPIP

What CELPIP is

CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) is a Canadian English test. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts it for Express Entry, and you must take the CELPIP-General test. You get a level for each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), and those levels line up with the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB): a CELPIP 7 counts as CLB 7, a CELPIP 9 as CLB 9, and so on.

For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, you need at least CLB 7 in all four skills in your first official language. For Express Entry, results must be less than two years old both when you create your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

The format

CELPIP-General is taken on a computer in one sitting of about three hours, in this order: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Writing has two tasks. Speaking has eight short tasks, such as giving advice, describing a scene or comparing options, and you answer each one into a microphone. Your answers are recorded and scored later, so there's no live examiner to keep the conversation going.

The bilingual bonus: why French speakers take CELPIP

If French is your strongest language, English can still add points. Under Express Entry's Comprehensive Ranking System, scoring NCLC 7 or higher in all four French skills earns 25 extra points if your English is CLB 4 or lower (or you didn't take an English test), and 50 extra points if you also score CLB 5 or higher in all four English skills. For TCF or TEF Canada candidates, reaching CLB 5 in English can be worth an extra 25 points. See our TCF/TEF Canada page for the French side.

This isn't the official test

ImChatty doesn't administer CELPIP or issue an official score. This page offers a free level check, free conversation practice and optional tutor sessions. You'll still need to book the real test through CELPIP.

Why Speaking is hard to prepare for alone

Talking to a computer with a timer running feels strange at first. There's no one to nod, ask a follow-up or help you when you lose your thread, and every task has a short preparation time followed by a fixed speaking time. Organizing a clear answer quickly, out loud, is a skill you build by doing it, not by reading about it.

Where ImChatty fits

Start with the free level check on this page to see where your English sits on the CEFR scale. Use free conversation practice to get comfortable answering in real time. Then book an English tutor and ask them to run you through CELPIP-style speaking tasks under time pressure, with feedback on fluency, vocabulary and how you organize your answers.

Who this is for

• Express Entry candidates who need CLB 7 or higher in English
• TCF or TEF Canada candidates who want the 50-point bonus with CLB 5 in English
• Anyone who finds speaking into a microphone stressful
• Learners who want a level check before booking a test date

Common questions

Is CELPIP accepted for Express Entry? Yes. IRCC accepts the CELPIP-General test. Check IRCC's language testing page for the rules of your program.

How do CELPIP scores convert to CLB? One to one: a CELPIP level 7 in a skill counts as CLB 7 in that skill.

How long are results valid? For Express Entry, results must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

Should I take CELPIP or IELTS? Both are accepted for Express Entry. CELPIP is entirely computer-based, while IELTS Speaking is a live interview with an examiner. Choose the format you're more comfortable with.