Author: viw1232100
I didn’t take an exam for two years after graduating. After nervously preparing for it, I finally took the CELPIP exam and achieved a score of L11 (Listening 11), R12 (Reading 12), W11 (Writing 11), and S9 (Speaking 9), reaching Level 9. This fulfilled my long-held desire to only take this exam once in my lifetime.
For friends planning to apply for Canadian immigration and take the CELPIP exam soon, I’d like to share my experience:
- Arrival and Check-in: Arrive at the exam venue at least 45 minutes early. You’ll need to queue up and check in your belongings. Inside the exam room, you can only bring a water bottle and your passport. After taking a picture and finding your seat, this process takes about an hour. I noticed that the actual start time was around 10:20 AM for a 10:00 AM session. Your water bottles are placed on a shelf. During the exam, you must raise your hand to request permission for water or restroom breaks. If you run out of scratch paper, hold it up to signal the staff to give you more.
- Exam Tips:
- Listening: After answering a question, you can’t go back, so be attentive from the start. Most of the content is standard, with occasional tricky questions. The key is to understand the overall meaning, so you don’t need to take excessive notes. Pay full attention, as sometimes the trick question hinges on a single sentence, like someone’s attitude.
- Writing: Practice at home using a standard keyboard, ideally a large black one, to mimic the exam conditions. I used a Macbook for practice but still felt time-pressed during the exam. The exam center’s keyboard might not be user-friendly due to wear and tear.
- Speaking: This was the most challenging section for me. In the nearly four hours (verification + the actual exam), the last 20 minutes were the most exhausting. As I answered the last two questions, the others in the room left one by one. I was distracted and wanted to finish quickly. My answers weren’t my best, which made me anxious while waiting for the results. I barely passed. Be mentally prepared for this, and I suggest practicing the speaking section thoroughly at home.
I hope these simplified tips help you prepare for the CELPIP exam, and I wish you success in your immigration journey to Canada.