The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) Speaking Test assesses your ability to communicate in English in everyday situations. It consists of eight tasks that evaluate your ability to express opinions, describe experiences, and handle common social and workplace scenarios.
For a thorough overview of the CELPIP Speaking Test, please watch this video below:
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CELPIP Speaking Test Format
The speaking section lasts about 15–20 minutes and includes eight tasks, each with a different focus. These tasks are evaluated for your spoken fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Celpip Speaking Forma Task Breakdown
The eight tasks that you will see on test day:
| Task Type | Task Requirements & Description |
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Task 1: Giving Advice Preparation: 30 seconds Recording: 90 seconds |
You will be asked to provide suggestions based on a situation Example: Your friend wants to start exercising but doesn’t know how. What advice would you give? |
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Task 2: Talking About a Personal Experience Preparation: 30 seconds Recording: 90 seconds |
You will be asked to describe a past experience. Example: Describe a time when you helped someone. |
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Task 3: Describing a Scene Preparation: 30 seconds Recording: 60 seconds |
You will see an image and describe what is happening in detail. Example: Describe the image in detail 
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Task 4: Making Predictions Preparation: 30 seconds Recording: 60 seconds |
You will see an image and are asked to predict what will happen next. Example: What do you think will happen next in this situation? 
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Task 5: Comparing and Persuading Preparation: 60 seconds Recording: 60 seconds |
You will be given two options and must compare them. Example: Your friend wants to buy a car. Should they buy a new or used one? |
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Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation Preparation: 60 seconds Recording: 60 seconds |
You must handle a challenging situation effectively. Example: You ordered food at a restaurant, but it is not what you expected. How would you handle the situation? |
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Task 7: Expressing Opinions Preparation: 60 seconds Recording: 60 seconds |
You must give your opinion on a topic and support it with reasons. Example: Do you think people should work from home or in the office? |
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Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation Preparation: 60 seconds Recording: 60 seconds |
You will see an unusual image and describe it clearly. Example: Describe what is happening in the image and how people might feel. |
CELPIP Speaking Scoring Criteria
The CELPIP Speaking Test is scored on a scale from 0 to 12, based on how well you communicate in English. Your performance is evaluated by trained raters using the specific scoring criteria in the table below.
| Content/Coherence | How well you develop your ideas |
| Vocabulary | Your ability to use a variety of words |
| Grammar & Sentence Structure | Your ability to use correct grammar |
| Pronunciation | How natural and clear your speech sounds |
Each criterion is evaluated separately, and your final score averages all four categories.
CELPIP Speaking Score Levels
| Score | Speaking Ability |
| 12 | Advanced proficiency, native-like |
| 11 | Excellent, very fluent and natural |
| 10 | Strong and effective communication |
| 9 | Clear and well-structured speech |
| 8 | Good fluency but minor errors |
| 7 | Understandable but with noticeable mistakes |
| 6 | Basic fluency, limited vocabulary |
| 5 | Frequent pauses, grammar issues |
| 4 and below | Very limited English skills |
For Canadian immigration (PR applications), a CELPIP Level 9+ is often considered a strong score.
Next Steps
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