CELPIP General vs CELPIP General LS: the difference and which one to book
CELPIP General tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking and is the test IRCC names for Express Entry. CELPIP General LS tests only Listening and Speaking and is built for the citizenship language requirement. IRCC says: “You must take the CELPIP-General test” for Express Entry.
This page compares the two tests Paragon sells. It is not immigration advice. The body that asks for your test decides which version counts, so we show what IRCC and Paragon each say.
The difference in one table
Same company, same test room, different skills and different purpose.
Paragon, the company that runs CELPIP, sells two versions. CELPIP General tests four skills. CELPIP General LS tests only Listening and Speaking. Everything below is in Paragon's words, with the page it comes from.
| Item | CELPIP General | CELPIP General LS |
|---|---|---|
| Skills tested | Evaluates test taker’s English speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills | Evaluates test taker’s English listening and speaking skills |
| What it is for | Used for permanent residence applications and professional designations | Designed for the citizenship language requirement, and assesses only the Listening and Speaking skills required for it |
| Components | Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking | Listening and Speaking |
| Listening | 38 questions | 38 questions |
| Speaking | 8 tasks | 8 tasks |
| Reading and Writing | Reading and Writing are tested | Not tested |
"CELPIP General LS is a two-skills (listening and speaking) English language proficiency test that takes approximately 1 hour. It is accepted only for Canada citizenship."
Paragon's own FAQ says the same in one line: “The CELPIP-General Test is proof of English language proficiency for permanent resident status in Canada and the CELPIP-General LS Test is proof of Listening and Speaking proficiency for Canadian citizenship.”
The Listening and Speaking parts are the same in both. Paragon lists the same six Listening parts and the same eight Speaking tasks on its LS page as on its General page. Our reading: practice for those two skills carries over.
Which test do you need?
The government that asked for the test decides, not the test owner.
Paragon says: “Your eligibility and language requirements depend on your individual circumstances. Check the Government of Canada's citizenship requirements before booking your test.” We agree. The table shows what the Canadian government and Paragon say for each purpose we cover.
| Purpose | Test named | In their words |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry | CELPIP General | IRCC: You must take the CELPIP-General test. |
| Post-graduation work permit | CELPIP General | IRCC's PGWP table is headed “CELPIP (General)”. |
| Canadian citizenship | CELPIP General LS is built for it | Paragon: CELPIP LS is designed for this purpose. IRCC: if you are 18 to 54 you must submit proof that you can speak and listen at CLB Level 4 or higher. |
| Australian visas | CELPIP General | Paragon: CELPIP General is accepted for Canada and Australia immigration. CELPIP General LS is accepted only for Canada citizenship. |
For Express Entry, IRCC says in its own words: “You must take the CELPIP-General test.” An LS result will not do. For the score you need, see our CLB for Express Entry page, and for the Australian side see CELPIP for Australian visas.
One question on which Paragon's pages disagree
Paragon's General page describes the LS test as “used for citizenship applications and professional designation”. Its LS page and a city FAQ page say it is used for citizenship, and the FAQ says “accepted only for Canada citizenship”. If you need a test for a professional body, ask that body in writing which version it accepts before you book.
Test length and price: where Paragon's pages differ
Different pages give different figures. We show them all.
Paragon's own pages do not agree on the length or the price of the two tests. We have not picked a winner. The tables show each page and what it says.
We read these pages on 2 and 3 October 2026.
Total test time
| Paragon page | General | LS |
|---|---|---|
| General page | under 3 hours | about 1h10m in its test table, approximately 1 hour in its summary card |
| Overview page | under 2 hours and 50 minutes in its summary card, under 3 hours in its test table | approximately 70 minutes |
| Free practice tests page | 2 hours and 50 minutes | about 1 hour and 10 minutes |
| Guidebook for Test Takers | about 3 hours | about 1 hour |
| LS page | approximately 3 hours | about 1h10m in its test table, approximately 1 hour in its summary card |
Component times
| Component | General test, per the General page and format page | General test, per the LS page |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 46–55 minutes | 47–55 minutes |
| Reading | 43–56 minutes | 55–60 minutes |
| Writing | 53 minutes | 53–60 minutes |
| Speaking | 15 minutes | 15 minutes |
Both columns above show the General test, which is why they have Reading and Writing: the LS page lists the General test's times above its own LS block. For the LS test itself, Listening is 46–55 minutes on the General page and on the citizenship page, and 47–55 minutes on the LS page. Speaking is 15 minutes on all three.
Our reading: plan for about four hours door to door for General and about two hours for LS, including arrival time. Paragon says you must arrive 45 minutes before the test and check-in closes 15 minutes before the start. That keeps you safe whichever page is right.
Price
| Paragon page | General | LS |
|---|---|---|
| General page | $290 + Taxes | $195 + Taxes |
| Overview page | $299 + Taxes (where applicable) | $199 + Taxes |
| Guidebook for Test Takers | $295 + Taxes | $199 + Taxes |
| Citizenship page | not shown | $199 + applicable taxes |
| Fee notice of 28 June 2024 | CAD 290.00 (plus tax) for sittings in Canada on or after October 1, 2024 | not shown |
Prices are Canadian prices. Paragon says international pricing varies. The price you pay is the one on the booking page when you register. Our CELPIP test price in Canada page sets out the fee rules in full.
Preparing for each version
The practice material is cheaper for LS because there is less of it.
Paragon's store sells separate practice sets and study packages for each version. These are the prices on the store page we read, in Canadian dollars. Check the store for today's price.
| Product | General | LS |
|---|---|---|
| Practice tests, Set 1 (two complete tests) | CAD 35.00 | CAD 25.00 |
| Practice test bundle, Sets 2-13 (24 tests) | CAD 275.00 | CAD 195.00 |
| Prep Essential (3-month subscription) | CAD 49.00 | CAD 35.00 |
Paragon's free material covers both versions. Its free practice tests form offers both CELPIP General and CELPIP General LS, and its citizenship page lists free sample tests and webinars. You need to give a name and email address to get the free practice tests. Our reading: Listening and Speaking material is useful for both. See our CELPIP listening practice test and CELPIP listening tips pages.
How to choose, in four questions
Our checklist. It does not replace the government's own rules.
- Who is asking for the test? Write down the exact body: IRCC, a province, a regulator, an employer, a school. The body decides the version.
- What does its own page say? Open the body's language-test page and look for the version name. For Express Entry the page says CELPIP-General. For citizenship, read the citizenship language page.
- Do you need Reading and Writing results? If the requirement lists four abilities, you need General. If it lists only speaking and listening, LS may be enough, but confirm it in writing.
- Is the date risky? A wrong version means paying again. If you are unsure, ask before you book, not after.
This is not immigration advice. If your case is unusual, ask IRCC or a regulated immigration professional.
CELPIP-G, CELPIP-General and the 2014 date
Same test, different labels.
IRCC's tables use the label “CELPIP-G”. In the same IRCC pages, the instruction is “You must take the CELPIP-General test.” Paragon's own name for the test is CELPIP-General, or CELPIP General. So CELPIP-G in an IRCC table refers to the General test.
You may also see “2014” in searches. A third-party tutoring site, italki, says CELPIP “was designated as an accepted English language test by IRCC in 2014”. We did not find any page from Paragon or IRCC that describes a separate older General test with different rules. If a form or an old document names a 2014 version, ask IRCC what it means.
Common questions
CELPIP General is a four-skills test (listening, reading, writing and speaking) that takes about 3 hours, according to Paragon. CELPIP General LS is a two-skills test (listening and speaking) that takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, depending on which Paragon page you read, and is accepted only for Canada citizenship, according to a Paragon city page.
No. LS covers Listening and Speaking only. General adds Reading and Writing. The Listening and Speaking parts are listed the same way on Paragon's pages for both.
No. IRCC says: “You must take the CELPIP-General test.”
Our reading: we found no Paragon page that rates one as easier. LS is shorter because it has no Reading or Writing, but its Listening and Speaking tasks are the same ones. Choose by what the application requires, not by difficulty.
Paragon's pages show LS at $195 or $199 plus taxes and General at $290, $295 or $299 plus taxes, depending on the page. Use the figure on the booking page on the day you register.
IRCC's tables label the General test “CELPIP-G”. Paragon calls it CELPIP-General. They are the same test. IRCC also says: “You must take the CELPIP-General test.”
We found no page from Paragon or IRCC that describes a separate 2014 version. A third-party site, italki, says IRCC designated CELPIP in 2014. If a document names a 2014 version, ask the body that issued it.
Paragon says CELPIP LS is designed for the citizenship language requirement. IRCC says people aged 18 to 54 must show they can speak and listen at CLB Level 4 or higher. Check the Government of Canada's citizenship pages before you book.