CELPIP reading score chart
CELPIP reading is 38 questions in 43 to 56 minutes. Paragon's example chart puts 24 to 28 correct at CELPIP 7, 31 to 33 at CELPIP 9, and 33 to 38 at CELPIP 10 to 12. The ranges overlap because the raw score needed varies slightly from one test form to another.
CELPIP reading score chart
Paragon's own example chart: how many of the 38 questions you answer correctly, and the CELPIP level that usually results.
| CELPIP level | Example reading score out of 38 | CLB | Used for in Canada | Australia level starts here (CELPIP General) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 to 12 | 33 to 38 | 10 to 12 | - | Superior |
| 9 | 31 to 33 | 9 | - | - |
| 8 | 28 to 31 | 8 | - | Proficient |
| 7 | 24 to 28 | 7 | Express Entry: CEC (TEER 0 or 1); Express Entry: FSW; PGWP: university | Competent |
| 6 | 19 to 25 | 6 | - | - |
| 5 | 15 to 20 | 5 | Express Entry: CEC (TEER 2 or 3); PGWP: college | Vocational |
| 4 | 10 to 16 | 4 | Federal Skilled Trades | - |
| 3 | 8 to 11 | 3 | - | - |
| M | 0 to 7 | - | - | - |
DISCLAIMER: This example chart shows how scores in the Reading Test approximately correspond to CELPIP Levels. Since questions may have different levels of difficulty and may therefore be equated differently, the raw score required for a certain level may vary slightly from one test to another.
Questions that are left blank are scored as incorrect. All CELPIP Reading and Listening questions are in the multiple choice or similar format. Paragon's chart labels the lowest band M.
How the 38 reading questions are split
The test-taker guidebook lists the number of questions in each part.
| Part | Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Correspondence | 11 |
| Reading to Apply a Diagram | 8 |
| Reading for Information | 9 |
| Reading for Viewpoints | 10 |
The Listening and Reading Tests contain unscored items used for test development. These unscored items can be found anywhere within the Listening and Reading Tests and will have the same format as the scored items. You will not be able to tell scored items from unscored items, so apply your best effort to the entire test.
CELPIP levels, CLB and CEFR
Paragon's chart for every level.
| CELPIP level | Descriptor | CLB | CEFR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Expert proficiency in high-stakes social, educational, or workplace contexts | 12 | C2 |
| 11 | Advanced proficiency in high-stakes social, educational, or workplace contexts | 11 | C1 |
| 10 | Highly effective proficiency in some high-stakes social, educational, or workplace contexts | 10 | C1 |
| 9 | Effective proficiency in some high-stakes social, educational, or workplace contexts | 9 | B2 |
| 8 | Good proficiency in more demanding social, educational, or workplace contexts | 8 | B2 |
| 7 | Adequate proficiency in somewhat demanding social, educational, or workplace contexts | 7 | B2 |
| 6 | Developing proficiency everyday social, educational, or workplace contexts | 6 | B1 |
| 5 | Acquiring proficiency in everyday social, educational, or workplace contexts | 5 | B1 |
| 4 | Adequate proficiency for daily life activities | 4 | A2 |
| 3 | Some proficiency in limited contexts | 3 | A2 |
Scored 25? Is that a 6 or a 7?
The question every raw-score chart raises.
On Paragon's example chart, level 6 runs 19-25 and level 7 runs 24-28, so raw scores from 24 to 25 sit in both ranges. Paragon says: Since a raw score is merely the sum of the questions that a test taker has correctly responded to, it cannot account for these slight variations in difficulty.
Paragon also explains equating: For example, if one test taker correctly answers 30 questions on a relatively easy form and another test taker answers 30 questions on a more difficult form, equating will correct for the disparity in form difficulty.
A practical reading, ours and not Paragon's: a raw score near an edge does not settle your level, and your result arrives as a level, never as a raw score. If you need a level for a program, aim past the top of the range for the level below rather than the bottom of the range you want.
For how results arrive and how re-evaluation works, read the CELPIP results page.
Common questions
Paragon's example chart lists 24 to 28 out of 38 for CELPIP 7. It adds that the raw score required for a level may vary slightly from one test to another.
Paragon's example chart lists 31 to 33 out of 38 for CELPIP 9, and 33 to 38 for levels 10 to 12.
Questions that are left blank are scored as incorrect. So answer every question.
The goal of any test is to provide a fair and accurate assessment of each test taker, regardless of the specific questions presented during the test. Paragon says it transforms raw scores into scaled scores so different test forms can be compared.
All the answers to CELPIP Reading and Listening questions are scored dichotomously: a response is either correct or incorrect. Questions that are left blank are scored as incorrect. All the scoring is done by computer.