When you are getting ready for CELPIP, the best advice we can give you is: take your time. Preparing for the test the day or even just the night before you take it will not help you be prepared or feel comfortable taking your test. To feel ready for your test, we recommend creating a study routine that you can follow every day.

Creating a Routine:

• Creating a daily study routine gets you into the habit of preparing for your test. Even if you are only able to spend 5 minutes a day preparing for your test, you will be that much more prepared.
  • We suggest spending up to 30 minutes each day preparing for your test, but we understand that everyone is busy! As long as you can dedicate some time every day to CELPIP, you will feel that much more comfortable when test day comes.
• Daily preparation does not mean having to take a practice test every day! While practice tests will help you get familiar with the test format and question types, there are additional ways to integrate practicing your English skills before the test:
  • Reading: try to read as much English as possible on a regular basis. Focus on every day English, like newspapers, websites, and magazines about subjects you enjoy; this will make your reading experience more enjoyable, and you’ll probably grasp new vocabulary and expressions more easily.
  • Writing: the best way to strengthen your writing skills for CELPIP is to write every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Some things to try writing include blogs; daily journals; or emails to friends, family, or co-workers.
  • Speaking: in order to be able to use a wide range of vocabulary effectively, you need to expand your vocabulary. Find a way to keep track of new vocabulary that works for you. You could collect new words using index cards, a notebook, or a chart on your computer. Make time to review the words that you have added to your list until you are sure of their meaning.
  • Listening: for practice with everyday English, try listening to news broadcasts, podcasts, the radio, or audiobooks. Listening to a topic you’re interested in will make things more enjoyable, and you’re likely to pick up on new terms and expressions more easily.

Preparation Resources:

• Practice tests: from our free online practice test, to our additional paid practice tests, these will give you a good idea of your current score level, and will allow you to focus on areas that you need to improve upon.
• Free webinars: for each test component, we have hours of free webinars, hosted by a CELPIP expert. These online courses are available as live webinars each month, and as recorded sessions on our YouTube channel.
• Study materials in the online store: we have created a wide range of study materials to help you prepare for CELPIP, from additional practice tests, to Accelerate (you will receive a free version, Accelerate Starter, when you register for a CELPIP test!), our self-directed online study program that includes worksheets, practice tasks, and more.
• Preparation programs: for additional guided preparation, contact your local test centre to see what preparation programs are available in your area and online.

Conclusions

• Building a daily study routine will allow you to quickly improve your English skills, especially if you dedicate time each day to working on a skill where you feel less confident in your abilities.
• Building your vocabulary and familiarizing yourself with a variety of English contexts, such as podcasts and audiobooks, are great ways to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
• The online study programs in our online store, such as CELPIP Accelerate, each provide study materials that you can use each day, from vocabulary building exercises to speaking strategies to improve your test responses. These are a great option for adding to your daily study routine.