If you do the CELPIP General test, which takes about three hours, you will have to do a series of reading activities, including a correspondence (emails or letters between people), a diagram, an informative text, and a text expressing different opinions or viewpoints.
Key to passing the Reading section of the CELPIP test is getting the gist, or the general idea of the text in question. This requires you to pay attention to the overall message so that you can eliminate wrong answers from the choices presented.
Questions in the CELPIP Reading section become more difficult as you progress in the test. Some questions ask you to draw inferences from information that is present in the text, using different words.
A great way to practice is to regularly read short texts in English. News websites are a great place to practice reading diagrams, charts, information and opinions. But even reading a novel can be very useful in building reading speed and vocabulary. When you practice, you should try to guess the meaning without using a dictionary, because you won’t have access to one on the day of the test.
You should also practice doing the test itself before the day of the CELPIP exam to get a feel for the particular structure and pace of the CELPIP exam. You can take a free CELPIP practice test here. If you need more practice, you can purchase practice materials here.
It is also very important – on the day of the test, be sure to answer all questions! Don’t leave any blanks, because you won’t be penalized for a wrong answer, and if you guess, you might just stumble on the right one. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen students lose marks by not answering the question. Don’t worry about being wrong – learn to trust your instincts.
Best of luck!
Comments will be approved before showing up.
