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The short version
Work out who's writing and why. Find the line that answers the question. Then check the option against that line, not against what sounds sensible.
The four parts
| Part | Your job |
|---|---|
| Correspondence | Follow a message, a request and a reply |
| Applying a diagram | Combine an email with a flyer, map or schedule |
| Reading for information | Find and connect facts in a longer text |
| Viewpoints | Tell facts from opinions, and who holds which opinion |
Find it, then check it
- Preview: read the question and spot the key names and words.
- Locate: find the paragraph that answers it. Read the sentence before and after too.
- Check: does the option say the same thing? Throw out options that are too broad, too strong, or true in real life but not in the text.
Diagrams and viewpoints
For a diagram, turn it into a quick list: dates, places, prices, conditions. Then match the email to the list. For a viewpoints text, label each opinion with whose it is. A lot of wrong answers give the right opinion to the wrong person.
Review your misses
After each set, mark why you missed each question: missed detail, vocabulary, a word like it or they you linked to the wrong thing, an inference, or time. After two or three sets you'll see your pattern. That's what to practise.
Questions
Can I use general knowledge?
No. Answer from the passage. An option can be true in real life and still be wrong.
I keep running out of time. What helps?
Read the question before the passage, and don't read every word of a long text. Find the part you need.
Do all questions have four options?
Most practice materials use four. Use CELPIP's current materials for the exact screen.
Sources (checked 26 October 2026)
- CELPIP Test Format & Scoring
- CELPIP Reading Pro Study Pack 2026
- CELPIP-General Overview Study Pack 2026
Last reviewed 26 October 2026
See where you stand today
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