CELPIP Reading fundamentals
Accurate reading and time management are skills you develop together. Learn to navigate the test, choose how to read, and keep moving when you encounter unfamiliar vocabulary.
Work through each lesson and mark the module complete when you finish practising.
1.1 How the test works
The Reading section lasts 43 to 56 minutes. The four main parts have the following approximate structure:
| Part | What you will read | Questions | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Correspondence | A message and a reply | 11 | 11 minutes |
| Reading to Apply a Diagram | A diagram and a related message | 8 | 9 minutes |
| Reading for Information | An informational text divided into paragraphs | 9 | 10 minutes |
| Reading for Viewpoints | An article presenting opinions and a comment | 10 | 13 minutes |
Additional unscored content may appear. You cannot identify it, so answer with the same care throughout the test.
These times are a guide. Follow the timer and instructions displayed on screen. Within a part, you can review your answers while time remains; after moving to the next part, you cannot return to the previous one.
1.2 Get familiar with the screen
You will work with texts or diagrams, multiple-choice questions, and blanks completed using drop-down menus.
Before answering:
- Locate the text, questions, and remaining time.
- Check whether you need to scroll to see the complete content.
- Make sure your chosen option stays selected.
- Review unanswered questions before moving on.
Practising with the official interface helps you devote more attention to reading on test day.
1.3 Choose how to read
Different questions call for different reading techniques.
| Technique | Purpose | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Skimming | Understand the topic, purpose, and organization | Move through the text to identify the main ideas. |
| Scanning | Find a fact, person, or condition | Look for keywords and equivalent expressions. |
| Close reading | Confirm an answer or inference | Carefully read the relevant sentence and its context. |
A useful sequence is get oriented, read the question, locate the information, and verify it. You can also review the questions first to guide your reading. Try both approaches and see which helps you in each part.
After a paragraph, summarize it mentally in a few words: schedule change, reason for the complaint, or project cost. You can picture the situation if that helps, but return to the text to justify your answer.
1.4 Handle an unfamiliar word
- Read around it: Does the sentence provide an explanation, example, or contrast?
- Identify its function: Does it describe an action, person, quantity, or attitude?
- Decide whether it is essential: If it does not affect the question, continue. If it changes the meaning of an option, examine the context more carefully.
You do not need to translate every word. Do pay attention to words that change a condition, such as not, only, before, or unless.
Mini-test
Use context to work out meaning
Read the passage:
After announcing the event, Maya was bombarded with messages. Her inbox filled up so quickly that she needed help answering them.
What does bombarded with messages mean in this context?
Start practising Reading
Apply the reading techniques and find the evidence for each answer in our free test.