CELPIP Reading comes right after Listening and takes about 43–56 minutes. It has four parts. The texts are practical: messages, notices, schedules, articles and comments, the kind of reading you do in everyday life and at work in Canada.
Two rules to know before you start:
- Each part has its own timer. You can't save time in one part and use it in another. Plan your pace inside each part.
- Always choose an answer. A blank answer counts as wrong. The test may also include some unscored questions that look like scored ones, so give every question your best effort.
The Four Parts at a Glance
| Part | What you read | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Reading Correspondence | A message (for example, an email), then a reply to it | 6 questions about the message + 5 gaps to complete in the reply |
| 2. Reading to Apply a Diagram | A diagram, table or flyer, plus a related message | 5 gaps to complete in the message + 3 questions |
| 3. Reading for Information | A longer text in paragraphs A–D | 9 statements to match to a paragraph, or E if the information is not given |
| 4. Reading for Viewpoints | An article with different opinions, then a reader's comment | 5 questions about the article + 5 gaps to complete in the comment |
These are the numbers listed on the official CELPIP website (11, 8, 9 and 10 questions). The test may also include some unscored questions, so focus on what each part tests rather than on counting.
Part 1: Reading Correspondence
What happens: you read a message, answer questions about it, and then complete a reply to that message.
What it really tests: understanding the purpose and details of the original message, and then switching perspective: the reply is written by the other person, so the right answer has to fit their point of view.
How to prepare:
- First ask: Who wrote this, to whom, and why?
- For the reply, reread the part of the original message that the gap is responding to.
- Watch tone and relationship: a friend, a manager and a company write differently.
Part 2: Reading to Apply a Diagram
What happens: you see a diagram, table, schedule or flyer, and a message connected to it. You complete the message using the diagram and answer a few questions.
What it really tests: combining information from two sources, often with details like time, price, eligibility and exceptions.
How to prepare:
- Before choosing, check every condition in the message: day, time, budget, who can take part.
- Look for small print in the diagram: members only, except holidays, extra fee.
- The right answer usually satisfies all the conditions, not just the first one you noticed.
Part 3: Reading for Information
What happens: a longer text divided into paragraphs A, B, C and D. You read statements and decide which paragraph contains each piece of information, or choose E if the information is not in the text. The same paragraph can be the answer more than once.
What it really tests: whole-statement evidence. A paragraph that contains the same keyword is not enough: it must support the entire statement.
How to prepare:
- For each statement, find the sentence that proves all of it, not just one matching word.
- Choose E only when no paragraph supports the whole statement. Don't choose it just because the statement uses different words: paraphrase is normal.
- Don't avoid a paragraph because you already used it once.
Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints
What happens: you read an article that presents different opinions, answer questions about it, and then complete a reader's comment on the article.
What it really tests: keeping track of who thinks what: the author, the people quoted in the article, and the person who wrote the comment. Opinions are often qualified: partly agrees, supports it with one condition.
How to prepare:
- As you read, write one short line per voice: author: cautious / mayor: supports / residents: worried about cost.
- Notice qualifying words: however, only if, to some extent.
- In the comment, identify first whether the commenter agrees or disagrees with the article, then fill the gaps so the comment stays consistent.
Five Habits That Raise Your Reading Score
- Skim first, then read closely. Get a quick idea of the text's purpose and structure, then read each question and find the exact part of the text that answers it. In Parts 1 and 4, understand the first text before you complete the reply or comment.
- Prove your answer. For every answer, find the sentence that supports it. No sentence, no answer.
- Beware of true-but-irrelevant options. An option can be true in real life, or even in the text, and still not answer the question.
- Notice small words that change meaning: not, only, unless, most, always.
- Keep moving. If one question takes too long, choose your best answer and continue; the timer for that part keeps running.
How to Practise at Home
- Practise each part separately with a timer, then do full Reading sections.
- After each set, label every mistake: missed a condition, keyword trap, wrong voice, didn't prove the answer, ran out of time. Two or three labels will repeat, and those are what to train.
- Read practical English every day: community notices, service emails, news articles with reader comments.
For the other skills, see CELPIP Listening part by part, the CELPIP Speaking task-by-task guide and CELPIP Writing model answers.
If you want a plan built around your weakest part, see CELPIP preparation with Masha.