MapleSpeakBoth charts at a glance#
This is Paragon’s approximate conversion, published on celpip.ca, from correct answers out of 38 to a CELPIP level. Every CELPIP level from 4 to 10 counts as the same CLB level for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), so a 7 in listening is CLB 7 in listening.
| CELPIP level = CLB | Listening, correct out of 38 | Reading, correct out of 38 |
|---|---|---|
| 10–12 | 35–38 | 33–38 |
| 9 | 33–35 | 31–33 |
| 8 | 30–33 | 28–31 |
| 7 | 27–31 | 24–28 |
| 6 | 22–28 | 19–25 |
| 5 | 17–23 | 15–20 |
| 4 | 11–18 | 10–16 |
| 3 | 7–12 | 8–11 |
| M | 0–7 | 0–7 |
Two things stand out. Reading needs fewer correct answers than listening for the same level: CELPIP 9 starts at about 31 in reading but 33 in listening. And neighbouring ranges overlap, so 31 in listening sits in both the 7 and the 8 range. The overlap is explained further down.
“M” is the bottom row of Paragon’s approximate charts. Since December 2023, score reports and Paragon’s main score chart use levels 0, 1 and 2 instead of M, so a very low result now shows as a number.
CELPIP listening score chart#
The listening test has six parts and 38 scored questions, and takes 46 to 55 minutes. Each recording plays once. The chart below adds what each range means in practice: how many questions you can miss and what share of the test you need to get right.
| CELPIP level | Correct out of 38 | Questions you can miss | Share correct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–12 | 35–38 | 0–3 | 92–100% |
| 9 | 33–35 | 3–5 | 87–92% |
| 8 | 30–33 | 5–8 | 79–87% |
| 7 | 27–31 | 7–11 | 71–82% |
| 6 | 22–28 | 10–16 | 58–74% |
| 5 | 17–23 | 15–21 | 45–61% |
| 4 | 11–18 | 20–27 | 29–47% |
| 3 | 7–12 | 26–31 | 18–32% |
Where the questions are matters as much as how many. Parts 1 and 5 carry 8 questions each, almost half the test between them, and part 5 is the only part with a video.
| Part | Name | Questions | Share of the score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Listening to Problem Solving | 8 | 21% |
| 2 | Listening to a Daily Life Conversation | 5 | 13% |
| 3 | Listening for Information | 6 | 16% |
| 4 | Listening to a News Item | 5 | 13% |
| 5 | Listening to a Discussion (video) | 8 | 21% |
| 6 | Listening to Viewpoints | 6 | 16% |
Our CELPIP listening guide walks through each part and a note-taking method for recordings you hear only once.
CELPIP reading score chart#
The reading test has four parts and 38 scored questions, and takes 43 to 56 minutes. Unlike listening, each part’s text and questions are on the same screen, so you can check the text while you answer, and you can change your answers until that part’s time runs out.
| CELPIP level | Correct out of 38 | Questions you can miss | Share correct |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10–12 | 33–38 | 0–5 | 87–100% |
| 9 | 31–33 | 5–7 | 82–87% |
| 8 | 28–31 | 7–10 | 74–82% |
| 7 | 24–28 | 10–14 | 63–74% |
| 6 | 19–25 | 13–19 | 50–66% |
| 5 | 15–20 | 18–23 | 39–53% |
| 4 | 10–16 | 22–28 | 26–42% |
| 3 | 8–11 | 27–30 | 21–29% |
Part 1 is the largest, with 11 questions, and part 4, on viewpoints, has 10.
| Part | Name | Questions | Share of the score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading Correspondence | 11 | 29% |
| 2 | Reading to Apply a Diagram | 8 | 21% |
| 3 | Reading for Information | 9 | 24% |
| 4 | Reading for Viewpoints | 10 | 26% |
More on each part, with a worked example, in our CELPIP reading guide.
Look up your practice score#
Count your correct answers out of 38 in a practice test and enter them below. The lookup shows every level the score falls in on Paragon’s chart, the CLB it means, and the Express Entry points that skill earns as your first official language.
✓ means the score is inside CELPIP 7 or higher on the chart, ≈ means it could fall on either side of 7. A practice test that doesn’t have 38 questions can’t be read on this chart directly; use the “share correct” column instead. On the real test, only the level on your score report counts.
No practice score yet? Check your reading level free: 13 questions in the CELPIP format, about 10 minutes, scored into a CLB range in your browser.
The score that is safely inside each level#
Because the ranges overlap, the bottom of a range is not a safe target. A score is only clear of the level below once it passes the top of that lower range. Reading the chart this way gives a practical target for each goal:
| Goal | Listening, aim for | Reading, aim for |
|---|---|---|
| CLB 4: citizenship (listening), Federal Skilled Trades (reading) | 13+ | 12+ |
| CLB 5: Canadian Experience Class with a TEER 2 or 3 job | 19+ | 17+ |
| CLB 7: Federal Skilled Worker, CEC with a TEER 0 or 1 job | 29+ | 26+ |
| CLB 8 | 32+ | 29+ |
| CLB 9: the highest skill transferability points | 34+ | 32+ |
| CLB 10: the most Express Entry language points | 36+ | 34+ |
These targets are our reading of Paragon’s approximate chart, meant for practice tests. They are not a guarantee, and a score just below a target can still reach the level on the day. The program rules behind each goal are in our CELPIP score chart guide, and the points each CLB earns are in our CRS calculator.
Why the ranges overlap#
Many people take CELPIP on the same day, but not everyone gets the same questions. Paragon uses several versions of the test, called forms, and no two are exactly equal in difficulty. Its scoring follows three steps:
- Raw score. The computer marks each question right or wrong. A blank answer counts as wrong, and there is no extra penalty for a wrong answer.
- Scaled score. The raw score is adjusted for the difficulty of your form, a process called score equating. Paragon’s own example: 30 correct on an easier form and 30 correct on a harder form should not mean the same thing.
- Level. The scaled score is turned into a CELPIP level using cut-offs that language experts set in a standard-setting study.
The chart in this guide skips step 2, which is why it can only be approximate. It is also why your score report shows only levels: Paragon doesn’t report raw scores, because 30 correct on one form is not the same result as 30 on another.
The tests also contain unscored questions that Paragon is trying out for future forms. They look exactly like the scored ones and can appear anywhere, so treat every question as if it counts.
What your score report shows#
- A level for each skill, from 0 to 12. Levels 4 to 10 equal CLB 4 to 10, and 11 and 12 equal CLB 11 and 12. Level 2 equals CLB 1 or 2, and levels 0 and 1 mean there wasn’t enough to assess.
- No raw scores. You won’t see how many questions you got right.
- An average score on CELPIP-General reports since December 2023. Paragon says it is not a CLB level and is not relevant for IRCC; immigration programs look at each skill separately.
Results arrive in your CELPIP account, usually 2 to 4 business days after the test. More in our guide to CELPIP results.
Three examples#
- 31 in listening. The top of the 7 range and the bottom of the 8 range, so a 7 or an 8. For CLB 7 that is enough; for CLB 8 it is too close to count on.
- 26 in reading. Above the top of the 6 range (25), so CELPIP 7 on the chart, worth 17 Express Entry points as a single applicant.
- 33 in listening, 31 in reading. Both sit where 8 and 9 meet. One more correct answer in each, 34 and 32, clears the 8 range on the chart and points to CELPIP 9, which is worth 8 more points per skill than CLB 8 and unlocks the highest transferability points.
Where three more correct answers usually come from#
On a 38-question test, one level is often only two to four questions wide. That makes a few targeted habits worth more than general practice:
- Never leave a blank. A blank is marked wrong anyway. When time is short, choose an answer and move on.
- Listening, parts 1 and 5. They hold 16 of the 38 questions. Note who says what and in which order, because the questions come only after the recording.
- Reading, part 4. Ten questions on viewpoints. Mark where each writer agrees or disagrees before you answer, and check the option against the text, not against what sounds reasonable.
- Practise on the clock. Use Paragon’s free sample test, which shows the correct answers for listening and reading, and count your score out of 38 so you can read it on the chart.
For a full plan, see how to prepare for CELPIP. To compare these levels with IELTS bands, our CELPIP to IELTS conversion uses IRCC’s tables skill by skill.
Sources#
Approximate listening and reading charts, scoring, equating, raw and scaled scores, unscored items and re-evaluation: celpip.ca, CELPIP test results. Parts, timing and the CELPIP to CLB chart: celpip.ca, test format and scoring; questions per part: Paragon’s Listening Pro and Reading Pro study packs. The 0–2 levels and the average score: celpip.ca, updates to score reports and scoring chart (December 6, 2023). Express Entry language points: canada.ca, CRS criteria. The “questions you can miss”, “share correct” and “aim for” figures are our calculations from Paragon’s chart. Checked October 17, 2026.
Questions
How many questions are in CELPIP listening and reading?
Each has 38 scored questions. Listening has six parts (8, 5, 6, 5, 8 and 6 questions) and reading has four (11, 8, 9 and 10). Both can also contain unscored questions that look exactly like the scored ones.
I scored 31 in CELPIP listening. What level is that?
On Paragon’s approximate chart, 31 correct is at the top of the CELPIP 7 range (27 to 31) and at the bottom of the CELPIP 8 range (30 to 33). On the real test it would most likely be a 7 or an 8, depending on the difficulty of your test version.
How many correct answers do I need for CLB 7?
About 27 to 31 out of 38 in listening and 24 to 28 in reading. To be clear of the CELPIP 6 range on the chart, aim for 29 or more in listening and 26 or more in reading.
How many correct answers do I need for CLB 9?
About 33 to 35 in listening and 31 to 33 in reading. Scores of 34 or more in listening and 32 or more in reading are above the CELPIP 8 range on the chart.
Why does my score report not show how many questions I got right?
Paragon does not report raw scores. It converts them into a scaled score that corrects for small differences in difficulty between test versions, and only the resulting level appears on your report.
Do wrong answers lose points in CELPIP?
No. Each listening and reading question is either correct or incorrect, and a question left blank is scored as incorrect. There is no extra penalty for a wrong answer, so never leave a question blank.
Can I ask for my listening or reading score to be re-evaluated?
You can, within six months of the test, but Paragon says a re-evaluation of listening or reading is unlikely to change the score because those parts are computer rated.