CELPIP LEVELS EXPLAINED

Why can't I seem to get past a certain level? Why am I stuck at level 6/7/8?
What does it take to get CLB 9? I think I did well, but only got CLB 8, what gives?

These are questions that we hear often from our students. They have looked at the score descriptors below, but they still don't understand what they need to change. With the help of our experienced CELPIP instructors, you will know exactly what you need to improve your score. More importantly, you will gain a much better understanding of what area of your English skills needs to be improved.

The level descriptors below are provided by CELPIP. For more details on all the levels, you can visit their website.

Source: CELPIP.ca

Each test taker’s performance, i.e. a test taker’s responses to all tasks in the component, is assessed by multiple raters. Each CELPIP speaking performance is rated by a minimum of three speaking raters, and each CELPIP writing performance is rated by a minimum of four writing raters. Raters work independently of one another, and have no knowledge of the ratings assigned by other raters.

Rating criteria

The CELPIP rating dimensions that have been developed for the writing and speaking component are listed above on this page in the Performance Standards section:

Speaking: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability, and Task Fulfillment

Writing: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability, and Task Fulfillment

Each dimension is divided into five performance levels. Performance descriptors are provided for each level in each dimension. Raters assign a level in each dimension by identifying tangible evidence in the test taker’s performance that matches the descriptors in the rating scale.

Benchmarking

When the ratings of a CELPIP test taker’s performance are complete, they are inspected for agreement. If the ratings are in disagreement, a benchmark rater is automatically assigned to assess the performance. All benchmark raters are experienced raters who have demonstrated consistent accuracy and reliability in rating. Benchmark raters have no knowledge of the initial ratings.

How is the final score determined?

The Speaking and Writing component scores are derived from the dimensional ratings assigned by the raters. These scores are then transformed into a CELPIP level. The transformation rules have been established by English language experts who participated in a standard-setting exercise. Standard setting is an extensive, research-based process. Language experts work with testing professionals to identify what language learners need to be able to do at each performance level, such as CLB 8. The experts then analyze the test in detail and determine what level of performance a test taker needs to demonstrate for each CELPIP level. This process has established a defensible link between each Speaking and Writing component score and its corresponding CELPIP level.