CELPIP test

[on-hold]

My wife took the CELPIP test today -- it was an expensive nuisance, since CIC regulations now don't permit you to prove your language ability with upper-level language classes, and she had tested out at above LINC since the day she arrived -- but I just thought I would let everyone know that it seemed to be a pretty good test. It has a Listening-Speaking section only, cheaper than the main test. We read about it online and heard some bad things: rooms full of people all speaking simultaneously into the computer, racket, unable to hear. However, it was a small room with not too many people, separated by some distance, with dividers between them and headphones that minimize the distraction. My wife is sensitive to noise and has trouble hearing and concentrating, and she had no difficulty. The test itself is pretty straightforward, not hard, and a good test of basic English.

 

[Braf]

CELPIP STOLE MY MONEY

I came here to complain about CELPIP test.

My wife took the CELPIP general. She complained a lot about the noise when she was writing her essay. They don't control in what part test takers are, so some get to the speaking section first, and start speaking while you are writing! Then they can finish, stand up, drag their chair on the floor, and leave, ruining your concentration. She described it as a mess! Just like your wife.

It is even written on a hidden section of their website that THEY CAN'T CONTROL THE NOISE! WHY DON'T THEY MAKE THAT CLEAR? Preferably before your pay? Why do you have to dig on their website to find it later so they look at you and say "I told you..." What a dishonorable business practice.
:-X
Bottom line, she scored worse on written and speaking parts when compared to IELTS. Isn't it supposed to be a standardized test? Anyway, she got a lower CLB score. If this was really a standardized test, she should have gotten the same CLB.

Now the worse happened to me. I asked to change the test day, they refused. I showed documentation and everything: I had a urgent travel, had a delayed visa issue, and CIC had my passport in Ottawa and hadn't returned it to me. They basically told me to screw myself and live with it. They stole my $300 dollars, I requested a refund, and nothing. THEY STOLE MY MONEY! I complained a lot, and nothing. Isn't it absurd?

CELPIP being a easy test is a BIG LIE. It is a standardized test. Although IELTS might seem more difficult, and the English accent might scare some, usually people score higher on IELTS because the speaking part is a one-on-one with a real person. You don't have time to answer a question. So you may get 20 out of 30 questions right on CELPIP and 15 out of 30 on IELTS, it turns out that if those 15 are more difficult, they are worth more points. And with multiple choice, even if you are in doubt, a chance of 1/4 on IELTS is worth more than the same random chance on CELPIP, because each question answered right on CELPIP is worth less for CLB.

Take a CELPIP or IELTS simulation yourself. You will luckily score the same (ON CLB). If not, you will probably score less on CLB because of CELPIP.