No: celpip.ca says the CELPIP is not a pass or fail test (celpip.ca’s blog post, January 15, 2021). CELPIP, the English test that Paragon Testing Enterprises organizes, reports a level for each component and, according to a Paragon customer service team member, no overall score. The level that counts as enough is set by whoever asks for the result: a program, an employer or a school. Immigration programs, for example, write their language minimums as Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) levels.
What does CELPIP report instead of a pass or fail?
The blog post says there is no number of mistakes a test taker can make before “failing” a component, and that a component cannot be failed in that sense unless the test taker enters no answers at all. It adds that the scoring criteria exist to describe English proficiency, so passing or failing does not apply.
In the Official CELPIP Podcast, episode 25 (April 6, 2022), a Paragon customer service team member said that test takers receive an individual score for each component and no overall score. The same person said Paragon is not aware of each test taker’s score requirements, so it cannot say whether someone has passed or failed. The sections and tasks that these scores come from are set out in the CELPIP-General test format.
Why does the level matter more than a pass mark?
The blog post says different test takers need different scores depending on their situation, and that the score requirements for permanent residency and citizenship are set by the Canadian government, not by Paragon (January 15, 2021).
IRCC’s language test page shows how that looks for Express Entry. As of November 4, 2026, it lists CLB 7 in all four abilities for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and CLB 5 in Speaking and Listening with CLB 4 in Reading and Writing for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. IRCC’s tables give CELPIP levels 4 to 10 the same CLB number. How CELPIP converts to CLB levels walks through a four-skill result.
How are Writing and Speaking scored?
celpip.ca says qualified raters, trained to apply consistent criteria, score the Writing and Speaking components against standard scoring rubrics. Each Speaking performance is rated by three to five raters and each Writing performance by four to six, and the raters work independently of one another. Speaking is rated on Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Listenability and Task Fulfillment, and Writing on Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfillment.
Feedback on practice responses is one way to practice against those criteria. Express Prep (expressprep.ca), which offers preparation for the CELPIP test, says in its terms that members of a program with live sessions may submit Writing and Speaking for feedback, with a usual response time of 48 hours during normal business hours (read November 4, 2026).
How are Listening and Reading scored?
A computer scores Listening and Reading, and each answer is either correct or incorrect: the questions are in the multiple choice or similar format, and a question left blank is scored as incorrect (celpip.ca’s results page, read November 4, 2026). The same page publishes an example chart of approximate raw scores out of 38 for each CELPIP level, and it warns that the raw score required for a level may vary slightly from one test to another:
| CELPIP level | Listening score (out of 38) | Reading score (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 |
Neighbouring ranges overlap: 35 appears under both level 9 and levels 10 to 12 in Listening, 33 appears under both in Reading, and several lower levels share two raw scores. That fits celpip.ca’s note that the chart is approximate. For a step-by-step plan, see preparing for Listening and Reading.
What can you do if a level is not what you needed?
celpip.ca lets test takers apply for a re-evaluation of some or all components within 6 months of the test date, and says that re-evaluating Listening or Reading is unlikely to change the scores because they are computer rated (celpip.ca’s results page, read November 4, 2026). A Paragon customer service team member said in the podcast episode above that a retake means taking the whole test. The rules are laid out in what the retake and re-evaluation rules allow.
FAQ
Is CELPIP Speaking scored by AI or by a human?
celpip.ca describes Speaking and Writing as scored by qualified raters trained to apply standard rubrics, and it describes computer scoring only for Listening and Reading. Each Speaking performance is rated by three to five raters who work independently of one another (celpip.ca, read November 4, 2026).
How many correct answers do I need in CELPIP Listening or Reading for a high level?
celpip.ca’s example chart puts CELPIP level 9 at about 33–35 out of 38 in Listening and 31–33 out of 38 in Reading, and levels 10 to 12 at about 35–38 and 33–38. Neighbouring ranges overlap and the raw score for a level may vary slightly between tests, so the chart is approximate. IRCC’s tables give CELPIP level 9 the same number as CLB 9.
Does CELPIP give an overall score?
No. A Paragon customer service team member said in the Official CELPIP Podcast (April 6, 2022) that test takers receive an individual score for each component and not an overall score. IRCC’s language minimums are also written ability by ability, for example CLB 7 in all four abilities for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (IRCC).
Who decides what level I need?
The organization that asks for the result decides. celpip.ca says different test takers need different scores depending on their situation, and that the requirements for permanent residency and citizenship are set by the Canadian government, not by Paragon. Paragon does not know each test taker’s requirement, so it cannot say whether someone passed or failed.
Can I fail a CELPIP component?
Not in the pass or fail sense. celpip.ca says a component cannot be failed unless a test taker enters no answers at all (blog post, January 15, 2021). A low level is simply a level that describes proficiency, and the program, employer or school decides whether it is enough.
The bottom line
- celpip.ca says the CELPIP is not a pass or fail test (blog post, January 15, 2021).
- Test takers receive a level for each component and no overall score, according to a Paragon customer service team member (April 6, 2022).
- The level that counts as enough is set by whoever asks for the result: IRCC, for example, writes its language minimums as CLB levels, such as CLB 7 in all four abilities for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (IRCC, as of November 4, 2026).
- A computer scores Listening and Reading, and trained raters score Writing and Speaking (celpip.ca).
- celpip.ca lets test takers apply for a re-evaluation within 6 months, and says Listening and Reading re-evaluations are unlikely to change the scores.
Express Prep offers preparation for the CELPIP test, including a 7-day trial of its simulator. The trial becomes a paid monthly subscription unless you cancel before day 7; current price and terms: Express Prep trial page.
General information, not immigration advice. For your case, talk to a licensed consultant (RCIC) on the CICC public register, or a lawyer, Quebec notary or licensed paralegal in your province.
Published by Express Prep, which offers preparation for the CELPIP test. Last updated November 4, 2026.