CELPIP Tips: Preparing for the Listening Test

Every part of the CELPIP test has its challenges, but luckily there are free online resources, including practice tests, as well as an abundance of audio files to practice and improve your listening skills.

Read on for some useful tips to prepare for the listening test!

Some important tips for the day of the test:

• Read the instructions carefully so that you don’t miss any important information about the test.

• The listening test is composed of multiple choice questions. A good method is to eliminate the options that are wrong, and pay attention to the differences found in the remaining options.

  Remember not to leave any of the answers blank, and if you don’t know the answer, you can try to guess.

• You can only listen to the audio once. See below for useful tips on time management and the importance of note taking.

How to prepare in advance:

• Practice by listening to audio and taking notes. It’s beneficial to listen to a variety of audio files, including podcasts and the news, in order to become familiar with different voices and speaking styles.

• You should also take notes of key words and key points while listening which will help you remember important information when you have to answer the listening questions during the test.

• Manage you time. While practicing for the listening test, try not to fixate on every word, especially if you don’t understand it. During the test, the audio will keep running, so you have to pay attention to what is being spoken in that moment.

  If you didn’t catch part of the sentence, don’t worry. Instead focus on getting the gist of it. In other words, try to grasp the main point of the sentence if you are unable to understand every word.