8 Tips for the Listening Component of your CELPIP Test

The CELPIP team often gets questions from candidates about the best strategies to prepare for certain parts of the CELPIP exam.

Invariably, the speaking component tends to generate the greatest interest. In this article, the CELPIP team has put together 8 of the most helpful tips for the Listening component of the CELPIP Test. Many thousands of candidates have used these strategies to alleviate apprehensions, gain confidence, and meet their desired score goals!

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1. Build a practice routine for listening to English. 

Practicing your English listening as much as possible may sound like the most straightforward, most self-evident advice, and yet it is perhaps the best one of them all. Get into the headspace that allows you to not only take the time to listen to but also enjoy English radio programs, podcasts, television shows, movies, and more. Your brain is your most powerful ally; building those new neural pathways is key!

2. Pay close attention to the recordings.

When the time comes to take your CELPIP Test, listen carefully to the recordings. Each audio file can only be played once, so make sure you listen very attentively. Also, please make sure to read all the instructions so that you know when the recording will start and what you will need to do when the recording ends.

3. Take notes as you listen.

Even if you listen very closely, it is difficult to remember everything you hear. This is even more difficult in a stressful situation like a test. Making notes of key points while you listen to the recordings will help you remember information that may be useful. Use some abbreviations or symbols that you think will help you take notes more quickly. A helpful strategy you can include in your day is to practice taking notes while listening to the radio or a news program as you prepare for the Listening Test.

4. Relax and listen.

If you can’t understand a word, phrase, or sentence, continue listening and stay focused on what you are hearing. You can still understand many of the main points in a section or paragraph, even if you cannot understand every word. If you lose track of what you are listening to, don’t worry! Just continue taking notes on the recording. If you concentrate too much on the part you missed, you might miss even more information.

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5. Move to the next question if necessary.

In some sections of the Listening Test, you have a set amount of time to answer a question; when the time runs out, you will automatically be moved forward to the next question. In these test parts, feel free to take the maximum amount of time to determine the answer. In other test parts, however, you have a set amount of time to answer several questions, so you must manage your time more carefully. In these sections, if you can’t answer a question, move on. You can always go back to the question you were unsure about if you still have time left.

     6. If you aren’t sure, try your best guess.

It is essential to answer all the Listening Test questions. There is no penalty for incorrect responses on the multiple-choice questions of the CELPIP Test, so if you don’t know an answer, try to eliminate the options you know are wrong. By removing some options, your chance of guessing the correct answer becomes even higher.

7. Keep an eye on the clock.

Each part of the CELPIP Test has a timer in the corner of your screen, so watch the clock! Make sure that you have enough time to complete all the questions in each part of the Listening Test.

8. Review your answers.

Before moving on to the next question or section on the Listening Test, make sure that you have clicked on your answer choice. This is especially important on the parts of the Listening Test where there is no opportunity to go back and change your answer.

Most importantly, please remember that you are not alone on this journey. And if you are looking for more ways to prepare for your CELPIP test, there are free monthly webinars focused on each test component—including listening—available for registration on our website. For additional preparation materials, visit our free resources page for practice tests, free webinars, strategies from CELPIP experts, and more!