Learning About the CELPIP Speaking Performance Standards

CELPIP Speaking Section

As one of the four components of the CELPIP-General test, the speaking section measures your ability on how well you can communicate ideas and opinions on various topics by answering a wide range of questions. With the allotted time of 20 minutes, the CELPIP speaking test consists of the following tasks:

       ·         Task 1: Giving Advice

       ·         Task 2: Talking About a Personal Experience

       ·         Task 3: Describing a Scene

       ·         Task 4: Making Predictions

       ·         Task 5: Comparing and Persuading

       ·         Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

       ·         Task 7: Expressing Opinions

       ·         Task 8: Describing an Unusual Situation

As a test taker enrolled in a CELPIP preparation program, it is essential to understand the scoring guidelines and criteria for the speaking test so you will know the communication skills you need to develop before taking the test.

CELPIP Speaking Performance Standards

All components of the CELPIP-General test score are calibrated against the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level. The computer automatically scores the listening and reading tests; however, the speaking test is scored by trained and experienced CELPIP raters. For students attending CELPIP preparation course classes, the table below is the guidelines for the CELPIP speaking performance standards:

Speaking Categories	Performance Standards
·         Content/Coherence	§  Quality of ideas       §  Number of ideas       §  Organization of ideas       § Examples and supporting details
·         Vocabulary	§  Word choice  §  Proper use of words and phrases  §Range of words and phrases  §Precision and accuracy
·         Listenability	§  Rhythm, pronunciation, and intonation       §Pauses, interjections, and self-correction       §  Grammar and sentence structure        §Variety of sentence structure
·         Task Fulfillment	§  Relevance §  Completeness§  Tone§  Length

CELPIP Speaking Test Score – Rating Procedure

All CELPIP test components are randomly assigned to raters by an online system. Each test taker’s speaking test performance is rated by a minimum of three speaking raters. These CELPIP raters work independently and have no knowledge or influence of the ratings assigned by other raters. For test takers enrolled in a CELPIP preparation program, the following is the rating procedure of the speaking test:

       ·         Rating criteria — CELPIP raters refer to the performance standards when evaluating a test taker’s performance in the speaking test.

       ·         Benchmarking — When the ratings of a test taker’s performance are complete, a benchmark rater will inspect the assessment for accuracy and agreement.

       ·         Final scoring — All CELPIP score are transformed into a CELPIP level to determine the final and official score for the speaking test.

Do you want to know the scoring procedures and criteria of the other CELPIP-General test components? Enroll now in a CELPIP preparation program and go to our blog for more CELPIP preparation course review tips and different test-taking strategies.

REFERENCES:

"CELPIP Speaking." Canadavisa.com. Accessed September 11, 2018. https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/celpip-speaking.548790/.

"Test Format and Scoring." Paragotest. July 05, 2011. Accessed September 11, 2018. https://paragotest.wordpress.com/about-celpip-g/test-format-and-scoring/.

"Test Scoring." CELPIP. Accessed September 11, 2018. https://www.celpip.ca/test-scoring/.