How is CELPIP score calculated?

What is my CLB Level?

The lowest score in each of the four components determines your CLB level. For example, my CLB level is 5 if I receive the following result: R8 L7 S6 W5.

How is the score determined?

Multiple raters evaluate each test taker’s performance, which includes responses to all tasks in the component. Each CELPIP speaking performance is evaluated by at least three raters, and each CELPIP writing performance is evaluated by at least four raters. Raters work in isolation from one another and are unaware of the ratings given by other raters.

CELPIP Listening Score

CELPIP LEVEL

LISTENING SCORE /38

10-12

35-38

9

33-35

8

30-33

7

27-31

6

22-28

5

17-23

4

11-18

3

7-12

M

0-7


CELPIP Reading Score 

CELPIP LEVEL

READING SCORE /38

10-12

33-38

9

31-33

8

28-31

7

24-28

6

19-25

5

15-20

4

10-16

3

8-11

M

0-7

 

Why is the score given in a range? 

Each question has a difficulty level assigned to it. You will receive extra ‘points’ for the more difficult questions. Even if the total correct answers are the same, you may be assigned a higher level if you answered more difficult questions correctly than another test-taker.

CELPIP Speaking score

Speaking is scored based on the following factors :

1. Content/Coherence – This includes number of ideas, quality of ideas, organization of ideas, examples and supporting details.

2. Vocabulary – This includes word choice, precision and accuracy, range of words and phrases, suitable use of words and phrases. 

3. Listenability – This includes rhythm, pronunciation and    intonation, pauses, interjections and self-correction, grammar and sentence structure, variety of sentence and  structure. 

4. Task Fulfillment – This includes relevance, completeness, tone and  length. 

CELPIP Writing Score

Writing is scored based on the following factors.

1. Content/Coherence – This includes number of ideas, quality of ideas, organization of ideas, examples and supporting details.

2. Vocabulary – This includes word choice, suitable use of words and phrases, range of words and phrases, precision and accuracy.

3. Readability – This includes format and paragraphing, connectors  and transitions, grammar and sentence structure, spelling and punctuation, relevance. 

4. Task Fulfillment – This includes completeness, tone, and word count.

There are five levels of performance for each dimension. For each level in each dimension, performance descriptions are supplied. Raters award a level to each dimension by finding actual evidence in the test taker’s performance that corresponds to the dimension.

Benchmarking

When a test taker’s performance ratings are finished, they are checked for accuracy. If there is a discrepancy between the ratings, a benchmark rater is assigned to evaluate the performance. All of the benchmark raters are seasoned raters who have a track record of rating accuracy and consistency. The initial ratings are unknown to the benchmark raters.

How is the final score determined?

The Speaking and Writing component scores are derived from the dimensional ratings assigned by the raters. After that, the scores are converted into a CELPIP level. The principles for transformation were developed by English language specialists who took part in a standard-setting effort. Setting standards is a lengthy, research-based procedure. Experts in language and testing collaborate to determine what language learners must be able to do at each performance level, such as CLB 8. The experts next conduct a thorough analysis of the test to establish what degree of performance is required for each CELPIP level. This method has created a solid link between each Speaking and Writing component score and its corresponding score.