To help you prepare for the written portion of your CELPIP test, we’ve put together the following 7 strategies.
We know it can be a challenge for some test takers to ensure that their written English skills match their speaking, reading and listening skills. With these 7 strategies, you will be able to build confidence in your writing, and prepare for your upcoming exam.
1) Read the hint carefully and answer all the parts of the question
Follow all instructions provided to make sure you answer all parts of the writing question. This means taking the time to develop your answer, and considering the supporting information you want to include to help you form your response. As you develop your response, make sure you continue to address the question, and keep all of your supporting details relevant to the task.
2) Practice writing from computer
Remember that CELPIP is delivered entirely on computer when you are preparing for your test, so all written answers will be typed from the keyboard. Make sure you’re comfortable writing with a keyboard, and practice it as often as you can, even if you’re used to writing with pen and paper. Keeping a diary on your laptop and writing emails to friends and family are just a few ways to keep your typing skills and confidence fresh.
3) Keep Your Writing Organized
Constructing well-planned sentences and paragraphs will help your thoughts and arguments flow in a logical and clear manner. Taking some time to create an outline at the beginning of your writing assignment will help you fit your ideas and supporting details into your response. Remember to use greetings, transitions, and sign-offs as needed to keep your response appropriate and prompt.
4) Vary your use of grammatical structures and vocabulary
When writing your response, be sure to use a varied and natural range of vocabulary. Displaying the size of your vocabulary is important but so is the appropriateness of the words used. Furthermore, support a wide range of vocabularies with diverse grammatical structures. Use sentences of varying length and complexity to establish your proficiency and demonstrate your command over written English.
5) View your word count
The word count limit provided for your written answers includes some leniency, and you do not need to match the number of words. Absolutely But try to adhere to that number as closely as possible. Failing to complete the word count, or missing it, can affect your score. A word counter is provided for the written response sections so that you can easily keep track of the number of words in your answer.
6) Manage your time carefully
Use the first few minutes of your written response time to create an outline and allow extra time at the end of your response to re-read and revise your work.
7) Re-read your writing
Planning your time carefully and giving yourself a few extra minutes to review your work will help you improve your feedback. Take the time to look for errors that you commonly make in your writing. While the writing component of the CELPIP test includes a spell check feature, consider using the correct word for your response when the spell checker identifies an error.
Looking for more ways to prepare for your CELPIP test? Visit our FREE Resources page for practice tests, free webinars, strategies from CELPIP experts, and more!