Task objective
You read a short message (an email or personal note) and then a reply to it with blanks. You must understand the purpose, details, tone and what's implied, and complete the reply by choosing the option that fits the context.
How to complete the task
- 1
Read the header: who is writing, to whom, and why. Context in 10 seconds.
- 2
Read the whole message once to catch the main idea and tone (formal or casual).
- 3
Move to the reply with blanks: for each gap, read the full sentence before and after.
- 4
Pick the option that is consistent with the original message, not just grammatically correct.
- 5
When done, reread the whole reply: it should sound natural with no contradictions.
Tips & tricks
Options are usually all grammatical: meaning and context are the key, not grammar.
Watch tone cues: 'Dear Sir' calls for a formal reply; 'Hi Sam' allows a relaxed one.
Beware distractors that reuse words from the text but change the meaning.
Never leave a blank: there's no penalty for wrong answers, so always answer.
How it's scored
Reading is computer-scored: 1 point per correct answer out of 38 questions across all 4 parts. That raw score converts to a CELPIP level from M to 12, which maps 1:1 to your CLB level (a CELPIP 9 is a CLB 9).
What this part measures
Correspondence comprehension: the message's purpose, concrete details, tone and implied meaning. The options are usually all grammatically valid, so what's measured is whether you understood the context — not your grammar.
Raw score → CLB level
Each correct answer adds one point. The conversion isn't a linear percentage: it's adjusted for the difficulty of each test version. As a rough guide, 24–28 correct lands around CLB 7, 31–33 around CLB 9, and 33 or more points to CLB 10–12.
No penalty for wrong answers
A wrong answer is worth exactly the same as a blank one: zero. Never leave a question unmarked, even if you're guessing between two options — a 50% chance always beats a guaranteed zero.
Not all questions weigh the same
The harder parts (2 and 4) tend to contribute more to your final level. Reserving enough time for them pays off more than rushing Part 1 to save a few minutes.
The clock is part of the assessment: questions you don't reach count as wrong. If one blocks you, mark your best option and move on.
Ready to try it?
Practice this task with a real question.
Keep reading
Reading skill and its tasks
CELPIP Reading tests you on four types of text: correspondence, visual documents, informational articles, and opinion passages. Learn what each part asks and how to approach it.
Part 2. Reading to Apply a Diagram
A diagram (schedule, map, flyer) plus an email. You connect the visual info with the text.
Part 3. Reading for Information
A multi-paragraph informational text. You identify main ideas and supporting details.
Part 4. Reading for Viewpoints
An opinion article and a reader comment with blanks. You tell viewpoints and nuance apart.