CELPIP Vocabulary for Technology and Digital Life
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
Technology & Digital Life collocations for CELPIP
Phones, laptops and the internet appear in CELPIP prompts all the time, often as the cause of a problem you have to explain. Writing Task 1 may ask you to email an internet provider about a connection that keeps dropping, or a coworker about a laptop that failed before a meeting. Writing Task 2 surveys may ask whether a school should buy tablets or hire another teacher. In Speaking, Task 5, Comparing and Persuading, may ask you to choose between two devices for a relative; Task 7, Expressing Opinions, may ask whether young children should have smartphones; and Task 1, Giving Advice, may involve a friend who is always on their phone. These collocations help you describe devices, accounts and online habits precisely.
Verb + noun collocations
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| browse the internet | look through websites casually | I like to browse the internet while I have my morning coffee. |
| stream a video | watch video content over the internet as it plays | The school streamed a video of the graduation for families who couldn't attend. |
| back up your data | make a copy of files in case the originals are lost | Make sure you back up your data before the update. |
| download an app | install a program onto a phone or computer | I just downloaded an app for tracking my expenses. |
| update your software | install the newest version of a program | You should update your software regularly to stay protected. |
| charge your phone (or device) | connect a device to power to refill its battery | I forgot to charge my phone, so it died before lunch. |
| connect to the Wi-Fi | join a wireless internet network | The café lets customers connect to the Wi-Fi for free. |
| sync files | make files identical across several devices | My laptop and phone sync files automatically, so my notes are always up to date. |
| troubleshoot an issue | find the cause of a technical problem and fix it | The IT team helped me troubleshoot an issue with the office printer. |
| install an update | add a new software version to a device | My phone installed an update overnight without asking me. |
| restore a device (from a backup) | return a device to an earlier saved state | The technician restored the device from last week's backup, so I lost nothing. |
| protect your privacy | take steps to keep personal information secure | Using a different password for each account helps protect your privacy online. |
Adjective + noun collocations
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| cutting-edge technology | the newest, most advanced technology available | The new hospital wing uses cutting-edge technology to speed up scans. |
| a user-friendly interface | a design that is easy to understand and use | The new banking app has a much more user-friendly interface. |
| high-speed internet | a very fast internet connection | We upgraded to high-speed internet for smoother video calls. |
| seamless integration | different systems or tools working together smoothly | The scheduling tool offers seamless integration with our existing calendar. |
| a digital footprint | the trail of data a person leaves online | Some employers look at a candidate's digital footprint before hiring. |
| artificial intelligence | computer systems that perform tasks needing judgment | Some companies now use artificial intelligence to sort job applications. |
| a smart device | an internet-connected device with automated features | Our thermostat is a smart device that learns our schedule. |
| a secure connection | a protected, encrypted link between systems | Always use a secure connection when entering payment details. |
| a viral video | a video that spreads very quickly across the internet | Her two-minute cooking clip turned into a viral video overnight. |
| outdated software | a program that has not been updated in a long time | Outdated software is one of the biggest security risks for a small business. |
| constant connectivity | being linked to the internet or devices all the time | Constant connectivity makes it hard to fully switch off from work. |
| widespread adoption | a technology being used by a large number of people | The widespread adoption of smartphones changed how families keep in touch. |
Phrasal verbs
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| log in (to) | enter your details to access an account | I couldn't log in to my email this morning. |
| log out (of) | close an account session | Remember to log out of the shared computer when you're done. |
| sign up for | register for a new service or account | I signed up for a free trial of the streaming service. |
| set up (a device) | prepare a device for first use | It took me an hour to set up my new phone. |
| switch on/off | turn a device on or off | Just switch off the router and wait ten seconds. |
| plug in | connect a device to a power source or port | Make sure the charger is plugged in properly. |
| scroll through | move up or down through content on a screen | I spent an hour scrolling through old photos. |
| catch up on | deal with things you missed, like messages or news | I need to catch up on all these unread notifications. |
| keep up with | stay current with changes or trends | It's hard to keep up with how fast technology changes. |
| opt out of | choose not to take part in something | You can opt out of targeted ads in your settings. |
| look up | search for specific information | I always look up reviews before buying anything online. |
| freeze up | (of a device) stop responding | My laptop froze up halfway through the video call. |
Formal and spoken phrases for technology and digital life
These phrases belong to technology situations. Use the formal ones in a Writing Task 1 email to a service provider or in a Writing Task 2 survey response about technology, and the spoken ones when you talk about your own devices in Speaking.
Formal phrases for Writing
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| the rapid advancement of technology | how quickly technology is developing | The rapid advancement of technology has changed how many of us work. |
| in the digital age | in the current era shaped by digital technology | In the digital age, privacy has become harder to protect. |
| a growing reliance on | an increasing dependence on something | There is a growing reliance on smartphones for basic daily tasks. |
| as technology continues to evolve | as technology keeps developing over time | As technology continues to evolve, schools will need to update their computer labs. |
| an intermittent connection | a connection that keeps dropping and coming back | Since March 3, I have had an intermittent connection that drops several times a day. |
| a service outage | a period when a service stops working | The service outage on Tuesday lasted almost six hours. |
| schedule a technician visit | arrange for a technician to come to your home | I would like to schedule a technician visit for this Saturday morning. |
| a data breach | an incident in which private data is stolen or leaked | After the data breach, the company advised customers to change their passwords. |
| digital literacy | the skills needed to use technology safely and well | Free library workshops could improve digital literacy among older residents. |
Spoken phrases for Speaking
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| about to die | (of a device) almost out of battery | Can we talk later? My phone's about to die. |
| let me google that | I'll search for that online | I have no idea what that error means. Let me google that. |
| tech-savvy | skilled and comfortable with technology | My grandfather isn't very tech-savvy, so I set up his phone for him. |
| on the fritz | not working properly | My laptop's been on the fritz all week. |
| hang on, let me restart it | wait a moment while I turn the device off and on | It's frozen again. Hang on, let me restart it. |
| shoot someone a text | send someone a quick text message | I'll shoot you a text when I'm outside. |
| hop on a call | join a phone or video call | Can we hop on a call instead of texting back and forth? |
| glued to your phone | looking at your phone all the time | My little brother is always glued to his phone at dinner. |
| lose signal | lose connection to a mobile network | We kept losing signal on the highway north of the city. |
| the Wi-Fi keeps cutting out | the wireless connection keeps stopping | I can't work from the basement because the Wi-Fi keeps cutting out. |
Connectors such as "furthermore" and chunks such as "long story short" fit any topic, so they are collected on two shared pages: Formal Phrases for CELPIP Writing and Natural Spoken Phrases for CELPIP Speaking.
Worked examples
Writing Task 1: An unreliable home internet connection
Prompt: You work from home, and your internet connection has not been working properly for several weeks. Write an email to your internet provider. In your email:
- describe the problem;
- explain how it is affecting you;
- say what you would like the company to do.
Dear Customer Service Team,
I have been a customer for four years, and my account number is 448-2091. Since the beginning of March, I have had an intermittent connection that drops several times a day. I have switched off the modem many times, installed every update your app suggested and followed the steps on your website to troubleshoot the issue, but nothing has helped.
This problem is affecting my job. I work from home three days a week, and I need high-speed internet for video calls with clients. Last Tuesday, my connection dropped twice during a meeting, and I had to finish the call on my phone. I pay for your fastest plan, yet I cannot stream a video for more than a few minutes without it stopping.
I would appreciate it if you could schedule a technician visit this week, preferably on Thursday or Friday afternoon. I would also like to request a credit on my bill for the weeks when the service has not worked properly.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Priya Raman
The email covers the three bullets in order, shows what the writer has already tried, and ends with two specific requests.
Speaking Task 5: Comparing and Persuading
Prompt: Your family wants to buy your grandmother a device so she can video-chat with relatives. You prefer a tablet; your brother prefers a laptop. Persuade your brother that a tablet is the better choice.
I know you think a laptop is better, Marco, but I really think a tablet makes more sense for Grandma.
First, think about how she'll use it. She mainly wants to video-chat with the cousins and look at photos. A tablet is ready the moment she picks it up, and the touchscreen gives her a user-friendly interface. With a laptop, she'd have to log in, find the mouse and remember which program to open.
Second, Grandma isn't very tech-savvy. A laptop would ask her to install updates and close pop-ups, and she'd probably call us every time something changed. With a tablet, we can set up the apps once and leave it.
I know a laptop has a bigger screen and a keyboard, but she doesn't type long emails. A tablet is light enough to carry to the kitchen table, so she can keep up with family news wherever she's sitting. Let's go with the tablet.
Two reasons tied to the grandmother's real needs, plus a short answer to the laptop's main advantage, fill the 60 seconds.
CLB 7 vs CLB 9: one sentence, two ways
CLB 7 version: My phone has a problem, so I will put my photos on the computer.
CLB 9 version: My phone's been on the fritz all week, so I'm backing up my data before it dies completely.
What changed: "has a problem" became the informal "on the fritz", and "put my photos on the computer" became the collocation "back up my data".
Common mistakes
- "I did an update on my phone" → I installed an update or I updated my phone. Updates are installed, and software is updated.
- "I can't connect the Wi-Fi" → I can't connect to the Wi-Fi. The verb needs "to" before the network.
- "I need to backup my files" → I need to back up my files. The verb is two words; the noun is one word, as in "I made a backup".
- "My digital foot print" → my digital footprint. It is one compound word.
- "I can't log in my account" → I can't log in to my account. Add "to" before the account (or write "log into").
- "I signed up to my email this morning" → I signed in to my email (or logged in to). You sign up for a service once; you sign in or log in every time you return.
- "I looked the meaning in the dictionary app" → I looked up the meaning in the dictionary app. When you mean finding information, the verb needs "up".
- "I need to catch up with my notifications" → I need to catch up on my notifications. You catch up on tasks or news, and catch up with people.
- "I plugged my laptop" → I plugged in my laptop (or plugged my laptop in). The phrasal verb needs "in".
- "I opened the computer" or "I closed the TV" → I turned on the computer and I turned off the TV. "Open" and "close" are direct translations from several languages.
- "The internet is cut" → the internet is down or the internet went out.
- "They stole my personal informations" → They stole my personal information. "Information" is uncountable, so it has no plural.
- "I downloaded my photos to Instagram" → I uploaded my photos to Instagram. You upload to the internet and download from it.
- "My phone was about to die" (in a formal email) → my phone battery was running low. "About to die" is fine in conversation but too casual for a complaint email.
- "My laptop is on the fritz" (in an email to your manager) → my laptop is not working properly. Save the idiom for Speaking.
- "Can you pick up a call at three?" (meaning join a meeting) → Can you hop on a call at three? "Pick up" means answering a call that is ringing.
- "He's always glued on his phone" → glued to his phone.
Practise
- Vocabulary flashcards and quizzes: review these collocations until they come to mind without effort.
- Writing Task 1 practice: write an email to a service provider and use at least five collocations from this page.
- Speaking Task 5 practice: persuade a family member to choose one device over another using "a user-friendly interface", "set up" and "keep up with".