CELPIP Listening
Part 1 of 6
Problem Solving
You listen to a conversation in which someone is dealing with a problem, then answer questions about the situation, the options discussed, and the solution they reach. The questions arrive as the conversation unfolds, so you answer from memory with no transcript to check back against.
- questions
- 8
- audio plays
- Once
- whole test
- 46–55 min
128 practice taskssign in (free) to start
Select a practice
A taste of the set — 128 in total. The first is free; a free account opens the rest.
What a Part 1 prompt looks like
An example written by Celpip Plus in the same shape as the real listening part, with notes on how to read it.
You hear a conversation between Priya and her upstairs neighbour, Tom, about water leaking into her kitchennote 1. It plays in segments, with questions after each onenote 2. Sample question: "What does Tom offer to do first?"note 3
- 1 The problem: a leak between two units. Expect questions on its cause and on who will fix it.
- 2 The format: questions come between segments, so answer each set before the audio moves on.
- 3 What this question tests: a specific action. Listen for offers like "I can" or "Why don't I".
How to prepare for Problem Solving
- Track the specific obstacle being discussed and each option raised to solve it, since questions often hinge on why one solution was chosen over another.
- Jot a quick note between segments while the audio pauses, because you answer as you go and cannot go back once the conversation moves on.
- Listen for the speakers' reactions and agreement, as the resolution they settle on is a common target for questions.
How CELPIP Listening is scored
CELPIP Listening is scored by how many questions you answer correctly across its six parts. That total is converted to a CELPIP level from 1 to 12 — there are no separate marking criteria for Listening.
Keep going with Listening Part 1
Practise on the real interface
The same screen, timer and controls as test day — rebuilt so nothing on the exam is a surprise.
Problem Solving: frequently asked questions
It is not scored on criteria like Writing or Speaking; you earn points for each correct answer, and your total across the Listening section is converted to a level from 1 to 12.
No. Questions appear between segments of the conversation, and once you move forward the audio continues, so you should answer each one before the next segment plays.
No, the conversation plays only once with no transcript, so you need to catch details the first time you hear them.
Focus on the problem itself, the options the speakers weigh, and the solution they agree on, since these are the most commonly tested points.