CELPIP Reading
Part 4 of 4
Reading for Viewpoints
You read an opinion piece that presents more than one point of view and answer questions that separate the writer's stance from the views they report. The trap is attributing an opinion to the wrong person.
- whole test
- 53–60 min
- questions in the test
- 38
- parts
- 4
201 practice taskssign in (free) to start
Select a practice
A taste of the set — 201 in total. The first is free; a free account opens the rest.
What a Part 4 prompt looks like
An example written by Celpip Plus in the same shape as the real reading part, with notes on how to read it.
You read an article on whether a city should allow backyard chickens, with views from residents, a veterinarian and a city plannernote 1, followed by a reader's comment on itnote 2. Sample question: "What does the person who wrote the comment think about the noise concern?"note 3
- 1 The voices: several views in one article. Mark whose opinion each sentence gives.
- 2 The comment: a second writer reacting to the article. You complete gaps in it, so check each choice against what the article says.
- 3 What this question tests: whose view is whose. The article writer's view and a quoted view are different answers.
How to prepare for Reading for Viewpoints
- Separate the writer's own view from the other opinions quoted in the article, because keeping the sources straight is central to this task.
- Note each viewpoint with whose it is as you read, so attribution questions are easy to answer later.
- Read the final part carefully, since opinion articles often reveal the writer's own stance near the conclusion.
How CELPIP Reading is scored
CELPIP Reading is scored by how many questions you answer correctly across its four parts. Your total is converted to a CELPIP level from 1 to 12, with no separate marking criteria.
Keep going with Reading Part 4
Practise on the real interface
The same screen, timer and controls as test day — rebuilt so nothing on the exam is a surprise.
Reading for Viewpoints: frequently asked questions
The article presents several opinions, and you must distinguish the writer's own view from the views of others they discuss.
Watch for phrases that signal reported or contrasting opinions, and note who holds each view, so you can tell the writer's stance from the ones they cite.
Read for each distinct stance and who holds it, since this part focuses on understanding and correctly attributing the viewpoints in the piece.
No, like all Reading tasks it is scored by correct answers converted to a level from 1 to 12, with no separate criteria.