CELPIP in Nigeria: your fastest path to a 10+ score

Where to write CELPIP in Nigeria, what it costs and how to book, answered in one place. Then practise with more than 4,000 questions in the real test format and more than 60 full mock exams, with AI scoring on every Writing and Speaking answer.

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CELPIP guide

What is the CELPIP test?

The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) is a fully computer-based English test that IRCC, Canada's immigration department, accepts for permanent residence, Express Entry, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and citizenship. The CELPIP-General tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in one sitting of just under three hours, and each score matches a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level.

Canadian PR and work permits

Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and the PGWP all accept the CELPIP-General, the version offered in Nigeria. In 2024, Nigerians received 6,696 Express Entry invitations, the third most of any country.

Canadian citizenship

If you are 18 to 54, citizenship needs proof of CLB 4 in Listening and Speaking. The CELPIP-General results you sent with your PR application count even after they expire, and so does a diploma or transcript from a secondary or post-secondary programme taught in English. The shorter CELPIP-General LS is not offered in Nigeria.

Australia, but not the UK

Australia's Department of Home Affairs accepts the CELPIP-General taken at a test centre on or after 7 August 2025; an earlier result does not count. UK visas do not accept CELPIP at all.

100%

computer-based

Under 3 hours

in one sitting

2 to 4 days

for results (business days)

2 years

validity for Express Entry

Test centres

Where can you write CELPIP in Nigeria?

CELPIP has seven test centres in Nigeria: two in Lagos, and one each in Abuja, Ibadan, Asaba, Port Harcourt and Kano. Every sitting costs ₦229,000 and is booked online through the official CELPIP Nigeria page; you cannot register at a centre. Dates are listed into December 2026 (only to 20 November in Abuja), and Lagos and Port Harcourt fill up first.

CELPIP test centres in Nigeria
CityTest centreArea
LagosDragnet Prometric Test CenterKatia Gardens, Oladele Olashore Street, Victoria Island
LagosLASU CBT18Lagos State University main campus, Ojo (no open dates when we checked)
AbujaDragnet Test Center AbujaGalaxy Uniprep Center, Ahmadu Bello Way, Kado District
IbadanEdugrade ServicesOld Lagos Road, Challenge
AsabaInitiative for Development Education and LearningJesus Saves Road, off Summit Road
Port HarcourtTopscan Inspections LimitedBirabi Street, GRA Phase 1
KanoEdugrade ServicesBB Plaza, Zaria Road

  • Book early, or look beyond Lagos: when we checked on 25 September 2026, every Port Harcourt sitting before 18 November was sold out, 34 of the 40 October sittings in Victoria Island were gone, and the one date at LASU in Ojo was full. Ibadan and Kano still had seats that same week, and Asaba and Abuja had seats in early October.

  • From the South-East or Edo: there is no centre in the South-East yet. From Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi or Edo, the nearest centre is Asaba, just across the Niger from Onitsha. From Abia or Imo, Port Harcourt is closer, but it is booked out nearly two months ahead, so book early or look at Asaba too.

  • Booking, step by step: create an account on the official CELPIP site, choose the CELPIP-General, pick your centre and date, and pay ₦229,000 by card. If the payment fails, the booking stays pending: pay it from the cart in your CELPIP account within 24 hours. Our CELPIP registration guide walks through each screen.

  • On test day: arrive 45 minutes before your start time. Check-in closes 15 minutes before the test, and latecomers cannot sit it and get no refund or transfer, so if you are travelling from another city, go the day before. Bring the original, valid passport you registered with (photocopies are refused), and do not send it off with a visa application before your test date. The centre gives you a pen, paper for notes and a headset with a microphone; you cannot bring your own paper. The rules are on the official test day page and FAQs.

A trip to another city for the test costs time and money. Take a full mock exam first to check that you are already at the level you need, so you only book once.

Fee

How much is the CELPIP exam in Nigeria?

The CELPIP-General costs ₦229,000 at every Nigerian centre, paid by card when you book. That is less than IELTS General Training on computer at the British Council, which costs ₦299,000. The CELPIP-General LS (for citizenship) is not offered in Nigeria.

English test fees in Nigeria, 2026
TestFee in NigeriaAccepted for
CELPIP-General₦229,000Canadian PR, Express Entry, PGWP, citizenship; Australia
IELTS General Training (British Council, on computer)₦299,000Canadian PR, Express Entry, PGWP, citizenship; Australia

Fees checked on 25 September 2026 on celpip.ca and the British Council Nigeria; the amount shown before you pay is the one that counts. The CELPIP fee is paid online by Visa, Mastercard or American Express, all on one card. If your naira card is declined, ask your bank to enable it for online international payments, or use a dollar card. If you cancel at least 9 calendar days before the test you get 50% of the fee back (nothing after that), and moving to another date at least 9 days ahead costs CA$50 plus tax. For other costs, see our CELPIP cost guide; its refund and transfer rules (7 days, first transfer free) are for tests taken in Canada, not Nigeria.

Test format

CELPIP test format: four skills in one sitting

The CELPIP-General takes just under three hours, all on a computer, in one sitting: Listening 46 to 55 minutes (38 questions), Reading 43 to 56 minutes (38 questions), Writing 53 minutes (2 tasks) and Speaking 15 minutes (8 tasks). Each part is explained in our CELPIP test format guide.

CELPIP-General sections with their time and structure
SkillTimeStructure
Listening46 to 55 minutes6 parts, 38 multiple-choice questions
Reading43 to 56 minutes4 parts, 38 multiple-choice questions
Writing53 minutes2 tasks: an email and a survey response, 150 to 200 words each
Speaking15 minutes8 tasks, recorded on the computer, with no examiner

Tips for Nigerian candidates, section by section

Listening

Tip: The speakers are fast and link their words (gonna, wanna), and each recording plays once, with the questions only after it. Use the paper the centre gives you to note names, numbers, times and what people decide.

Reading

Tip: Many questions test what the passage implies, not a word you can find in it. Choose the option the whole passage supports, and be wary of the one that repeats a word from the text.

Writing

Tip: You type both tasks on the computer. In a friendly email, contractions such as I'm and don't sound natural: the no-contractions rule from school letters does not apply.

Speaking

Tip: You speak to a computer through a headset, and other candidates may be talking in the same room. Practise answering against a timer with some background noise, and keep talking until the time runs out.

CELPIP scores and CLB

What CELPIP score do you need for Canada?

For Express Entry you need at least CLB 7 in all four skills for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and for Canadian Experience Class TEER 0 or 1 jobs, or CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3. Each CELPIP score equals the same CLB level (a CELPIP 7 is CLB 7, and the highest is 12), and IRCC checks every skill on its own.

Minimum language scores for Canadian immigration programmes
ProgrammeMinimum scoreDetails
Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)CLB 7In all four skills
Canadian Experience Class (CEC), TEER 0 and 1 jobsCLB 7In all four skills
Canadian Experience Class (CEC), TEER 2 and 3 jobsCLB 5In all four skills
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)CLB 5 and CLB 45 in Listening and Speaking, 4 in Reading and Writing
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)CLB 7 or CLB 57 for any university programme, 5 for college and other programmes, in all four skills
Canadian citizenship (ages 18 to 54)CLB 4Listening and Speaking only
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)Usually CLB 4 to 7Depends on the province and the programme

How many CRS points is each CLB level worth?

In Express Entry, going from CLB 7 to CLB 9 in all four skills adds 56 language points for an applicant without a spouse (from 68 to 124). Language points stop rising at CLB 10. Skill transferability points also double at CLB 9: for example, language combined with a master's degree (or two post-secondary credentials, one of them three years or longer) rises from 25 to 50 points.

CRS points for the first official language by CLB level
CLB levelPer skill, no spousePer skill, with spouseAll 4 skills, no spouse
CLB 4 or 56624
CLB 69836
CLB 7171668
CLB 8232292
CLB 93129124
CLB 10 or higher3432136

"With spouse" means your spouse or common-law partner comes with you to Canada and is not already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Source: CRS criteria on canada.ca; to work out your own total, use IRCC's official CRS score calculator. For CRS points on your Nigerian degree (and to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program) you also need an Educational Credential Assessment from a designated organisation such as World Education Services (WES). More detail by programme: CELPIP scores for Canadian immigration.

CELPIP or IELTS

CELPIP vs IELTS in Nigeria: which is easier?

Both are accepted for Canadian PR and are about equally hard; the difference is the format. CELPIP is fully computer-based, uses a single North American accent and records your Speaking with no examiner, and in Nigeria it costs ₦229,000 against ₦299,000 for IELTS on computer. IELTS has far more centres, and its separate UKVI version is accepted for UK visas, which CELPIP is not.

CELPIP-General compared with IELTS General Training for candidates in Nigeria
CELPIP-GeneralIELTS General Training
FormatFully computer-basedListening, Reading and Writing on computer
SpeakingYou record your answers on the computer, with no examinerLive interview with an examiner, in person or by video call at a test centre
AccentsA single North American accentSeveral: British, Australian, North American and others
Scores0 to 12; from 3 up, the same as the CLB levelBands 0 to 9, converted to CLB levels
ResultsUsually 2 to 4 business daysUsually 1 to 2 days on computer
Fee in Nigeria₦229,000₦299,000 on computer (British Council)
Centres in Nigeria7 centres in 6 citiesBritish Council alone lists 21 locations
UK visasNot acceptedOnly the separate IELTS for UKVI

CELPIP to IELTS score conversion

Under IRCC's official equivalency, a CELPIP 7 in all four skills matches IELTS 6.0. From CLB 8 up, IELTS asks more of Listening than of the other skills: CLB 8 needs 7.5 in IELTS Listening, while CELPIP needs an 8.

CELPIP and CLB levels with their IELTS General Training equivalents
CELPIP / CLBReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
108.07.58.57.5
97.07.08.07.0
86.56.57.56.5
76.06.06.06.0
65.05.55.55.5
54.05.05.05.0
43.54.04.54.0

Based on IRCC's official equivalency chart, which stops at CLB 10. The full two-way comparison is on our CELPIP vs IELTS page.

English tests for Canada

Which English tests does Canada accept for PR?

For permanent residence, including Express Entry, IRCC accepts three English tests: the CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core (accepted since 2024). IELTS Academic and PTE Academic are not accepted for PR. If you speak French, TEF Canada and TCF Canada are accepted too.

English tests IRCC accepts for permanent residence
TestAccepted for PRNot accepted
CELPIPCELPIP-GeneralCELPIP-General LS (citizenship only)
IELTSGeneral TrainingAcademic, and IELTS One Skill Retake
PTEPTE CorePTE Academic

Source: IRCC's list of accepted language tests. For Express Entry, results must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you apply.

For Nigerian candidates

6 habits that cost Nigerian candidates CELPIP marks

Your Nigerian accent and your English are not the problem. Candidates lose marks on habits that do not fit a Canadian test built on everyday tasks, most of them learnt for WAEC-style exams, and CELTESTPIP's AI feedback points many of them out in your answers.

  1. Addresses and a date above the email

    The habit: School letter format puts two addresses and a date above the greeting. CELPIP Writing Task 1 is an email: those lines add nothing, eat into your 150 to 200 words and look out of place.

    The fix: Open with the greeting and give your reason for writing in the first sentence: Dear Ms Chen, I'm writing about the parking problem in our building.

  2. "Dear Sir/Ma" and "Yours faithfully" for everyone

    The habit: Dear Sir/Ma and Yours faithfully are safe choices in Nigeria. In a CELPIP email you usually know who you are writing to, and a stiff opening and closing to a friend or a neighbour gets the tone wrong.

    The fix: Use the person's name and match the closing to the reader: Hi Sam and Best wishes for a friend, Dear Mr Lee and Regards for a manager or a company.

  3. Exam-essay vocabulary

    The habit: Words like henceforth, hereby and I write to humbly inform you earned marks in secondary school, but in an email to a colleague or a landlord they sound unnatural. CELPIP rates whether your tone suits the reader.

    The fix: Write it the way a polite Canadian would say it: from now on, I'm writing to let you know.

  4. Drafting on paper first

    The habit: Handwritten exams train you to draft, then copy out. In CELPIP you type both tasks against the clock, and a full paper draft leaves too little time to type and check.

    The fix: Spend two minutes on a short plan (three points and a closing), then type straight into the box and keep a minute to reread.

  5. Putting on a foreign accent

    The habit: Some candidates switch to a British or American accent on test day. A borrowed accent tends to slip under pressure, and that makes your speech harder to follow. Raters listen for clear, easy-to-follow speech, and CELPIP says they do not consider your accent.

    The fix: Speak in your own accent, clearly and at a steady pace. Slow down on names and numbers, and finish every sentence.

  6. Memorising "past questions" and model answers

    The habit: CELPIP does not publish past papers, so anything sold as "original past questions" is not official. And every test taker signs a contract to give spontaneous, original answers: memorised or copied content can get your results invalidated.

    The fix: Learn structures, not scripts, and practise with fresh questions in the real format. A different question every time is the only way to train for a test you cannot predict.

Sample questions

CELPIP sample questions with answers

Try these two, then carry on with more than 4,000 practice questions, including Listening and Writing.

CELPIP Reading sample question

Reading, Part 1: Reading Correspondence

Hi Tunde, the building manager just emailed to say the water will be shut off on Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon for pipe repairs. I'm working from home that day, so I'll fill a few large bottles the night before. If you need some, just knock on my door. Ngozi

Why is Ngozi writing to Tunde?

  1. a)To ask him to repair the pipes
  2. b)To warn him about the water shut-off and offer help
  3. c)To invite him to work from home on Thursday
  4. d)To complain about the building manager
Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: b) To warn him about the water shut-off and offer help

Ngozi passes on the notice about Thursday's water shut-off and offers water if Tunde needs some. Option a is the trap: the word repairs is in the message, but nobody asks Tunde to repair anything; the building manager only announced the repairs. When a question asks why someone is writing, look for the whole message, not a repeated word.

CELPIP Speaking sample task

Speaking, Task 1: Giving Advice

Your friend is moving to a new city for work and cannot decide whether to rent an apartment downtown or in the suburbs. Give your friend advice.

30 seconds to prepare, 90 seconds to speak

Tip: Keep a simple shape: give your main advice in the first sentence, back it with two reasons and an example, and close with a short summary. Practise the shape, not a script; raters notice memorised answers quickly.

Practise Reading Part 1

AI practice

Everything you need to crack the real test

Three tools for faster, smarter preparation: full mock exams, instant AI scoring and a clear explanation for every answer.

Mock Exams

Practice that feels just like the real CELPIP

Take full-length mock exams built to match the official test, with the same format and timing, scored against the official criteria. Walk into test day feeling ready, not nervous.

CELTESTPIP mock exam screen in the CELPIP test format, with a timer and questions
AI Scoring

AI feedback that feels like a real tutor

Get feedback that is natural, encouraging and built around the official CELPIP scoring criteria, so you know exactly what to fix and how to improve.

CELTESTPIP AI scoring with feedback on CELPIP Speaking and Writing answers
Explanations

Detailed explanations that make you smarter

See why every answer is right or wrong, with a clear, in-depth explanation. You learn faster and remember more on test day.

CELTESTPIP answer explanations for CELPIP Listening and Reading questions

3 steps

How to prepare for CELPIP online in Nigeria

Prepare in three steps. Pick one skill, or take a full mock exam in the real CELPIP format and timing. Get your Writing and Speaking scored in seconds, so you know your CLB level. Then read the explanations, work on your weakest skill and track your scores until you are ready to book. Start from anywhere in Nigeria.

01

Pick a skill or take a mock exam

Practise Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking on their own, or take a full mock exam with the real CELPIP format and timing.

02

Practise and get instant AI scoring

Record Speaking answers, write emails and survey responses, or answer multiple-choice questions. The AI scores your work in seconds and shows you exactly where to improve.

03

Review feedback and track progress

Read the explanation for every question, compare your answers with sample answers at each CLB level, and watch your scores climb.

CELPIP courses and other resources

CELPIP courses

Step-by-step strategy for every section of the test, with free lessons.

Writing and Speaking templates

Answer structures for all 10 Writing and Speaking tasks, free, with nothing to memorise word for word.

CELPIP vocabulary

Word lists for every task, each with an English definition, an example, pronunciation and a usage tip.

Classes with a teacher

Find a CELPIP teacher, or invite your own to follow your progress.

CELPIP in Nigeria: frequently asked questions

Short answers to what Nigerian candidates ask most about CELPIP.

Can I write CELPIP in Nigeria?

Yes. CELPIP has seven test centres in Nigeria: two in Lagos (Victoria Island, and Ojo, which had no open dates when we checked on 25 September 2026) and one each in Abuja, Ibadan, Asaba, Port Harcourt and Kano. You register and pay online on the official CELPIP site, then sit the test in person with your passport.

How much is the CELPIP exam in Nigeria?

The CELPIP-General costs ₦229,000 at every Nigerian centre (checked on celpip.ca on 25 September 2026). IELTS General Training on computer costs ₦299,000 at the British Council, so CELPIP is the cheaper of the two.

How do I pay for CELPIP from Nigeria?

You book and pay in your own CELPIP account, starting from celpip.ca. Its Register Now buttons open celpip-registration.paragontesting.ca, the official registration site, so that change of address is expected; test centres do not take registrations or payments. The fee is paid online by Visa, Mastercard or American Express, all on one card. If your naira card is declined, ask your bank to enable it for online international payments, or use a dollar card. Do not pay anyone who offers you a seat or a score on WhatsApp or social media.

When are CELPIP test dates in Nigeria, and how do I book?

There are sittings every week, usually Wednesday to Saturday, with some Sundays in Ibadan and Kano. When we checked on 25 September 2026, dates were listed into December: Ibadan and Kano still had seats on every date, while most Port Harcourt and Victoria Island sittings were already sold out. Choose your centre and date on the official CELPIP Nigeria page, then pay by card to confirm the booking.

Which is easier, CELPIP or IELTS?

They are about equally hard; the format is what differs. CELPIP is fully computer-based, uses a single North American accent, has multiple-choice Listening and Reading, and records your Speaking with no examiner, so many candidates find it more predictable. If you also need a UK visa, neither covers it on its own: the UK accepts only approved tests such as IELTS for UKVI, booked separately from the IELTS General Training you take for Canada.

Where can I get CELPIP past questions?

CELPIP does not publish past papers, so "original" or "leaked" past questions sold online are not official, and memorised answers can get your results invalidated. Practise the format instead: CELPIP gives free official practice tests on celpip.ca, and CELTESTPIP has more than 4,000 practice questions in the same format.

Is there a CELPIP centre in the South-East or Edo?

Not in the South-East yet. For Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Edo, the nearest centre is Asaba in Delta State, across the Niger from Onitsha. For Abia and Imo, Port Harcourt is closer, but its dates sell out fastest, so book early or look at Asaba too.

Can I take CELPIP online from Nigeria?

No. The test is fully on a computer, but CELPIP's official FAQ says it must be taken in person at one of its test centres.

How long do CELPIP results take, and how long are they valid?

Scores are usually posted to your CELPIP account 2 to 4 business days after the test (CELPIP's Nigeria page says 3 to 4). For Express Entry they must be less than two years old when you create your profile and when you apply, so time your test to your application. For citizenship, IRCC accepts results even after they expire.

What CELPIP score do I need for Express Entry?

The Federal Skilled Worker Program needs at least CLB 7 (a CELPIP 7) in all four skills. Each level above that, up to CLB 10, adds CRS points: going from 7 to 9 in all four skills adds 56 language points for an applicant without a spouse. CLB 9 in all four skills also raises your skill transferability points when you have a post-secondary credential or foreign work experience.

What is the CELPIP pass mark?

There is none: CELPIP is not pass or fail. Each skill gets its own level from 0 to 12, and the programme you apply to sets the minimum, for example CLB 7 in all four skills for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. IRCC does not average the levels, so 9, 9, 9 and 6 does not qualify for it.

Do I need WES as well as CELPIP?

Yes, in most cases. The language test proves your English, and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) proves your Nigerian degree. You need an ECA to qualify for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and in every Express Entry program you need one to earn CRS points for education completed outside Canada. World Education Services (WES) is one of the organisations IRCC designates for the assessment.

Is CELPIP accepted in the UK or Australia?

Australia, yes: the Department of Home Affairs accepts the CELPIP-General taken at a test centre on or after 7 August 2025, and an earlier result does not count. The UK, no: CELPIP is not one of the approved English tests (SELTs) for UK visas.

Is CELPIP CBT, and do I need to be fast at typing?

Yes, it is fully computer-based: you type both Writing answers, 150 to 200 words each, in 53 minutes. Ordinary typing is enough; you do not need to be a computer expert. The official guidebook says the test screen has a timer, a word counter and a spell-check, so practise timed answers on a keyboard and use the word count to stay within 150 to 200 words.

How soon can I retake CELPIP?

Plan a month between attempts: CELPIP's Nigeria page says that if you register for more than one test, every sitting must be at least 30 calendar days apart, or CELPIP can cancel the extra registration. There is no single-skill retake: each sitting covers all four skills. Results come 2 to 4 business days after the test, so check them and work on your weakest skill before you book again.

Is there a free CELPIP practice test?

Yes. CELPIP itself gives free official practice tests on celpip.ca (you unlock them with a short form), and CELTESTPIP has free CELPIP practice tests for every section plus 3 free credits to score your Writing and Speaking with AI, with no card needed. More than 60 full mock exams and unlimited practice come with Pro Membership.

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About CELTESTPIP

CELTESTPIP is an online CELPIP preparation platform with more than 4,000 practice questions, more than 60 full CELPIP mock exams and sample answers at every CLB level. Your Speaking and Writing answers are scored with AI feedback in seconds, and every Listening and Reading question comes with a full explanation. Whether you are aiming for Canadian permanent residence, citizenship or an Australian visa, you practise with the same format and timing as the real test.

About the author

Matthew Zare
Matthew Zare

CELPIP Teacher

Strategic CELPIP preparation for Express Entry candidates.

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Sources

Facts checked on

This page is for information only; fees, centres and rules change, so confirm them on the official CELPIP and IRCC sites before you book. CELTESTPIP is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with Prometric or Paragon Testing Enterprises Inc., the developers and owners of the CELPIP test.