How do I answer the diagram questions in CELPIP Reading Part 2?

First see how the diagram is organised, by time, category or place, and read its headings and anything in bold. Then read the email to learn who is writing and why. For each question, find the clue in the email and the matching fact in the diagram.

How long is CELPIP Reading Part 2 and how many questions?

8 questions in about 9 minutes, the shortest Reading part. CELPIP's suggested plan is 30 seconds on the diagram, 30 seconds on the email, 5 minutes for the first 5 questions, 2.5 minutes for the last 3, and 30 seconds to check that you answered everything.

Why do many test-takers find CELPIP Reading Part 2 tricky?

You have to link a picture to a piece of writing under time pressure: 8 questions in about 9 minutes. Most lost marks come from misreading how the diagram is organised or missing one small detail, such as a date, a price or a category.

What reading skill does CELPIP Reading Part 2 test?

Reading a diagram and applying it to a real message, the way you would with a bus schedule, a price list or a set of instructions. It is less about rare vocabulary and more about connecting the visual to the text accurately.

How can I get better at CELPIP Reading Part 2?

Practise with real schedules, price lists, brochures and how-to guides. Each time, name how the information is organised before you read the details. Then time yourself at about 9 minutes per set until linking the diagram to the email feels quick.

How much does CELPIP Reading Part 2 count toward my score?

Part 2 gives 8 of the 38 scored Reading questions. Each correct answer is worth 1 point, the same as in any other part, and wrong answers cost nothing. There is no separate Part 2 score: all four parts lead to one CELPIP Reading level.

CELPIP Reading Part 2 Sample Test: Free, With Answers

In this part, you will analyze a diagram alongside an email or message. The goal is to interpret the diagram, link it to the text, and accurately select responses based on their connections. On test day this part has 8 questions and CELPIP allows about 9 minutes for it. Here you can take one full set for free, all 8 questions on the same clock, with every answer explained, once you make a free account. Every other set on this page is part of Pro.

What is CELPIP Reading Part 2 (Reading to Apply a Diagram)?

Reading Part 2, also called Reading Task 2, gives you a diagram, such as a schedule, a flyer or a how-to guide, and a short email about it with blanks. You answer 8 questions in about 9 minutes, using the picture and the email together. It is the shortest of the four Reading parts.

How many questions are in Reading Part 2, and how long do you get?

Part 2 has 8 questions in two sets, 5 and then 3. CELPIP gives about 9 minutes for the whole part.

Each Reading part runs on its own clock. You can change your answers as often as you like while the time lasts. When it runs out, the test moves to the next part on its own and you cannot go back.

Every correct answer is worth 1 point and a wrong answer costs nothing, so answer every question. Part 2 counts toward one CELPIP Reading level, based on all 38 scored questions. See how many correct answers each level needs on the CELPIP Reading score chart.

What will you read in Reading Part 2?

The main text is a diagram: short point-form text with pictures. The second text is a short email from one community member to another about what the diagram shows, with blanks to fill in.

CELPIP's examples include a transit, course or event schedule, a brochure or flyer for an event or attraction, and a guide to a community task such as garbage disposal or applying for an ID card. The tone is informative and helpful, not personal, and the diagram is concise: key ideas plus images.

How should you spend the 9 minutes?

CELPIP publishes a suggested plan for this part in its Reading study pack. It adds up to 9 minutes:

Preview the diagram (30 seconds). What kind of visual is it, who made it, how is it laid out, and how do the words and pictures connect?
Preview the email (30 seconds). Find the writer, the recipient and the purpose.
Answer question set 1 (5 minutes). Use keywords to find the right part of the email, look for clues in both the email and the diagram, and watch for paraphrase.
Answer question set 2 (2.5 minutes).
Review (30 seconds). Make sure every question has an answer.

Our CELPIP Reading time guide shows how this fits with the other three parts.

Tips for CELPIP Reading Part 2

Find the organising idea first. Is the diagram arranged by time, by category, by place or by price? Once you know, you can find any detail in seconds.
Ask who made it and for whom. A city flyer and a store price list are built for different readers, and that tells you what matters in them.
Use both texts for every answer. Look for the clue in the email, then the fact in the diagram that it points to. An answer taken from one text alone is often the trap.
Use the visual cues. Arrows, colours, bold text and icons often show order, groups or exceptions.
Expect paraphrase. The options may say what the diagram says in different words.

The video above walks through these moves on a real Part 2 question. For more, read the Reading Part 2 tips in our Reading guide or take the free Apply a Diagram lesson.

Common mistakes in Reading Part 2

Misreading how the diagram is organised, so the right detail is never found.
Missing a small detail, such as a date, a price or a category.
Answering from the diagram alone and ignoring what the email says the writer needs.

Keep practising Reading Part 2

Start the free Part 2 set at the top of this page: 8 questions, every answer explained, with a free account.
Learn the words this part uses with the Reading Part 2 vocabulary list.
Ready for the next part? Try the CELPIP Reading Part 3 sample test.