CELPIP Vocabulary: How to Build It for Writing and Speaking

Good CELPIP vocabulary is not a list of rare words. Raters reward common words and phrases that are precise, varied and natural. The fastest way to build them is to learn phrases for the test's everyday topics.

The official details below come from the CELPIP website's 2026 study materials, checked in October 2026.

1What raters look for

CELPIP rates Writing and Speaking in four areas. Vocabulary sits next to content and coherence, readability (listenability in Speaking), and task fulfilment.

The 2026 Overview Study Pack lists four vocabulary factors for both skills:

• Word choice: picking the right word for your meaning.
• Suitable use of words and phrases: using them in a way that fits the sentence and the situation.
• Range of words and phrases: not repeating the same few words.
• Precision and accuracy: saying exactly what you mean, with no wrong words.

The official Speaking Pro study pack sums this up in one question: "What is the range of your vocabulary and can you use it naturally?" Range alone is not enough.

The official sample analyses show what this looks like. A Level 12 email is praised for "specialized", "formal" and "common words and phrases used correctly". A Level 9 email loses marks for "repetitive word choice", with "local" used five times. A Level 9 speaker is marked down for vague words like "really good university", "pretty expensive" and "great help".

So raters want variety, but each word must also do a precise job.

2Why fancy words can hurt

A word you have only seen in a list is hard to use correctly.

Here is a sentence built from list words: "My neighbour is in a precarious predicament owing to the elevator's dysfunction." Each word is real. Together they sound odd, because nobody describes a broken elevator this way.

The official analyses flag exactly this kind of problem. One response is marked down for "imprecise and unnatural words and phrases", such as "among the society". Another speaker tries "more precise transition words but uses them incorrectly".

A rare word used wrongly lowers precision and accuracy, and it can hide your meaning. Compare: "My elderly neighbour can't leave her apartment because the elevator is broken." It is clearer, and it says more.

The official Speaking Pro pack gives a useful rule for Task 8. If you cannot think of a precise word, "create phrases using common words to express your meaning." That works in every task.

3Phrase sets by topic

The official guidebook describes CELPIP as using "vocabulary taken from everyday situations". Emails, survey questions and speaking tasks often return to the same areas.

Learn words in groups that belong together, called collocations: "meet a deadline", not just "deadline". Here are original phrase sets for six common topic areas, written by CelpMock:

• Workplace: cover a shift, meet a deadline, fall behind on a project, take on extra duties, bring it up with my manager, ask for time off, get along with my coworkers.
• Neighbourhood: within walking distance, a quiet residential street, heavy traffic at rush hour, a lack of parking, a well-lit park, a strong sense of community.
• Housing: sign a lease, pay a security deposit, report a leak, submit a repair request, the rent is going up, give notice before moving out, a shared laundry room.
• Shopping and services: ask for a refund, return it with the receipt, out of stock, still under warranty, a billing error, cancel my membership, speak to a supervisor.
• Health: book an appointment, a walk-in clinic, a long wait time, a follow-up visit, fill a prescription, feel run-down, stay active.
• Community: volunteer at a food bank, hold a fundraiser, sign up for a program, raise awareness, support local businesses, give back to the community, open to all ages.

Do not memorise these as a list. Pick two or three a day and use them in sentences about your own life. "I had to cover a shift for a coworker last week" will stay with you far longer than "cover a shift" on its own.

4Upgrade plain words

You do not need new words to sound precise. Often you only need to replace a vague word with a specific one:

• good: a convenient location, a reliable bus service, affordable rent, a helpful clerk.
• bad: a noisy street, an outdated kitchen, a rude response, an overcrowded bus.
• a lot of: long lineups, dozens of complaints, a heavy workload.
• thing: the issue, the item, the option, the problem.

A before and after example

This is an original example in the style of CELPIP Writing Task 1, an email to a building manager. It was written for this post by CelpMock and is not an official question or sample.

Plain version: I am writing about a problem in our building. The elevator is broken for two weeks. This is very bad for me because I live on the ninth floor. Also my neighbour is old and she has a lot of problems with the stairs. I think you should fix it very fast. Also you should tell people when it will be good again.

Improved version: I am writing about the elevator in our building, which has been out of service for two weeks. Since I live on the ninth floor, carrying groceries up the stairs has become exhausting. My neighbour, who is in her eighties, has hardly left her apartment since it broke down. Could you please arrange a repair as soon as possible? It would also help if you posted an update in the lobby, so residents know what to expect.

What changed, and why it matters:

• "is broken" became "has been out of service". A natural phrase for machines in a building, with the correct tense.
• "very bad for me" became a real effect. "Carrying groceries up the stairs has become exhausting" shows the problem instead of naming it.
• "old" became "in her eighties". It is more precise and more respectful.
• "fix it very fast" became "arrange a repair as soon as possible". It is more polite, which also helps tone under task fulfilment.
• "good again" became "posted an update in the lobby". It names exactly what the writer wants.

The improved version has no rare words. The gain comes from phrases that fit the situation. For full sample emails and a template, see our CELPIP Writing page.

Linking words, used naturally

In Writing, the official chart lists "connectors and transitions" under readability. In Speaking, they help raters follow your ideas.

Keep a small set you can use without thinking:

• Adding: also, on top of that, in addition.
• Contrast: but, however, even so.
• Reason: because, since.
• Result: so, as a result.
• Example: for example, for instance.
• Order: first, after that, finally.

Use each one only for its real job. "I like my job. Nevertheless, my coworkers are friendly" is wrong, because there is no contrast. A simple "also" would be correct and sound better.

For speaking task templates and timing, see our CELPIP Speaking page.

5Reading and Listening

In the multiple choice sections, you need to recognise the same idea in different words.

The 2026 Overview Study Pack advises you to "look for paraphrased ideas in answer choices" in Listening. For Reading, it says to watch for main ideas and key details "to be paraphrased in answer choices".

These original pairs show the kind of match to look for:

• "The shirt was out of stock" means "the item was not available".
• "She can't make it on Friday" means "she will not attend".
• "The meeting has been pushed back" means "the meeting is now later".
• "It's free of charge" means "there is no cost".

When you study a reading text or a transcript, note pairs like these in your notebook. Spotting the same idea in new words is what our CELPIP tips call matching the meaning, not the words.

6A notebook and a routine

We do not offer a CELPIP vocabulary PDF, and here is why. A long list gives you words without context. It does not show which words go together, how formal they are, or when to use them.

A personal notebook fixes all three. Each entry has the phrase, the sentence where you found it, and one sentence of your own on a test topic. You also only write down phrases you actually need, not thousands you will never use.

A 20-minute daily routine

• 5 minutes, collect: read or listen to one everyday Canadian source, such as a city website, a store's return policy or local news. Note three useful phrases.
• 5 minutes, write: for each phrase, write one sentence about your own life.
• 5 minutes, speak: answer a practice speaking question for 60 seconds and try to use your new phrases. Record it.
• 5 minutes, review: reread phrases from earlier days and say a new sentence for each.

Once a week, try a tip from the official Speaking Pro pack. Transcribe one recording and spend 20 to 30 minutes editing it to add variety.

To see how your vocabulary holds up on the real timers, try our free sample test. It has one part of each section, takes about 50 minutes and gives AI feedback on your writing and speaking.

7Frequently asked questions