Hello Reader,

The short and sweet answer: you can be almost sure you'll get a 7 on the CELPIP BEFORE you actually take it. Keep reading to find out how!

Have you been feeling stressed or anxious about getting a CLB 7 on the CELPIP? You're not alone. I recently saw a post from someone on Reddit saying they were "so stressed out" about needing that score for their post-graduation work permit.

Everything, literally, was riding on them getting that 7.

That's a lot of pressure, isn't it?

And I bet you know all about that kind of pressure, because you deal with it too.

But this Reddit question got me thinking: you should be able to know BEFORE you go in on exam day that you have a really strong chance of getting the score you need.

The results of this exam are so important - there must be a way to know before you take it, that you can get the score you need...right?

In this week's podcast, I'll be tackling this very question: How do you know you're ready for a CLB 7 before you pay for and take the exam?

And here's the quick answer: A 7 is not hard to get if you already have a strong intermediate level of English.

I know...I know. That's obvious, isn't it? And I know I've mentioned this before here and on the podcast, but I rarely go into detail about what it actually means to be at an intermediate level of English.

Until now.

Today I'm taking a close up look at the Canadian Language Benchmarks - you know: the infamous CLB you see so often with a number beside it. In today's case: CLB 7.

​Listen to the full episode to walk through a complete checklist of what intermediate level speaking skills look like. Compare these benchmarks with what you're currently doing with your English so that you can determine if you have a CLB 7 or not.

To get your started, here are two essential skills a CLB 7 speaker should confidently possess:

• Handling Unexpected Interactions: You should be able to take a random phone call from a client or someone you don't know, and carry on a conversation with them in English. You should also be able to have spontaneous small talk with a cashier, or a store clerk, and be able to get the help or support you need from a bank teller, or a government employee like a driver's license agent without trouble expressing yourself.
• Expressing Opinions and Reasons: When you're expressing your opinions you're not just saying, "I hated that movie." You explain why—clearly sharing your ideas, opinions, and feelings, and giving reasons for them.

If you're doing these things, as well as the other points I cover in the podcast regularly, you very likely have a CLB 7 - and can expect to, hopefully, score that 7 on the CELPIP.

🎧 Listen now to get the full CLB 7 speaking skills checklist, and stop wondering if you're ready! ​

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Test yourself for free: Want to see what your current CLB level in English is? This might help. (A free English proficiency test that will help you get an idea of your current CLB level.)

📨 Now it's your turn! Are you sure you know what your current level of English is? Did this podcast help? Hit reply and let me know - yes! Or no!

Well, that's it for today! Thank you for reading! Have a great week.

Aaron