CELPIP Reading Part 4: Reading for Viewpoints
Separate competing opinions in an article and interpret a reader’s response in relation to those opinions.
At a glance
- Typical part time
- 13 minutes · approx.
- Questions
- 10
- Full skill time
- 43–56 minutes
Part timings are approximate. Follow the timer and instructions displayed on your test screen. Listening and Reading each have 38 scored questions; additional unscored material can appear, so attempt every part.
Format reference: official Reading study pack · current test format. Checked 4 October 2026.
What you will do
An opinion-focused article with five comprehension questions and a reader comment with five missing selections.
Manage this part’s time
Suggested MockPip routine: 3 minutes to map opinions, 5 minutes for the article questions, 4 minutes for the comment and 1 minute for a final check.
Practice routines are MockPip suggestions, not additional official timing rules.A step-by-step approach
- Identify the issue and everyone whose opinion is included.
- Connect each opinion with its reasons and qualifications.
- Answer article questions from the relevant viewpoint.
- Determine the commenter’s stance before completing the response.
Techniques for this part
- Make a compact person/position/reason table. Keep the author’s narration separate from quoted opinions.
- Treat contrast words as direction signs: “nevertheless” can reverse the force of the previous sentence.
- For inference questions, require evidence in the text; an opinion that sounds reasonable is not enough.
See the technique in action
Original mini-example: An article reports that shop owners oppose a street closure, while residents welcome quieter evenings. A commenter who values quiet may support the closure without agreeing that shops will benefit.
This example is independently written for practice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assigning one expert’s view to the author.
- Missing a concession and selecting an overly absolute answer.
- Completing a comment gap with an idea that contradicts the commenter’s stance.
Choose an answer for every question
Wrong answers do not lose points. Eliminate implausible choices, then choose one best answer per question; leave no question blank. This does not mean selecting every option.
Official guidance on guessing and answering all questions →Your next practice exercise
After reviewing answers, explain each person’s position in one sentence and identify the wording that reveals the commenter’s attitude.
Before you finish
- Whose viewpoint supports this answer?
- Did I preserve qualifiers such as “some” and “may”?
- Is the completed comment internally consistent?
Explore another skill
MockPip’s techniques and practice examples are independently created. MockPip is not affiliated with or endorsed by CELPIP or its test provider. Practice results are not official CELPIP scores.