โ™ฆ WARNING: I did my Celban last May without any preparation or any study guide ๐Ÿ’ 

Updated 2025

3โ€“4 minutes

|| The Second Attempt ||

Hi Kim, I am from Philippines and just came 2 months here in Canada
I did my Celban last May  without any preparation or any study guide. My score in Listening is 7, Reading 8 Writing 6 and speaking 7 . I was frustrated and Iโ€™m planning to take again on November โ€ฆ J


Dear J,

Youโ€™ve only just arrived; and, already, youโ€™ve begun.

What many delay for months or years, you chose to face with courage, even without preparation. That says something about the kind of strength you carry inside. Let us take a breath to honor that.

๐Ÿœ„ Return to Self

Itโ€™s easy to forget what a tender thing it is to begin again. Youโ€™ve crossed oceans, not only of land, but of language, expectation, and hope. To feel frustration is human… but beneath that, I hear longing: to become who you already are, fully, here.

In the quiet of your heart, may you remember: effort is not wasted when it arises from a place of love: for you, family, your future, and your calling.

๐Ÿœ Fog to Clarity

You wrote your exam without a guide, and still emerged with strong scores. That is rare; and, it reveals both potential and a powerful starting point.

But now, letโ€™s slow down. Letโ€™s clarify.
The CELBAN isnโ€™t only an exam; itโ€™s a reflection of how well your communication skills can unfold in a medical context. It doesnโ€™t reward memorization. It rewards skill. Skill that is practiced, refined, embodied.

So if you choose to take it again in November, letโ€™s make sure your next attempt is grounded in clarity, not haste.

๐Ÿœƒ Rooted in Enoughness

You do not need to prove your worth by rushing. You are not late. You are not behind. You are standing exactly where you need to be.

Learning to prepare, slowly and steadily, is part of the rhythm of becoming. With just 30 minutes a day – truly focused – you can begin building the habits that will serve not only for CELBAN, but for your future as a nurse in Canada.

Let your nervous system exhale. Let your body settle into a steady, daily rhythm. You are enough, and this is enough: for now.

๐Ÿœ‚ Rekindling the Inner Fire

You already said it: youโ€™re planning to try again. That quiet determination – that flicker of โ€œI still believeโ€ – is your inner fire.

It doesnโ€™t need to burn brightly every day. Even embers can be powerful. They can carry you.

Fan the flame gently. Surround it with support. Let your preparation be a sacred act of devotion: not only to the exam, but to your dream of serving, healing, and belonging in your new home.

๐Ÿœ€ Standing at Zenith

Youโ€™ve gathered your past experiences, faced a new challenge head-on, and now you’re ready to realign. The next part of your journey isnโ€™t about doing more; itโ€™s about doing wisely, with breath and balance.

You may choose CELBAN. You may still be curious about IELTS. But what matters most is how you prepare… attuned to your nervous system, your life circumstances, and your capacity.

Let your preparation be an offering to your future self. One day, that version of you – a registered nurse in Canada – will look back and whisper, Thank you for not giving up.

Youโ€™re not alone, J. Iโ€™m walking with you.

In steady presence,

~ Kim


CELBAN or IELTS || Enouragement || Mastering Your Psychology ||




If you are looking for personal guidance and heartfelt advice on your CELBAN journey, then โ€˜Dear Kimโ€™ is a perfect choice. Follow Dear Kim for a wealth of insights and answers to your questions.


If you are keen to understand medical grammar, these English Language Mastery for Health Professionals books are also available in the following marketplaces:  

E-Books are available at these Amazon Marketplaces:

(Many are FREE with Kindle Unlimited.)

US     UK   BR    DE    ES     FR   IN     IT     JP    NL   MX   PL   SE    AU   CA     

Paperback books are available at the following Amazon Marketplaces:  

US     UK     DE    ES     FR     IT     JP    MX    NL    PL    SE    AU   CA   


CELBANPrepโ€™s English Language Mastery program is designed to help Internationally Educated Health Professionals achieve the level of language proficiency you need to succeed in your careers in Canada



Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


Let their stories inspire yours! Return to your Self: transforming fog into clarity, becoming rooted in enoughness, and rekindling the fire within, so that you stand centred at your zenith: with hope, confidence, and grace.

๐Ÿœ There are times that I am at a point of giving up. But, I always find myself reading your …
๐Ÿœ I failed to make the CELBAN grade in one area. I was very disappointed. My weakness: timing..
๐ŸŽ• After failing the IELTS 7 x, I joined [CELBANPrep]: I passed!!!
๐ŸŽ• Because of your guidance I did [the CELBAN] and got admission.
โ™ฅ I am here for you, what I really want to know is: are you here for yourself?
๐Ÿœ‚ I dont know how to start, im so desperate, frustrated, hopeless
๐Ÿœƒ There are times that I want to give up because Iโ€™m not sure if I can do [the CELBAN]
How can I get a writing practice test or any material for CELBAN writing practice exam?
๐ŸŽ• Thank you miss Kim for the words of encouragement. May God bless you all the time
 ๐Ÿœ‚ I took celban twice and I didnโ€™t get expected score
HOPE !! โ™ฅ I just got my CELBAN test result today, I PASSED! 
HOPE !! โ™ฅ I passed the CELBAN on my 1st try
โ™ฅ it feels like theres something lacking on me โ€“ sometimes feeling emptiness.
๐Ÿ–น I already took CELBAN twice, but โ€ฆ Iโ€™m not lucky to pass
๐Ÿœƒ I am from Swift Current [Saskatchewan], I have two jobsโ€ฆ I wanted some [CELBAN] materials to read at home
What is the Word Count on the CELBAN Exam? for CELBAN Writing?
๐ŸŽ• I PASSeD MY CELBAN!!! Iโ€™m so happy I subscribed to CELBANPrep=)
๐ŸŽ• I took CELBAN, first attempt I failedโ€ฆ.I got the confidence to overcome my fear of writing
๐ŸŽ• I passed my Celban exam the first timeโ€ฆI attempted IELTS twice. 
๐ŸŽ• After 3x failing the IELTS, I finally passed my CELBAN exam in the first attempt!
โ™ฅ I donโ€™t have the confident, I feel that I will fail [the CELBAN]
๐Ÿœ‚ I am a 7 months postpartum Momโ€ฆwhen will I start
๐Ÿœƒ Do you have an ideas of how a busy mom with a toddler can study?
Horaaaaaaaaay, I did it [wrote a perfect report for CELBAN Writing] in 20 minutesย 



Ask Kimโ€™s Assistant!!!

If you canโ€™t find what you are looking for, ask Kimโ€™s Assistant.

Type in your question. Kimโ€™s Assistant will go through all of Dear Kim and give you:

  1. A summary of the findings, and
  2. A list of blog posts that will answer your question further.

Please allow a time for your answer to appear below.

NOTE: AI-generated content could be inaccurate or biased. Also, Kim started this blog in 2009. While some posts have been update, others are in the process of being updates.