CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language Assessment)

What is the CAEL Assessment?

The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) is a standardized test of English in use for academic purposes. It is designed to describe the level of English language of test takers planning to study in English-medium colleges and universities.

The CAEL Assessment tests ability to use English as it is used in Canadian universities and colleges. It allows test takers to experience what it is like to participate in a Canadian post secondary classroom.
The CAEL Assessment offers a unique alternative to other standardized tests of English because it is a topic-based performance test. It comprises an integrated set of language activities. Test takers read articles, listen to a lecture, answer questions and write a short essay – all on one subject.
The language tasks and activities in the CAEL Assessment are systematically sampled from those which are commonly undertaken within the academic community.

The content for the tasks on the CAEL Assessment is drawn from introductory university courses, at times when professors are introducing new topics to their students, with the expectation that the students know little or nothing about the content. CAEL Assessment results are widely accepted in Canadian and American universities and colleges. For more information visit www.cael.ca