The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment or CAEL is a standardized test designed to measure English language proficiency for admission to college and university, and for membership in professional associations. Test takers read articles, listen to a lecture, answer questions, and write a short essay, as they would be expected to do in a first-year university or college classroom.[1]
The CAEL Assessment is accepted by over 180 academic institutions across Canada and the United States as well as to several international institutions. The test is also accepted at a number of professional organizations, including the Canadian Veterinary Association, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC).[2]
The CAEL Assessment is developed in Canada, by Canadians. It incorporates Canadian English and accents as used in Canadian academic contexts and post-secondary institutions. The CAEL Assessment is a fully integrated and topic-based performance test. Test takers use the information from the Reading and Listening components to write their essay.[3]
In June 2015, Paragon Testing Enterprises, a Canadian English language testing company and a subsidiary of the University of British Columbia, acquired the CAEL Assessment from Carleton University.[4]
The CAEL Assessment was first developed by Carleton University in 1987. It was created out of a need to standardize the existing English language test given to students requiring a proficiency test as part of their admission to Carleton.[5] However, in June 2015, Paragon Testing Enterprises, a subsidiary of The University of British Columbia (UBC), acquired the test.[6]
Paragon currently administers three tests: the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment, and the Language Proficiency Index (LPI). The CELPIP Test is one of two tests designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as proof of English language proficiency for permanent resident status in Canada and Canadian citizenship.[7] With the acquisition of the CAEL Assessment, Paragon Testing Enterprises retired the CELPIP- Academic Test.
The language tasks and activities in the CAEL Assessment are systematically sampled from those that are commonly undertaken within the university academic community. The content for the tasks are 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.[8]
Topics for the CAEL Assessment are drawn from introductory university courses such as arts, sociology, anthropology, business, engineering, sports, law, and medicine. Possible topics include criminal behaviour, global warming, urban development, cultural diversity, weather systems, team management, competition, and organizational behaviour.[9]
The total allotted test time is approximately 145 minutes (2 hours and 25 minutes). Some test centres offer the CAEL Assessment over 2 days, with the Written Assessment and the OLT held on separate days.
The CAEL Assessment has two parts: Part 1, the Written Assessment and Part 2, the Oral Language Test (OLT).[10]
| Written Assessment | Reading Section 1 | 25 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Section | 20 minutes | |
| Reading Section 2 | 30 minutes | |
| Writing Section | 45 minutes |
The time allotted for the Reading section is 55 minutes. Test takers are given two readings that are on the same topic as the Listening and Writing components.[11]
The readings are taken from the following sources:
Reading tasks include:
The time allotted for the Listening section is 20 minutes. Test takers listen to a pre-recorded lecture and answer relevant questions on the same topic as the Reading and Writing components.[12]
Listening tasks include:
The time allotted for the Writing section is 45 minutes. Test takers will use the information from the Reading and Listening components to write a short essay. It is encouraged that test takers plan their essays prior to writing.
The essay topic asks the test taker to:
The time allotted for the Oral Language Test (OLT) is 25 minutes. The OLT is carried out on a computer equipped with a headset and microphone, however test takers will not be required to use the computer mouse or keyboard. The OLT may be taken before or after the Written Assessment.[13]
It consists of five tasks which sample typified and recurring speech acts within college and university settings:
| Task 1 (2 minutes) | Make a short oral presentation. Test takers are given the topic for the presentation upon registration in stage one and may take as much time as they like to prepare and practice their talk in advance of the test. | |
| Task 2 (5 minutes) | Relay information obtained from a lecture. Test takers are asked to provide key information to another student based on their understanding of a short recorded segment of a professor's instructions. | |
| Task 3 (5 minutes) | Relay information obtained from an academic document. Test takers are asked to provide specific information based on their reading of a short, generic academic document. | |
| Task 4 (5 minutes) | Relay information from an academic text. Test takers are asked to read a section of the text in Task 3 aloud, for the purpose of discussing the text in the context of a group discussion or academic presentation. | |
| Task 5 (8 minutes) | Explain a choice for participation in a group project. Test takers listen to a professor's instructions for a group oral presentation. Then they listen to other members of a group who explain their preferences for participation in the presentation. After listening to the other group members, the test takers are asked to explain their own presentation choice and ask a question regarding an important detail related to the presentation (e.g., time allowed, marking criteria, available equipment, etc.). |
CAEL Assessment Scores are reported for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking test components. The scores range from band level 10 to band level 90.[14]
Each band score corresponds to a descriptive statement summarizing the level of English language proficiency of a test taker.
| 80–90 | Expert: demonstrates a level of competence, accuracy, and effectiveness in academic/professional settings | |
| 70 | Adept: uses generally accurate language in most settings; some limitations in flexibility are evident | |
| 60 | Advanced: displays competence in academic or professional settings | |
| 50 | High Intermediate: exhibits some competence in academic or professional settings; communication may break down in places | |
| 40 | Intermediate: demonstrates some ability to comprehend and articulate complex ideas and arguments typical of academic or professional settings | |
| 30 | High Beginner: expresses basic ideas about familiar topics in routine settings | |
| 10–20 | Low Beginner: communicates with limited ability |
| 70–90 | Meets university and college entry requirements | |
| 50–60 | May meet entry requirements at some colleges and universities | |
| 10–40 | Too low to meet entry requirements at any college or university |
Results of tests taken at Canadian test centres are available within 8 business days after the scheduled test date. However, the results of tests taken at international test locations are available within 20 business days after the scheduled test date.
Test takers’ test scores can be sent to five institutions, which is included in the registration fee. Institution details are provided by the test takers when registering online, or up to 4 days before the chosen test date. The official score reports will only be mailed to academic and professional institutions.[15]
Test takers can currently take the CAEL Assessment at test centres across Canada and China.
The full list of test centres and their corresponding test dates is listed at the CAEL website: https://www.cael.ca/
The CAEL Assessment is accepted by over 180 academic institutions across Canada and internationally as proof of English proficiency. A number of professional associations also recognize the CAEL Assessment as proof of English language proficiency required for membership.[16]
| Canadian Institutions | |
|---|---|
| Alberta | |
| British Columbia | |
| Newfoundland | |