CAEL

Study Guide
 DISCLAIMER

In response to ongoing research and development, changes may occasionally be made

to CAEL. There may be short periods of time when study materials do not exactly match the
current official test format, and content may be updated to match changes to CAEL without
prior notice. Check the CAEL website for any updates to CAEL: cael.ca.

CAEL Study Guide

Copyright © 2020 Prometric Testing

Prometric Testing, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

First Edition: November 2020

All rights reserved. It is illegal to reproduce any portion of this material except by special
arrangement with Prometric Testing. Reproduction of this material without authorization, by any
duplication process whatsoever, is a violation of copyright.

ISBN 978-1-988047-48-5 

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | ii

CONTENTS

Introduction iv

Format and Scoring 1

Skills and Question Types 4

Navigation 9

Test Components 11

Part 1: Speaking 29

Part 2: Integrated Reading 31

Part 3: Integrated Listening 33

Part 4: Academic Unit A 35

Part 5: Academic Unit B 37

Preparation Materials 39

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | iii

Introduction

The CAEL (Canadian Academic English Language) Test is a 100% computer-delivered

test that assesses academic English for entrance into Canadian post-secondary institutions.
There are two versions of this test. 1) You may take CAEL at one of the many testing centres
located throughout Canada and in select locations internationally. 2) You may take CAEL
from the comfort of your own home, with CAEL Online. This home-based version has
online proctoring to guarantee your test security, and it contains the exact same test format,
content, and reporting scale as the CAEL which is delivered in test centres.

For more information about both versions of the test, please visit cael.ca. You can access
two free, full-length sample tests at cael.ca/cael-ce-sample-test.

One of the unique features of CAEL is that some of the activities are experienced in an
integrated skills format. Test takers are presented with Reading and Listening passages
that form the basis of Speaking and Writing tasks. The advantage of this approach is that
it assesses an individual’s ability to synthesize information from a variety of sources, just
as a student would in a post-secondary educational setting. When writing in college
or university, students are often required to bring together information from a variety of
sources such as lectures, online material, books, and journals. When participating in
class discussion, students are expected to be able to talk about what they have heard
in a lecture or what they have read in an academic text. By preparing for the test and
practicing these skills, you will be readying yourself for the types of activities you will do in
a real classroom.

This study guide for CAEL features a description of the five parts of the test, in-depth
explanations for each part, guidelines for optimizing your performance, and study tips to
help you prepare.

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Format and Scoring

CAEL Format
Part 1: Speaking
Total time: 7–10 minutes
Task Description
Independent Speaking, Respond to a question from a professor.
Type A
Independent Speaking, Respond to a question from a professor.
Type B
Speaking on a Visual Describe and discuss a diagram.

Part 2: Integrated Reading

Total time: 35–50 minutes
Task Description
Short Reading Read a passage and answer questions.
Long Reading Read a passage about an academic topic and answer
questions.
Speaking on the Long Answer a question based on the Long Reading.
Reading

Part 3: Integrated Listening

Total time: 25–35 minutes
Task Description
Short Listening Listen to a presentation and answer questions.
Long Listening Listen to a passage about an academic topic and answer
questions.
Speaking on the Long Answer a question about the Long Listening.
Listening

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Part 4: Academic Unit A
Total time: 60–70 minutes
Task Description
Long Reading Read a passage about an academic topic and answer
questions.
Long Listening Listen to a passage about an academic topic and answer
questions.
Long Writing Write a response to a question about ideas presented in the
Long Reading and the Long Listening.

Part 5: Academic Unit B

Total time: 40–45 minutes
Task Description
Long Reading Read a passage about an academic topic and answer
questions.
Long Listening Listen to a passage about an academic topic and answer
questions.
Short Writing Write a short response to a question about ideas presented
in the Long Reading or the Long Listening.

CAEL assesses your ability to use English in a Canadian academic context. In order to
reflect the diversity of academic disciplines, the topics on the test are drawn from a variety
of fields in Arts and Science. The following chart highlights some of the subjects you might
experience on the test. Note that these areas of study contain far more subjects than are
listed here; this chart is simply meant to provide you with a few standard examples.

Arts Science
Economics Architecture
English Literature Astronomy
Philosophy Engineering
Psychology Forensics
World History Geography

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 2

 Can I take any notes during CAEL?

Yes! You will be provided with notepaper and a pen while taking CAEL at a test
centre, and you will be able to type notes via an onscreen window when taking
CAEL Online. Regardless of how you take the test, it may be useful to take notes. In
addition, you will have access to the entire Reading passage and some short notes
on the lecture for each relevant Speaking and Writing task.

CAEL Scoring
You will receive separate scores for each of the four components—Speaking, Reading,
Listening, and Writing—as well as an overall score. These scores are reported on a scale
from 10 to 90, and the overall score is an average taking equal weight from each of the
component scores. Scores for entrance requirements will vary among institutions.

The Reading and Listening components are computer-scored. Your responses for the
Speaking and Writing components are recorded on the computer and assessed by human
raters at a later time. See Pages 13 and 26 for checklists for the Speaking and
Writing components, respectively. Keeping these checklists in mind during your studies will
help prepare you for what the raters are looking for in a good response.

CAEL may include unscored items used for research and development purposes. These
can be found anywhere within the test and will have the same format as the scored items.
You will not be able to tell scored items from unscored items, so apply your best effort to
the entire test.

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Skills and Question Types

Reading and Listening Skills

The questions on the Reading and Listening components of CAEL are designed to test
three skills: your ability to comprehend the general meaning of the passage; your ability to
identify specific information in the passage; and your ability to make inferences based on
information in the passage.
General meaning questions focus on the broad ideas in the passage that cannot be
determined from a single sentence. For example, you may be asked to identify the topic,
theme, or main idea in a passage.
Specific information questions focus on understanding specific details in a passage. You
may be asked to identify key information, supporting details, opinions, or examples.
Inference questions focus on drawing conclusions and making assumptions based on
information in the passage. You may be asked to identify implicit information.

Note that there is no connection between the following question types, and the skill that is
being assessed. Any question type can be used to assess any of the three skills.

Reading and Listening Question Types

There is a variety of question types in the Reading and Listening sections of CAEL, and you
may improve your performance if you get familiar with each of them prior to taking the test.
You may not see every question type in any one Listening or Reading section.

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Multiple-Choice
In standard multiple-choice questions, only one answer is correct. The options here will always
have circular selection areas.

Figure 1: Multiple-choice question with correct answer selected.

Multiple-Choice Multiple-Answer
In some multiple-choice questions, you must select two or more correct answers. The
individual question will tell you how many choices you must select. The options here will
always have square selection areas.

Figure 2: Multiple-choice question with three answers selected.

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Fill-in-the-Blank
For fill-in-the-blank questions, you must type a short word or phrase in response to the
question. There is no spell check in CAEL, so be sure to double-check your answer here.

Figure 3: Empty fill-in-the-blank question.

Drop-down
In drop-down questions, you must complete a piece of text by selecting one of the four
options presented in the drop-down menu.

Figure 4: Drop-down question with the four options displayed.

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Ordering
In ordering, you must click and drag each option so that it is in the correct sequence.

Figure 5: Ordering question whose options must be arranged in the correct order.

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Matching
In this type of question, you must click on each answer and drag it into the correct box.

Figure 6: Matching question with no

answers selected.

Figure 7: Matching question with answers

dropped into appropriate boxes.

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Navigation
Questions in the Reading and Listening parts of the test appear on a series of screens that
can be accessed by clicking on the arrows or numbered tabs at the top. Once all the
questions on a particular screen have been answered, the corresponding tab will turn
green. Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean the answers are correct; it simply means that
an answer has been given for each question.

Figure 8: The first of five question pages has been completed here.

If all the numbered tabs have turned green, you know that all the questions in that part
of the test have been answered. If any of the numbered tabs are still white, return to that
section and answer any remaining questions before moving to the next part of the test.

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Figure 9: All five question pages have been completed here.

Once you select Next on any screen of the test, you will not be able to return to that part.
Moreover, if you finish one section early and proceed to the next part, you will not be able
to roll over this extra time to use in subsequent sections. Therefore, it may be best if you
spend the maximum amount of time in each section, using any time you have left over to
check over your answers.

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Test Components
Speaking
You will perform a range of Speaking tasks throughout CAEL. In Part 1, there are three
Speaking tasks. In the first two, you will discuss various aspects of your educational plans
or experiences, or other topics applicable to academic study. In
the third task, you will describe and draw conclusions about an
information graphic. I’m worried that
my voice isn’t
Parts 2 and 3 present Speaking tasks relating directly to a being recorded.
Reading passage and a lecture, respectively. Your response in What can I do?
each case will demonstrate your understanding of the passage or
lecture. As you are
speaking, you will
Regardless of the context, you may find it useful to keep the see a grey bar
following points in mind while you’re speaking (for a more move vertically
complete discussion of these points, see the Speaking Checklist along the
on Page 13). microphone icon.
• Speak at a good volume, with a steady pace. This indicates that
• Provide examples and reasons. your response is
• Use appropriate tenses. being recorded.
• Use a level of formality appropriate to the task.
• Don’t worry if you stumble now and then in your
speech (everyone makes mistakes!)—focus mainly
on conveying your message to the listener.
• Make sure your response is structurally and
logically complete.
• Use connectors and transition words to help the
listener follow the flow of your ideas.
• For the Speaking tasks in Parts 2 and 3, use ideas
from the Reading and Listening passages,
respectively, to back up points in your response.
° However, do not copy information directly, but rather,
paraphrase ideas (put them in your own words). Paraphrasing
will also allow you to demonstrate your range of vocabulary.

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For each Speaking task, you will have a Preparation Time and a Recording Time. During
the Preparation Time, you should fully read the question and try to brainstorm a few ideas
if you’ve got any time left. You will speak during the Recording Time. Note that these times
will vary from task to task.

Figure 10: Preparation Time.

Figure 11: Recording Time.

You will also see a static display of times in the top right corner of the Speaking screen.

Figure 12: The times in the top right corner will not count down. Compare these with your progress bar to gauge how
much time you have left when you are speaking.

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Speaking Checklist
This checklist outlines the key things to keep in mind while doing your Speaking responses.
You may wish to record your responses as you practice, then play them back and
compare them against this checklist to help you determine your strengths and weaknesses.

General
1. Does the speaker speak at a good volume (not too softly, Yes No Sometimes
not too loudly)?
2. Does the speaker speak clearly with minimal pausing and Yes No Sometimes
hesitations?
3. Does the speaker speak at a good speed (not too fast, not Yes No Sometimes
too slow)?
4. Does the speaker use appropriate rhythm, pronunciation, Yes No Sometimes
and intonation patterns?
5. Does the speaker use a variety of words and phrases? Yes No Sometimes
6. Does the speaker use vocabulary that is suitable and Yes No Sometimes
precise?
7. Does the speaker speak in complete sentences? Yes No Sometimes
8. Does the speaker use a variety of sentence structures? Yes No
9. Does the speaker clearly state his or her main idea? Yes No
10. Does the speaker provide specific details and examples Yes No Sometimes
to support their response?
11. Does the speaker remain on topic? Yes No Sometimes
12. Is the speaker’s tone appropriate for the social context Yes No Sometimes
of the task?
13. Is the response well organized and easy to follow? Yes No
14. Does the speaker use appropriate linking words and Yes No Sometimes
phrases?
15. Does the speaker avoid repeating ideas? Yes No
16. Does the speaker conclude with an appropriate closing Yes No
remark?
17. Does the speaker speak for the entire time? Yes No
18. Does the speaker’s response fully answer the question? Yes No

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 Speaking on a Visual
1. Does the speaker describe and/or explain the graph Yes No
accurately?
2. Does the speaker identify general trends? Yes No Sometimes
3. Does the speaker draw conclusions that are Yes No Sometimes
realistic and based on graph data?
Speaking on the Long Reading
1. Does the speaker use information from the Reading Yes No
passage to support and develop their ideas?
2. Does the speaker use information from the Reading Yes No Sometimes
passage that is relevant to the Speaking question?
3. Is the speaker able to paraphrase information Yes No Sometimes
rather than repeat words or phrases from the
Reading passage?
Speaking on the Long Listening
1. Does the speaker use information from the Yes No
Listening passage to support and develop their
ideas?
2. Does the speaker use information from the Yes No Sometimes
Listening passage that is relevant to the Speaking
question?
3. Is the speaker able to paraphrase information Yes No Sometimes
rather than repeat words or phrases from the
Listening passage?

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 Study Tip
There are various ways to prepare for the Speaking component of CAEL. First and
foremost, practice speaking English as much as you can on a daily basis. Join clubs or
activities you are interested in; converse with friends, classmates, or co-workers in English;
or even practice reading aloud from news or journal articles. These can all help you
become more confident and natural in your speech.

Watching English television programs and films,

and listening to the news and podcasts, can How do I know if I’m improving
also help increase your range of vocabulary my speaking if I don’t have
and familiarize you with the different levels of anyone to practice with?
formality in spoken English. In particular, listen You may wish to use a phone or
to the news daily and pay attention to how other recording device to record
people express their opinions as well as how yourself while you speak, then play it
they summarize trends. back afterwards, using the Speaking
Checklist to help you determine your
strengths and weaknesses. You could
also write down what you said as
you play back your response; this
act of transcription can help you
spot weaknesses in your sentence
structure and word choice.

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 Reading
The Reading passages in CAEL come in two types: short and long. The Short Reading
passage, found in Part 2, covers a typical situation you might find in your first year of post-
secondary studies. For example, it might detail a lab orientation, guidelines for a report,
or rules for a presentation. This is typically only a few paragraphs in length. The longer
passages, in Parts 2, 4, and 5, are academic texts about specific topics. These passages
are usually longer, and proportionally you will have much more time to complete them.

Remember that you can navigate between questions (via the arrows or numbered tabs at
the top of the screen) at any time! Don’t get stuck on a question you can’t find the answer
to, but rather move on to the next question. You can come back to check your answers
afterwards.

For each Reading task, you will have an instructions screen before it starts, detailing the
time you will have to complete the section.

Figure 13: Example of Reading instructions. Note that instructions will vary from task to task.

Once you have started the section, you will see a countdown timer in the top right corner
of the test screen. Be sure to keep an eye on this as you proceed; the timer will turn red
when you near the time limit of each section. Note that these times will vary from task to
task.

Figure 14: The countdown timer for Reading tasks is located in the top right corner of the screen.

Figure 15: The countdown timer for Reading tasks turns red when it approaches the end of the task time.

The strategies on the following page will help improve your performance on the test.

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 Previewing
Can I access the Reading passage
and questions later in the test? Even before starting to read a passage, it can
be helpful to consider the overall format of the
You will be able to access the Long reading, its length, its headings (if there are
Reading passage while completing
any), and how much time is available to read
the Speaking or Writing task that is
integrated with this passage. However, it. By making a few quick observations like this,
you will not be able to access the you can be more strongly prepared before
questions or answers after you finish this starting to read the passage.
part.
Skimming
Skimming is the ability to read over a text quickly to get a general understanding of the
topic, a few of the main ideas, and the overall structure of the passage. After previewing,
it should be the next thing a reader does when confronted with an academic text. This is
especially important on a reading test when time constraints often do not allow you to
carefully read every word in a reading passage. It can be helpful to read the first sentence
of each paragraph.

Scanning
Scanning is the ability to quickly locate relevant specific details within a text. Generally,
scanning follows skimming; once you have a general understanding of a text’s topic and
structure, you should read a question and attempt to scan for the answer. Skimming should
have given you a general idea of where the answer is located. Scanning will allow you
to pinpoint information needed to answer the question. The order of questions generally
matches the order in which information is presented in the Reading passage. Keep this in
mind while scanning for information in the passage.

Deriving Meaning from Context

It is likely that you will encounter words on the test that you do not know. Sometimes such
words may seem challenging, impairing your performance on the test. However, it is not
necessary to know the meaning of every word in a reading passage or in a question in
order to complete the questions and achieve the score you need. It is possible in some
cases to determine the meaning of a word based on its context—i.e., by considering the
words that surround the new word. This is also the way we learn new words and enter into
new disciplines.

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 Study Tip
There are many ways to improve your reading skills in preparation for CAEL. Remember
that CAEL assesses your academic English, so try to focus on reading texts of a more
academic nature in your spare time. For example, you could read print or online news
articles, magazines, or even articles from academic journals about the subject you plan
to study. Reading for just a few minutes a day can help expand your vocabulary and
improve both your reading speed and comprehension. Regardless of the medium, the most
important thing is to read about subjects you are interested in. Not only will your reading
experience be more enjoyable, but you will likely retain information better as well.

To make the most of your reading practice, try to keep track of new vocabulary in a
notebook or on index cards that you can use to review what words you have learned.
Building your vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your reading skills.

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 Listening
Just as with Reading, there are also two types of
Listening passages in CAEL: short and long. The What can I do if I find it
Short Listening passage, found in Part 3, covers a difficult to follow the audio
typical situation you might find in your first year of and answer questions at
post-secondary studies. For example, it might discuss the same time?
a course syllabus or guidelines for a project. This Remember that you will have
passage is usually only a few minutes in length. The some review time after the
longer passages, in Parts 3, 4, and 5, are academic audio ends in each Listening
lectures about specific topics. The audio for these task. Try to answer as many
longer parts may be up to 5 minutes, and so you questions as you can while
will have proportionally longer to complete all the you’re listening to the audio,
questions. and use this additional time
to review your answers and
The questions in the Listening parts are generally finish any questions you
sequential. Knowing this can really help if you lose have missed.
your place while listening to the audio. If you’ve missed
the answer to one question, move to the next one, Try practicing with the CAEL
as this will likely soon be discussed. You will hear the sample and practice tests to
audio only once. become better at gauging
your time here.
For each Listening task, you will have an instructions
screen before it starts, detailing the time you will have
to complete the section.

Figure 16: Example of Listening instructions. Note that instructions will vary from task to task.

Once you have started the section, you will see a countdown timer in the top right corner
of the test screen. Be sure to keep an eye on this as you proceed; the timer will turn red
when you near the time limit of each section. Note that these times will vary from task to
task.

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 19

Figure 17: The countdown timer for Listening tasks is located in the top right corner of the screen.

Figure 18: The countdown timer for Listening tasks turns red when it approaches the end of the task time.

The following strategies may help you during your test preparation:

Previewing
In each Listening task, you will have some time before the audio starts. Try to use this time to
read over the questions and familiarize yourself with the question types in that section. Note
that the amount of preview time will vary from task to task.

Figure 19: In addition to the timer in the top right corner, test takers will see a separate timer for Preparation Time.

Identifying Key Words

In both the Reading and Listening components, it is useful to identify key words in the
question that will help locate the answer in the passage. However, this is more important
in Listening tasks, as you will only be exposed to the audio passage once and will not be
able to skim or scan for the answer as you would in a Reading passage.

Key words are words in the question that can help locate information in the audio passage.
In some cases, these will be an exact match of words in the passage, as in the case of a
name of a person or a number—but not always. There may be instances in which none of
the words in the question will help locate the specific location of the answer. For example,
a question like, “What is the main purpose of this lecture?” does not provide any key words
that the you can listen for.

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Reviewing
After the audio passage has come to an end, you will have additional time to answer the
questions. This is an opportunity for you to check your answers and ensure you have not left
any questions unanswered.

Note-Taking
You will be provided with notepaper and a pen when taking CAEL at a test centre. If you
take CAEL Online, you will not be allowed to take notes on paper. However, you will be
able to write via the onscreen Scratch Pad. This moveable window allows you to type
notes and format them however you like. Use the same note-taking strategies here as you
would use on paper.

Regardless of where you take the test, it may be helpful to take some very brief notes on
main ideas and key details in the lecture. However, it would be a mistake to try to write out
entire sentences as this may result in you falling behind during the audio passage.

Ultimately, your main focus should be on answering the questions, many of which will
follow the order in which information is presented in the audio passage—thus you may not

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 21

wish to take any notes. In addition, some brief lecture notes of the Long Listening will be
provided during the Speaking task for this part. You should only attempt to take notes if you
feel comfortable doing so under the time constraints of the test.

Deriving Meaning from Context

As with the Reading component, although you may not understand all the words in a
Listening passage, this doesn’t mean you will not be able to achieve the score you need. It
is not necessary to understand each word to answer the questions correctly, and it is better
if you do not to focus too long on words you don’t know.

It is sometimes possible to identify the meaning of a word based on the words around it.
This is more easily done in a Reading passage, but the same principle can be applied to a
Listening passage.

Study Tip
CAEL focuses on listening in academic contexts, so you should prepare by listening to
news broadcasts, documentaries, audiobooks, and podcasts dealing with various areas
of study. These types of audio can help build your knowledge of the type of formal and
academic language you will hear on the test. Try to listen to subjects that you are interested
in; this will make things more enjoyable, and you will likely find it easier to follow along
and learn new vocabulary and expressions.

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 Writing
There are two Writing tasks in CAEL. The first is a longer response to a question about the
preceding Reading passage and the lecture. For this task, you should write a minimum
of 250 words. The second task is a shorter question which requires you to draw on
information from the Reading or the lecture. For this task, you should write a minimum of 100
words.

Each Writing screen displays onscreen buttons for Bold, Italics, Underline, Cut, Paste, and
Copy. In addition to these buttons, you can also use the keyboard shortcuts below (note
that these are for Windows; they will be different for Macs). If you feel comfortable with
these shortcuts, they could save you time as you write!

• CTRL + x = cut text How should I separate my

paragraphs?
• CTRL + c = copy text
• CTRL + v = paste text
• CTRL + z = undo a change If you write a response that
• CTRL + y = redo a change contains multiple paragraphs,
you should separate them by
• CTRL + u = underline either indenting the first line of
• CTRL + i = italicize each paragraph or adding a
• CTRL + b = bold space between each.
Note that CAEL does not include spell check. That
being said, it is still a good idea to ensure that your spelling is clear enough that none of
the words could be mistaken for something else, and hinder the meaning of your text.

For each Writing task, you will have an instructions screen before it starts, detailing the time
you will have to complete the section.

Figure 20: Example of Writing instructions. Note that instructions will vary from task to task.

Once you have started the section, you will see a countdown timer in the top right corner
of the test screen. Keep an eye on this as you proceed; the timer will turn red when you
near the time limit of each section. Note that these times will vary from task to task.

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Figure 21: The countdown timer for Writing tasks is located in the top right corner of the screen.

Figure 22: The countdown timer for Writing tasks turns red when it approaches the end of the task time.

As seen in the following image, the Writing screen is presented across two panels. On
the left panel, you will have access to the entire Reading passage, as well as lecture
notes from the Listening passage. You can access these at any time during the Writing
component. You will write your response on the right panel. Your word count is recorded
just above the writing area here.

Figure 23: Both Writing tasks will have this layout.

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Keep the following points in mind while initially planning and composing your response.

• If you wish, you can use your notepaper (or onscreen Scratch Pad if taking
CAEL Online) to make an outline, which can help organize your response. Good
organization is an important part of a high-scoring Writing response.
• For the Long Writing, you will have 35 minutes to write a minimum of
250 words. You can afford at least a few minutes to plan your response
at the beginning.
• Your outline should be short and written in point form. It should
include a few main ideas and list some of the details you plan to use
from the Reading and Listening passages.
• Use ideas from the Reading and Listening passages to back up points
in your response. However, do not copy information directly, but rather,
paraphrase ideas (put them in your own words). Paraphrasing will also
allow you to demonstrate your range of vocabulary.
• Try to give yourself a few minutes at the end to check over your work.
You are likely to catch some careless errors, thereby improving the
overall quality of your response.

Writing Checklists
The following checklists for the Long and Short Writing outline the key things to keep in
mind while composing your Writing responses. During your test preparation, you may wish
to review your responses after you have completed them, comparing them against these
checklists to help you determine your strengths and weaknesses.

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Long Writing

Content
1. Does the writer remain on topic? Yes No Sometimes
2. Does the writer use specific details and examples to Yes No Sometimes
support ideas?
3. Is the writer’s viewpoint clearly expressed? Yes No Sometimes
4. Does the writer fully answer the question(s)? Yes No
5. Is the length sufficient to provide a fully developed Yes No
response?
6. Does the writer avoid repeating ideas? Yes No Sometimes
7. Does the writer use information from the Reading section Yes No Sometimes
to support and develop ideas?
8. Does the writer use information from the Listening section Yes No Sometimes
to support and develop ideas?
9. Does the writer use information from the Reading and Yes No Sometimes
Listening sections in a balanced way?
10. Is the writer able to restate ideas in his or her own words? Yes No Sometimes
Structure
1. Does the response have an introductory statement? Yes No
2. Are logical transitions (furthermore, in addition, etc.) used to Yes No Sometimes
link ideas?
3. Is the response well organized and easy to follow? Yes No Sometimes
4. Does the response have appropriate paragraphing? Yes No
Language Use
1. Do errors in spelling and usage impede comprehension? Yes No Sometimes
2. Do grammatical structures (verb tense, subject-verb Yes No Sometimes
agreement, articles, etc.) support meaning?
3. Is a variety of sentence types used? Yes No Sometimes
4. Does the writer avoid repetition by using a range of Yes No Sometimes
vocabulary?
5. Are vocabulary and tone suitable for an academic context? Yes No Sometimes

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Short Writing

Content
1. Does the writer remain on topic? Yes No Sometimes
2. Does the writer use specific details and examples to Yes No Sometimes
support ideas?
3. Does the writer fully answer the question(s)? Yes No
4. Is the passage an appropriate length required by the Yes No
task?
5. Does the writer use information from the Reading Yes No Sometimes
section or the Listening section to support ideas?
6. Is the writer able to restate ideas in his or her own Yes No Sometimes
words?
Structure
1. Does the passage have an opening statement? Yes No
2. Are appropriate transitions used to link ideas? Yes No Sometimes
3. Is there a logical flow of ideas? Yes No Sometimes
Language Use
1. Do spelling mistakes impede comprehension? Yes No Sometimes
2. Do grammatical structures (verb tense, subject-verb Yes No Sometimes
agreement, articles, etc.) support meaning?
3. Is a variety of sentence types used? Yes No Sometimes
4. Does the writer avoid repetition by using a range of Yes No Sometimes
vocabulary?
5. Are vocabulary and tone suitable for an academic Yes No Sometimes
context?

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 What if I’m a slow typist?
If you’re not confident in your typing abilities, you may wish to practice typing for
20–30 minutes each day. Use a typing program, a word processor, or even the
writing component of the CAEL free online sample test.

Study Tip

The most valuable way to improve your writing skills for CAEL is to write as often as you
can, even for just a few minutes each day. The more you do so, the more comfortable you
will become writing texts of various lengths and formats. You could write in a variety of
formats, including emails to friends, family, or co-workers; journals; online forums; or blogs.
Remember that you can always use the Writing Checklists to assess your written expression.
If possible, try to find a study partner who could give you feedback. In addition, try to read
as much as you can, especially in more academic contexts such as journals or textbooks.
As you read, pay attention to how the author uses different language structures (topic
sentences, paragraphs, transitions, etc.), and compare this to your own writing. Also, try to
keep a list of any new English words and phrases that you’ve learned, especially if you see
them in more formal or academic texts. Review these terms and try to use them in your own
writing as this can help improve the range of your vocabulary.

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 Part 1: Speaking

Task Description Time

Independent Respond to a question Preparation Time: 30 seconds
Speaking, Type A from a professor. Recording Time: 60 seconds
Independent Respond to a question Preparation Time: 60 seconds
Speaking, Type B from a professor. Recording Time: 90 seconds
Speaking on a Visual Describe and discuss a Preparation Time: 60 seconds
diagram. Recording Time: 120 seconds

Guidelines
In Part 1, there are three Speaking tasks, each on a different topic. For the first task, you will
be asked to speak about your own general experience with something—this often relates
to your educational background in some way. For example, you may be asked “What do
you want to study at university and why?”

For the second task, you will give your opinion about an issue—again, this is typically in an
academic context. For example, you may be asked “In your opinion, what are some of the
strengths of high school education in your home country?”

In Task 3, you will be required to discuss a diagram. In addition to giving a general

description about what the diagram displays, you should also discuss any trends that you
see. Based on your understanding of the diagram, what can you infer or predict about the
information it presents?

Speaking Evaluation
For Independent Speaking Types A and B, you’ll be evaluated on the content of your
response and the accuracy of your language. For Speaking on a Visual, you’ll be
evaluated on the content of your response, the accuracy of your language, and your
ability to reference details in the image. Keep these in mind, as well as the points from the
checklist, as you practice for the test.

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 What if I go blank and can’t think of anything to say during the Independent
Speaking tasks?
Don’t panic. For Independent Speaking Types A and B, the raters don’t care whether
your response is true or not. Feel free to make something up if you can’t think of
anything from personal experience!
For the rest of the Speaking tasks on CAEL, however, make sure to refer to the source
material and answer as accurately as possible.

Key Strategies
• Before taking the official test, you should be aware of how much time
you’ve got for each Speaking task. This will help you use your time more
effectively.
• Utilize the Preparation Time as much as you can. Try to at least read
through the question during this time. Ideally, think of at least two
points to talk about. Keep in mind your prior education experiences, and
what predictions you have for what you may experience in post-
secondary education; these may come in handy during the tasks.
• If you try to talk about too many ideas, you likely won’t have time to
offer much, if any, explanation and detail for each. Remember that
you’ve only got between 1 to 2 minutes, depending on the task!

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 30

 Part 2: Integrated Reading
Task Description Time
Short Reading Read a passage and 5 minutes 30 seconds
answer questions.
Long Reading Read a passage about 20 minutes
an academic topic and
answer questions.
Speaking on the Long Answer a question based Preparation Time: 60 seconds
Reading on the Long Reading. Recording Time: 120 seconds

Guidelines
In Part 2, there are two Reading passages, each followed by a set of comprehension
questions. After that, there is a Speaking task in which you will be asked a single question
about the second, longer Reading passage.

The first short Reading passage will typically

resemble an aspect of a student’s experience Can I quote from parts of the
during their first year at a post-secondary Reading passage in my response?
institute. For instance, it may be a discussion
of a syllabus or class assignment. This part is No. Everything you say should be
in your own words, though you
followed by about three questions. may paraphrase when you need
to. Using your own words will most
The second, longer Reading passage accurately demonstrate your range
discusses some area of an academic subject. of vocabulary and academic English
As mentioned in the Overview, this could be proficiency.
from the fields of Arts or Science. Regardless
of the subject, you’ll have around 11 questions to answer for this passage.

For the final task in this part, you will be asked to speak about some aspect of the Long
Reading that you just completed. Remember to support your answer to this question with
details and examples from the Reading passage.

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 31

Speaking Evaluation
You’ll be evaluated on the content of your response, the accuracy of your language, and
your use of the source material (i.e., the Reading passage). Keep these in mind, as well as
the points from the checklist, as you practice for the test.

Key Strategies
• For the Speaking task, you will be able to review the entire academic
Reading passage both during your Preparation Time and your Speaking
Time. Use this to remind yourself of ideas from the text, but do not just
repeat what you read. The more you use your own words, the better you
will be able to demonstrate your range of vocabulary.
• You may wish to take a few notes when you first answer the questions
for this Reading passage. Note down any key terms, and perhaps the
main idea of each paragraph. This could save you time and help organize
your thoughts when you are speaking.

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 32

 Part 3: Integrated Listening
Task Description Time
Short Listening Listen to a presentation and Preview Time: 30 seconds
answer questions. Review Time: 60 seconds
Long Listening Listen to a passage about Preview Time: 2 minutes 30 seconds
an academic topic and Review Time: 3 minutes
answer questions.
Speaking on the Answer a question about Preparation Time: 60 seconds
Long Listening the Long Listening. Recording TIme: 120 seconds

Guidelines
The format for Part 3 is similar in structure to Part 2. In Part 3, there are two Listening
passages, each followed by a set of comprehension questions. After that, there is a
Speaking task in which you will be asked a single question about the second Listening
passage, which is a lecture. For each Listening passage, you will be able to see the
questions for the entire duration of the task.

In the Short Listening passage, the content will be related to some aspect of post-
secondary studies. For example, it may be an overview of class material, or a class
discussion. This passage is followed by about three questions.

The Long Listening passage is in the form of

I lost track of where I was in the an academic lecture. As discussed in the
audio. Can I replay it on the Overview, this could be from the fields of Arts
official test? or Science. Whatever the subject, you’ll have
around 11 questions to answer for this passage.
No. All audio will be played only
once, which is why it's important to Lastly, you will be required to speak about an
pay close attention while you listen.
Try the CAEL sample or practice aspect of the lecture you just listened to. During
tests to familiarize yourself with this this task, you will be able to read some brief
experience. notes on the lecture. These are the sort of brief
notes you might take if you were actually in
class—use them to jog your memory, but don’t
rely on them specifically. Try to support your answer with as many details and examples as
you can remember from the audio.

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 33

Speaking Evaluation
You’ll be evaluated on the content of your response, the accuracy of your language, and
your use of the source material (i.e., the lecture). Keep these in mind, as well as the points
from the checklist, as you practice for the test.

Key Strategies
• Keep in mind that you will have a short time to preview all the questions in each
Listening part, before the audio begins. Use this time to skim
each question for key terms and ideas you can listen for during the audio
(remember to use the arrows or numbered tabs at the top of the
screen to navigate between question pages).
• If you lose your place while you’re listening, don’t panic! Remember that
since you’re able to answer questions while you listen, you can skip
ahead to a question that hasn’t been answered yet. Identify a term that
hasn’t been mentioned, and wait until you hear this phrase to reorient
yourself. You’ll also have a few minutes after the audio finishes in order
to complete any questions that you missed.
• Even though you’ll be able to review some lecture notes during the
Speaking task, you shouldn’t try to repeat these word-for-word in your
response. The more you paraphrase ideas in your own words, the better
you’ll be able to demonstrate the range of your vocabulary.

Figure 24: Lecture notes will appear for the Speaking task in Part 3 as well as for both Writing tasks.

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 34

 Part 4: Academic Unit A
Task Description Time
Long Reading Read a passage about an 20 minutes
academic topic and answer
questions.
Long Listening Listen to a passage about an Preview Time: 2 minutes 30 seconds
academic topic and answer Review Time: 3 minutes
questions.
Long Writing Write a response to a question 35 minutes
about ideas presented in the
Long Reading and the Long
Listening.

Guidelines How many points will I lose if I

write less than 250 words?
There are three sections in Part 4, each of Instead of stressing about the word
which discusses some aspect of the same topic. count, consider this: your response
This topic will be from the fields of Science or should fully answer the Writing
Arts—for example, it might be a discussion of prompt, giving as much detail and
the solar system or some facet of psychology. support as necessary. If you write
First, you will have a Reading passage then a less than 250 words, it is likely that
Listening passage, each followed by a series your response does not respond
of comprehension questions. After that, you will to the prompt as well as it could.
Instead of adding more words
write a response to a question incorporating
simply to achieve the word count,
information from both these passages. focus on adding more content
that adequately fulfils the task
The Reading passage will be similar in length requirements. The same applies to
to the Long Reading in Part 2, and you’ll have Short Writing.
around 11 questions to answer here. The
Listening passage will be similar in length to the Long Listening in Part 3, and you’ll have
around 11 questions to answer. Just as in prior Listening parts, you will be able to see the
questions for the entire duration of the Listening task.

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Lastly, you must write a response to a question using the Reading and Listening passages to
support your ideas. You will be able to view the entire Reading passage, as well as some
brief lecture notes from the Listening passage. Keep in mind that the lecture notes here are
just meant to refresh your memory—they may not necessarily contain everything you will
need to discuss. Your response for this task must be a minimum of 250 words.

Writing Evaluation
You’ll be evaluated on the content and structure of your response, the accuracy of your
language, and your use of source material. Keep these in mind, as well as the points from
the checklist, as you practice for the test.

Long Writing Strategies

Before you type anything, you may find it useful to take a few minutes to brainstorm some
ideas and make a brief outline for your response. Even having a very rough outline can
help with the organization of your response as well as speed up the writing process.

While writing, try to avoid repetition of phrases or ideas. Conciseness is important

here, and the less you repeat words, the better you can demonstrate the range of your
vocabulary. Remember, there is no autocorrect or spell check in CAEL. Therefore, try to give
yourself a few minutes at the end to check over your work. During this time, double-check
that you’ve included some transitions and connecting words between sentences—these
can greatly improve the flow of ideas in your writing.
 

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 36

 Part 5: Academic Unit B
Task Description Time
Long Reading Read a passage about an 20 minutes
academic topic and answer
questions.
Long Listening Listen to a passage about an Preview Time: 2 minutes 30 seconds
academic topic and answer Review Time: 3 minutes
questions.
Short Writing Write a short response to 10 minutes
a question about ideas
presented in the Long Reading
or the Long Listening.

Guidelines
Just as with Part 4, there are three sections in Part 5, each of which discusses some aspect
of the same topic. This topic will be from the fields of Science or Arts. First, you will have a
Reading passage then a Listening passage, each
followed by a series of comprehension questions.
Do I need to include an After that, you will write a short response to a
introduction or conclusion for my question, using information from the Long Reading
Short Writing?
or the Long Listening.
No. Considering the brevity of this
task, there is no need to include a The Reading passage will be similar in length
proper introduction or conclusion. to the long passage in Part 2, and you’ll have
A brief opening statement will
typically be enough. around 11 questions to answer here. The Listening
passage will be similar in length to the long
lecture in Part 3, and you’ll have around 11
questions to answer. Just as in prior Listening parts, you will be able to see the questions
before and during the Listening passage.

Your final task will be to write a short response to a question. You must use information from
the Listening or Reading passages in this part. You will be able to view the entire Reading
passage, as well as some brief lecture notes from the Listening passage. Keep in mind that

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 37

the lecture notes here are just meant to refresh your memory—they may not necessarily
contain everything you will need to discuss. Your response for this task must be a minimum
of 100 words.

Writing Evaluation
You’ll be evaluated on the content and structure of your response, the accuracy of your
language, and your use of source material. Keep these in mind, as well as the points from
the checklist, as you practice for the test.

Short Writing Strategies

Keep in mind the importance of being concise here; you will only have 10 minutes to
answer this question. Because of this time limit and the lower word count requirement, it is
very important in Short Writing to avoid repetition of phrases or ideas. Just as with the Long
Writing, try to give yourself a few minutes at the end to check over your work. In particular,
double-check your writing for typos and grammar errors, and ensure that you have
answered all aspects of the task.

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 38

Preparation Materials
In addition to the two free CAEL Sample Tests, the CAEL website provides a large selection
of further materials, both free and paid, to help with your test preparation. The following is
just a sample of what you can find; access the online store for the full selection.

Paid Materials – Highlights

CAEL Practice Tests
• Same format as the free Sample Test, but with new test
content
• User can record/play back their Speaking responses
• Answer keys provided for Listening and Reading parts
• Listening transcripts included
• Currently 7 full tests

CAEL Accelerate
• Self-directed online course with over 50 instructional videos
• Includes a variety of quizzes
• Numerous downloadable PDF study materials
• User can record/play back their Speaking responses
• Includes a full-length practice test

CAEL Practice Test Plus

• Self-directed online course
• Extensive discussion of the key strategies for succeeding in
CAEL, as well as academic success at large
• Exercises framed around one full practice test
• 30+ academic language-building exercises

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 39

Webinars and Videos
CAEL 200-Level Course 
• 4 live online lessons
• Learn tips, strategies, and format for Listening, Reading,
Speaking, and Writing
• Get your questions answered by a CAEL expert

CAEL 300-Level Course 

• 2 live online lessons
• 1 lesson focuses on Writing, 1 on Speaking
• Provides in-depth, valuable insight into each of these skills

YouTube 
• Includes recordings of the above webinars
• CAEL Live is an ongoing live video series led by CAEL experts, engaging test takers
in all aspects of CAEL test preparation—and more!
• CAEL Study Tips series focuses on quick tips for each skill to help kick-start your
preparation
• Subscribe to our channel for instant notifications as soon as new content is added!

CAEL STUDY GUIDE | 40