If you are preparing to apply to a Canadian university or college, you will need to prove your proficiency in the English language.
As the only Canadian test designed specifically for academic purposes, CAEL is accepted by over 180 Canadian universities and colleges. CAEL is also accepted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the Student Direct Stream (SDS), which allows you to fast-track your studies in Canada, all using one test score.
Test Format and Availability
As a test designed specifically to measure students’ English language proficiency in an academic context, the CAEL test is one of the most effective tools for identifying individuals with the right skills for success at Canadian universities and colleges. It recreates the language used in a school setting, with test takers reading articles, listening to lecture recordings, and answering multiple-choice, written, and spoken questions, as expected in a first-year classroom setting.
CAEL is available at test centres and can be taken online at home to accommodate test takers across Canada and worldwide. Whether you take the test online or at a test centre, you’ll complete it entirely on a computer, with responses covering the four language components of speaking, reading, writing, and listening. The test does not require any additional speaking appointments and is completed entirely in one sitting.
Who Accepts CAEL
Accepted by over 180 Canadian universities and colleges, CAEL is accepted by all major post-secondary institutions in Canada for undergraduate and graduate study programs. It is also accepted by universities and colleges in all major cities in Canada, including all of the U15 schools, such as the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, McGill University, McMaster University, Dalhousie University, and more. To learn if your school accepts CAEL, refer to our list of accepting institutions.
Free CAEL Preparation Resources
We support our CAEL test takers with a wide range of free preparation materials, such as free online courses, free practice tests, and study tips from our CAEL experts. With these free resources, we also offer paid study resources, such as additional practice tests and interactive online study programs, available for purchase in our online store.
- Practice Tests: Two free online sample tests are provided to help you get acquainted with the format and content of the CAEL Test and learn which skills need the most focus.
- Study Tips: The best way to prepare for CAEL is to create your own study routine. With help from our experts, you’ll be able to create a daily routine that will help you achieve your goal score. These tips also cover our other free resources to help you build your ideal study program.
- Online Courses: Weekly interactive sessions are available to all our test takers and are free to join. These include webinars covering the components of the test and its format, as well as in-depth sessions that focus in detail on written and spoken responses. Recorded versions of these webinars are also available to view on our YouTube channel.
Scholarships
To further support our test takers, we are pleased to offer the CAEL Scholarship Program. With past yearly awards totalling over $40,000 CAD, this program is another way we support individuals looking to study in Canada. Applying is easy and can be completed online in your CAEL account. To learn about the eligibility requirements and application deadlines, visit our website.
Visit the CAEL website to learn more about the CAEL Test and register for your sitting today.