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.
The language tasks and activities in the CAEL Assessment are systematically sampled from those that are commonly undertaken within the university academic community.
[8] Topics for the CAEL Assessment are drawn from introductory university courses such as arts, sociology, anthropology, business, engineering, sports, law, and medicine.
Test takers listen to a pre-recorded lecture and answer relevant questions on the same topic as the Reading and Writing components.
(5 minutes) 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.
(5 minutes) Test takers are asked to provide specific information based on their reading of a short, generic academic document.
CAEL Assessment Scores are reported for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking test components.
[14] Each band score corresponds to a descriptive statement summarizing the level of English language proficiency of a test taker.
A number of professional associations also recognize the CAEL Assessment as proof of English language proficiency required for membership.
[16] *This institution accepts the CAEL Assessment but it is not recognized as an official English language proficiency test on their website.