FELC'scourse is offered only at ourBurnabycampus.

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

TheAssessment 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.

TheAssessment 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 theAssessment are systematically sampled from those which are commonly undertaken within the academic community.

The content for the tasks on theAssessment 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.

TheAssessment comprises tasks that characterize academic study, for example:

• CAEL speaking about academic experience, information or understanding
  
  
• CAEL reading and applying information from academic articles and texts about a particular topic
  
  
• CAEL listening to a lecture, taking notes, transferring or applying information on the same topic as the readings
  
  
• incorporating what has been learned from the lecture and readings in writing a formal, academic response to an academic task

TheAssessment is available in a number of locations around the world, including many where other standardized tests are not available (e.g., Iran, Cuba, Greenland). It is also offered at test sites throughout Asia and Europe.

CAEL Assessment results are accepted by most Canadian and many American and European universities and colleges.

The fee for taking theAssessment inCanadais $140.00 CAD. For information about the fee for taking theAssessment outsideCanadacontact your local test centre or theAssessment Office.

TheAssessment was developed in 1987 at Carleton University, in response to requests from the faculty and a motion of the University Senate, to provide an alternative to other standardized tests. TheAssessment was designed to more effectively identify students who could participate actively in academic study. Since its first use in 1989, test takers in many parts of the world have taken theAssessment as part of the process of admission to universities and colleges in Canada, Europe, and the United States.

TheAssessment is managed and run by the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies at Carleton University. Under the auspices of the Language Assessment and Testing Research Unit (LATRU) at Carleton University, theAssessment Advisory Board evaluates the quality and appropriateness of testing practice in the development, analysis and use of theAssessment.

For more information about theAssessment, contact the CAEL Assessment Office.