How does the CAEL Assessment work?

Stage Three: The Written Test (approximately 2 hours)

The Written Test is available in a number of versions all of which are typical of academic topics common to first year studies. At the beginning of the Written Test, test takers are presented with an essay question which asks them to agree or disagree with a statement related to the topic of the test. It is assumed at this point in the test that the test taker knows little or nothing about the topic. During the next two hours of the test, test takers are presented with a lecture, readings and tasks which define and develop the topic of the test.

After completing the Reading Section and the Listening Section, test takers are given 45 minutes to respond to the essay question in the Writing Section. Test takers should use the readings as well as their notes from the lecture in writing their essays. The readings and lecture supplement one another and provide the basis for the writing task. Test takers position themselves within the parameters of the input provided within the test in much the same way that students do within the parameters of a course. Input not only supports the responses of the test takers, it also constrains and defines the boundaries of their responses.

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