Helpful
Hints from a CAEL Test Taker
Pre-assessment
Questions to ask yourself:
Before you take the test, picture yourself in a classroom
and ask what skills you will need to get through the course you have
chosen:
Can you...
| 1 |
manage
your time well and finish all the test tasks in the time allowed? |
All
skills |
| 2 |
join the discussion
in class and respond to the questions promptly? |
Speaking
|
| 3 |
pay attention
to the listening lecture and reading texts, knowing that you will
need them all to pass the assessment? |
Listening,
Reading & Writing |
| 4 |
understand
the lecture and identify the main points? |
Listening
|
| 5 |
take detailed
notes on a lecture? |
Listening
|
| 6 |
skim the reading
text to get its general concept and main ideas? |
Reading |
| 7 |
scan to get
the needed information and find the key words? |
Reading
|
| 8 |
identify the
key words you need to answer the questions? |
Reading
|
| 9 |
paraphrase
the main idea in an essay? |
Writing
|
| 10 |
use the information
provided within the test in your essay? |
Writing
|
| 11 |
organize your
writing in a critical and logical sequence, using your own words? |
Writing |
If you
can answer all the previous questions with a definite YES, congratulations!
You may not need to practice.
Otherwise, read
on, please!
Pointers to help
you prepare for the CAEL Assessment:
1 |
Raise
your overall English ability: look at useful links. |
2 |
Learn the format
of the CAEL Assessment by taking a CAEL Assessment
Sample Test. Rainforest |
Some reminders:
(These apply to both the sample test and the real assessment.)
Take time to look
at the questions in order to prepare for finding answers in the readings.
Pay attention to
all the content (especially listening and reading) because you will
have to use it at the end of the test for
your essay. Time management is really important.
Always answer your
questions to the point, using the content from the test. You should
answer your questions and write your essay using the lecture and the
readings in the test.
Usually
one point stands for one answer required for the test question.
Therefore, when you see one question that is weighted 3 points, it's
very possible that there are 3 answers for that question.
When answering questions,
writing down the key information is more important than writing full
sentences with grammatical correctness.
Time is your enemy:
Do manage your time well. Jot down your ideas and answers first. You
can come back and revise them later on.
In essay writing,
use proper connectors (as a result, therefore, however, otherwise, in
addition, etc.) and conjunctions (and, or, but, though, if, etc.) and
order words (first, second, final, last but not least, etc.) to help
organize your writing better.
Think about your
audience (raters). Write in a way to let them easily find your answers
or arguments. When you state one argument, support it by giving reasons
from the offered test content.
Practice, practice,
and practice. When you are familiar with the test format, you will be
more prepared and confident in the test. Practicing for the CAEL Assessment
oral and written tests, covering Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing,
will help you in your academic study. You can apply the same strategies
you learned from the test format to your academic study. The CAEL Assessment
is truly a test that helps and encourages you to acquire the following
practical strategies: express yourself and respond in class discussion,
take class notes with main ideas and key points, do well on class tests,
write your term paper with good content in an organized and critical
way.
Good luck!
Meng-chen Portia Lee (a former CAEL test taker)
