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Preparing Learners for the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC)

A guide to help adult educators develop workshops and courses

The new Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) is a breakthrough for Canadian adults who want a secondary equivalency credential for work, personal goals and further learning. Compared to the previous equivalency test, the US-based General Educational Development test (GED®), the CAEC introduces three major changes:

Digital changes
Content changes
Test question complexity changes.

Any one of these changes would require a new instructional approach, professional development and new test-preparation resources. Combined, the three major changes mean that we have to look at the CAEC in a completely different way than the GED®.

The inter-related changes mean it will be challenging to simply develop a test-preparation book or online program, similar to previous comprehensive resources that supported the GED®. Instead, extensive professional development is needed so that educators can build their knowledge, and then draw on a variety of strategies related to the digital, content and cognitive complexity changes to support test candidates and learners.

We've created this comprehensive guide primarily using the CAEC sample tests so we can clearly describe the test from the test-taker's perspective.

What will candidates see, do and experience when taking the test (i.e. digital interface, navigation, icons and symbols, stressors and challenges)?
What sources will they have to read, view, interpret and understand?
What types of knowledge do they need to understand the sources and figure out answers (e.g., conceptual, factual, techniques and processes, reading comprehension, close reading, online composition, reasoning, etc.)?
How are the test questions designed to demonstrate their knowledge (e.g., match, analyse, infer, understand, evaluate, argue, etc.)?
How will they show their knowledge on the screen (e.g., direct entry, click one button, order buttons, drag and drop, click a dropdown menu, click a graphic, etc.)?

Explore the guide!

CAEC features and changes compared to the GED®

Learn about the digital changes as a result of a sophisticated online testing platform (i.e. Vretta), content changes in reading, writing, science and social studies and test questions that require background knowledge and emphasize the application of knowledge and skills.

Test readiness tools and protocols

Access downloadable assessments, involving discussion, observation and direct demonstration of abilities using the sample test and related activities.

Reading

Learn about what candidates will read, how they'll read, the types of test questions, question complexity and how to show answers. Use our curriculum tips and lesson routines for workshops and courses.

Writing

Learn how candidates will need to compose a persuasive email or letter in response to a detailed scenario. Use our skill-building checklists, curriculum guide and templates for your workshops and courses.

Math

Access a variety of detailed topic lists to help you plan instruction using most of your existing resources.

Science

Learn to to organize and plan instruction to support the over-arching outcome: identify characteristics of science, such as how scientific ideas are developed through a process of ongoing inquiry. Use our quiz to evaluate background knowledge. Curriculum guides will help you organize your lessons.

Social studies

Learn how to efficiently plan instruction using our synthesized list of outcomes. Access various free and open resources to support instruction.

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