CAEL (Canadian English Proficiency Tests) study plan
CAEL · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 8 hours per week
Speaking & Reading
Record a 90-second spoken response to an academic-topic prompt three times and mark where fluency breaks down
Skim two 700-word academic passages and write a one-sentence main-idea summary for each without rereading
Build a personal list of 20 discourse markers for signposting opinions and contrasts
Time yourself reading one passage and log words-per-minute plus comprehension accuracy
Your checkpoint
A fluency log with three recordings, self-ratings on pace, pauses, and clarity, and two written summaries checked against the source text
Speaking & Reading
Paraphrase ten short reading excerpts aloud in your own words within 30 seconds each
Identify the function of five transition words in a sample passage and explain what each signals
Practice two integrated speaking tasks that require summarizing a short text before responding
Annotate one passage for claim versus evidence and label each sentence type
Your checkpoint
A table of ten paraphrases with the original excerpt, your version, and a self-check for meaning drift
Reading & Writing
Write two 150-word summaries of academic passages that state the main claim and two supporting points
Match pronoun references across a passage and resolve five ambiguous referents
Draft a 250-word argument paragraph with a clear thesis, two supports, and a concession
Review your drafts against a checklist for cohesion, register, and sentence variety
Your checkpoint
Two passage summaries plus one revised argument paragraph with tracked edits and a completed self-review checklist
Reading & Writing
Complete a timed 60-minute reading-and-writing set and score your own accuracy
Rewrite one weak paragraph to eliminate vague verbs and repeated sentence openings
Infer an author's attitude from tone words in three passages and justify each inference with a quoted phrase
Produce a 300-word integrated response that cites the reading accurately without copying phrasing
Your checkpoint
A timed practice set with a scored answer sheet, error categories, and one fully rewritten integrated response
Listening & Speaking
Take notes on three five-minute academic lectures using a consistent abbreviation system
Retell each lecture aloud in 60 seconds and check your retelling against your notes
Identify signposting phrases that announce examples, digressions, and conclusions in two lectures
Practice two speaking tasks that require responding to spoken input
Your checkpoint
Three sets of lecture notes with matching 60-second spoken retellings and a list of missed details
Listening & Speaking
Answer detail, inference, and attitude questions on two lectures and log error types
Shadow a two-minute lecture excerpt to improve rhythm and connected speech
Deliver a two-minute structured opinion response with a clear introduction, two reasons, and a close
Review your recordings for filler words and set a target reduction
Your checkpoint
An error log for two lecture question sets plus one polished two-minute recording with a filler-word count before and after
Writing & Listening
Write a full timed 350-word integrated response using a reading and a lecture
Outline before writing and check that the outline maps to every required point
Practice note-taking from a lecture with a distractor-heavy structure and separate main from tangential points
Edit one essay for grammar, article use, and subject-verb agreement
Your checkpoint
One full timed integrated essay with its outline, a corrected error list, and a lecture note set distinguishing main from tangential points
Speaking & Reading & Listening & Writing
Simulate a full exam under time limits and record your scores per section
Review every missed item and classify the cause as skill gap, time pressure, or misreading
Deliver three final speaking recordings and compare them to week-one baselines
Produce a shortlist of three habits to maintain after the plan ends
Your checkpoint
A full mock exam score report with error-cause classification and a before-and-after comparison of speaking recordings
Milestones
Week 2: You can paraphrase a short reading aloud within 30 seconds and correctly label claim versus evidence in a passage
Week 4: Your timed reading-and-writing set is complete, scored, and your integrated response cites the reading without copying phrasing
Week 6: Your lecture error log shows fewer detail and inference misses than week five, and your filler-word count has dropped
Week 8: Full mock exam completed under time limits with a written error-cause breakdown and a post-plan habit list