On May 3, 2024, the Canadian GED test came to an end. It was replaced by the new Canadian-made CAEC (Canadian Adult Education Credential).
Simple & Easy Canadian Online CAEC Classes
Get Your Diploma in 2 Months.
The CAEC exam will be available across Canada in 2024. The new Canadian high school equivalency (HSE) test is offered on paper and in a computerized format, though paper-based testing is not offered in all provinces and territories.
Information on how to register for the CAEC test will be posted on the CAEC website and various provincial and territory websites over the coming months.
So, the Canadian Adult Education Credential diploma has replaced the GED exam. Like with the GED, students who pass five independent CAEC subtests will receive their CAEC High School Equivalency (HSE) diplomas.
There’s no need for students to take the entire CAEC battery all at once. The five subtests are independent modules that may be taken one (or more) at a time.
The CAEC provides a top-quality, Canadian-made education credential that meets industry requirements and university and college expectations.
Post-secondary education institutions and employers can rely on the new CAEC diploma as a trustworthy indicator of a test-taker’s level of skills and academic achievement.
How to take the CAEC test
The CAEC is a challenging assessment, and being well-prepared is definitely required. Onsego has designed a top-notch online prep course targeted specifically at Canadian adults wishing to earn a CAEC diploma quickly and efficiently.
The CAEC includes five separate sub-exams covering the academic subject fields of
- Mathematics
- Language Reading
- Language Writing
- Social Studies
- Science
The exam is offered in both official Canadian languages. CAEC candidates may opt to write the five subtests in a paper-based format or on a computer, though there are provinces where the exam is only available in a computer-based format. So, not all Canadian testing centers offer both options, so get well-informed!
To register for the CAEC exam, we advise students to contact a test center near them or contact their province or territory’s education department. More information is available here:
- Alberta CAEC Test
- BC CAEC Test
- Calgary CAEC Test
- Manitoba CAEC Test
- New Brunswick CAEC Test
- Newfoundland and Labrador CAEC Test
- Northwest Territories CAEC Test
- Nova Scotia CAEC Test
- Nunavut CAEC Test
- Ontario CAEC Test
- Prince Edward Island CAEC Test
- Quebec CAEC Test
- Saskatchewan CAEC Test
- Yukon CAEC Test
So, the CAEC has replaced the GED as Canada’s exam for high school equivalency testing.
Who can take the CAEC?
Like the GED test, the CAEC offers Canadian adults who could not finish their high school curriculum the chance to earn a high school diploma-equivalent secondary education degree.
Holding the CAEC will open doors to better employment and allow for a university or college education in the same way as a common high school degree.
Adults looking to earn a CAEC diploma cannot already hold a high school degree, and they must meet their province’s requirements. The credential is a top-quality Canadian secondary education degree that allows for continued education and better employment.
As said earlier, students can write the CAEC in person at one of the many test centers on paper or on a computer through a new, user-friendly, computer-based platform.
GED scores remain valid
GED graduates can rest assured that their credentials will remain valid as their GED diplomas will continue to be recognized and accepted as valid education credentials.
Candidates who have already taken portions of the GED test will have their results honored for three years, so until May 2027, they don’t need to repeat those sections.
Challenging CAEC
The new Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) is quite a challenging assessment. The five subtests measure knowledge and skills at a level comparable to that of graduating high school students.
The new exam’s passing standards are set on such a level that about 40 percent of all high school graduates would not be able to pass the exam on their first try. To pass the five CAEC sub-exams, students will have to answer at least 55 percent of the questions correctly.
On the new CAEC assessment, the questions vary from relatively easy to very challenging, covering a wide range of subject fields. In total, the CAEC assessment takes 7.5 hours to complete, but as said before, students can take the five sub-exams one by one if they wish.
Your CAEC results will be available in your CAEC account within two business days, except for your Writing results. That will take some twenty business days to appear in your account. Check also the CAEC website at WWW.CAEC.CCEA.CA.
The five CAEC subtests are timed assessments with a certain number of questions. Let’s take a look at how many questions each section includes and how much time you have to answer them:
| Subject | Number of Questions | Time (in Minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| Language Reading | 50 | 75 |
| Language Writing | Essay | 75 |
| Math Part 1 (No Calculator) Math Part 2 (With Calculator) | 12 30 | 30 90 |
| Social Studies | 40 | 90 |
| Science | 35 | 90 |
Overview
The new Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) is an assessment developed to award a high school equivalency credential to Canadian adults who have not completed their regular high school education. The CAEC has replaced the Canadian GED exam in May 2024.
Take also a look at this “Your Alberta: Learn” video:
The CAEC is, just like the GED exam, targeted at adult learners looking to earn a high school equivalency diploma. The credential has the same value as a regular high school degree and can be used to enroll in post-secondary education, obtain better employment, or for job advancement.
In most Canadian jurisdictions, CAEC candidates need to be at least 18 years old, though, in most jurisdictions, applicants 17 years of age may qualify as well if they meet their province’s additional requirements. Please check on your province’s page (see above) to be sure. The new assessment is offered in a computer-based format and, in some jurisdictions, on paper as well.
