CAEL scores explained: the 10–90 bands, how 62.5 becomes 60 but 65 becomes 70, and the IELTS equivalents Paragon publishes

You get a score for reading, listening, writing and speaking, and an overall score, all on a scale from 10 to 90 in steps of 10. CAEL labels them: 80–90 Expert, 70 Adept, 60 Advanced, 50 High Intermediate, 40 Intermediate, 30 High Beginner, 10–20 Low Beginner.

The test is built on integrated tasks: you answer some speaking and writing questions using what you have just read or heard. It runs in five parts: Speaking (7–10 minutes), Integrated Reading (35–50), Integrated Listening (25–35), Academic Unit A (60–70) and Academic Unit B (40–45). Each test also contains unscored items that look exactly like the scored ones.

The overall score is the equally weighted average of the four component scores, rounded to the nearest ten. CAEL's FAQ gives two examples:

Writing 70, reading 70, listening 60, speaking 60 adds up to 260, an average of 65, and the overall is 70. Writing 70, reading 70, listening 60, speaking 50 adds up to 250, an average of 62.5, and the overall is 60.

Our reading: one band in one component, here speaking 60 against 50, moves the overall by a whole band. If your programme asks for an overall 70, a single component one band lower can be the difference.

This changed for tests on or after 15 May 2017. Before that, CAEL says the overall was a weighted average with writing weighted most heavily. An older score report may have been calculated differently.

Reading and listening each have about 36 computer-scored questions. CAEL publishes a rough conversion. For listening: 30–36 correct is about 90, 26–29 is 80, 21–26 is 70, 18–22 is 60, 14–19 is 50. For reading: 31–36 is about 90, 29–31 is 80, 26–29 is 70, 22–27 is 60, 20–24 is 50.

The ranges overlap. 21 or 22 correct in listening appears in both the 60 and the 70 row. CAEL explains why: questions differ in difficulty and are equated test by test, so the raw score needed for a band varies slightly between tests. Treat the table as a guide, not a calculator.

Paragon published a study comparing CAEL and IELTS Academic overall scores. Its table: CAEL 80 ≈ IELTS 8.0, 70 ≈ 7.0, 60 ≈ 6.5, 50 ≈ 6.0, 40 ≈ 5.5, 30 ≈ 4.5. CAEL 90, 20 and 10 were not in the data.

That is Paragon's own comparison, not an IELTS one. Many Canadian programmes publish their own CAEL minimum, often per component, so check the programme's page rather than converting. For the IELTS side, see IELTS bands explained, and for every major test side by side, our comparison.

Scores are online in your CAEL account 8 business days after the test, and sent to 5 institutions of your choice at no extra cost. You download the Official Score Report as a PDF.

You can ask for a re-evaluation of some or all components within six months. CAEL's FAQ gives the fee as $65 per component. If your level changes for a component, that component's fee is refunded. You can re-evaluate each component once, the request cannot be cancelled, and the answer takes about 3 to 4 weeks.

You can register for no more than one test session within five calendar days. Cancel at least 48 hours before and you get 50% of the fee back; less than that, nothing. The first transfer to another date is free; the next costs CAD 50.

How long results last. On 31 October 2026, CAEL's FAQ said scores are made available to you and institutions for 5 years from the test date. Its Test Results & Scoring page said 2 years. Both add that each institution sets its own validity. If your result is more than two years old, ask the institution before you rely on it.

The fee. The test format page gives $295 + taxes (the Canadian price; international prices vary). A June 2024 fee notice gives CAD 290 plus tax for sittings in Canada from 1 October 2024. Check the price when you register.