Registrar’s Office English Proficiency Testing Guide (CanTEST) - Admission Test Information and Format

Aug 29, 2026

This English Proficiency Testing Guide (CanTEST) explains when St. Clair College requires an English Proficiency Test for admission, including typical eligibility situations based on prior education in English or other languages. It outlines testing rules, scheduling and contact details, timing, and test-day procedures. The guide also covers accessibility accommodations, the test’s content sources and topic areas, the CanTEST Reading and Listening format, section timing, question types, and how scores (Bands 1 to 5) are interpreted for academic readiness.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

When you need the test

Before and after the test (accommodations)

What the English Proficiency Test is

Test 1 – Institutional CanTEST

Reading

Listening

How the test is scored

REGISTRAR’S OFFICE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY TESTING GUIDE (CanTEST) Has the Registrar’s Office required you to write the English Proficiency Test? This happens when: 􀁸 An applicant does not meet the English requirement for a post-secondary program and / or has been educated in a language other than English. 􀁸 An applicant has been educated in a language other than English and has not submitted to the Registrar’s Office all documentation related to their formal education. For further information on St. Clair College’s admission policy, please reference the Policy and Procedures Manual for Admissions at: [http://www.stclaircollege.ca/registrar/](http://www.stclaircollege.ca/registrar/) You should know that: 􀁸 The English Proficiency Test may be WRITTEN ONLY ONCE during the current application period. 􀁸 If for any reason you are unable to write on your scheduled test date, you must call to reschedule. To schedule (or reschedule) your test, please call Testing Services at 519-972-2727, ext. 4226. 􀁸 Please allow 2 ½ hours to complete the Admission Test. 􀁸 Testing begins promptly at 9:15 A.M. Photo ID is required. 􀁸 Late arrivals will be required to book another appointment. 􀁸 Once you begin the test, you will not be allowed to leave the test room. 􀁸 Ask questions if you are unclear about anything. Before and after the test 􀁸 The College will provide supports and services to all students with disabilities, both temporary and permanent, with valid supporting documentation. Interim accommodation requests will be received in good faith and can be provided pending receipt of medical documentation. Retroactive accommodations will be considered based on the unique circumstances of the individual matter. The College will give all Human Rights Code-related requests for accommodation meaningful consideration. 􀁸 Procedure: The student is responsible to meet with a counsellor in Accessibility Services (call 519- 972-2727, ext. 4226 in Windsor or 519-354-9714, ext. 3306 in Chatham) to discuss their functional limitations and accommodation needs and provide Accessibility Services with supporting documentation. Students are not required under the Ontario Human Rights Code to disclose their disability diagnosis (with the exception of Learning Disabilities) to receive accessibility supports and services and/or academic accommodations. Students are encouraged to meet with a counsellor prior to the start of a semester to provide information and arrange accommodations. 􀁸 Examples oftest questions are provided in this booklet. For more assistance, visit the website [http://www.stclaircollege.ca/studentservices/testingservices.html](http://www.stclaircollege.ca/studentservices/testingservices.html) 􀁸 Test results will be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office shortly after completion of the test. Note: If you must also take a math assessment in addition to the English Proficiency Test, you may schedule this additional test for a different day. GOOD LUCK! What is the English Proficiency Test? The English Proficiency Test is an assessment used by St. Clair to evaluate the English language proficiency of applicants to post-secondary programs. The Test consists of the Institutional CanTEST for Reading and Listening. The results of the English Proficiency Test are non-transferable and can only be used for the purpose of admission to St. Clair College programs. The results cannot be reported to any other institution. All material for the CanTEST is taken from real documents such as newspapers, magazines, textbooks, and radio broadcasts. Topic areas include: agriculture, medicine, engineering, history, and education. All texts are intended for the general reader/ listener. No special knowledge in these areas is required to answer the questions. Test 1 – INSTITUTIONAL CanTEST Reading The Reading section consists of two parts. Skimming and Scanning requires you to read quickly to find specific information in te

FAQs

Who is required to take the English Proficiency Test (CanTEST)?

An applicant must write the test when they do not meet the English requirement for a post-secondary program and/or were educated in a language other than English, or when required education documentation has not been fully submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

How many times can I write the CanTEST during the application period, and what if I miss my date?

The English Proficiency Test may be written only once during the current application period. If you cannot take it on your scheduled date, you must call to reschedule.

What are the Reading and Listening sections like, and how long are they?

Reading includes skimming/scanning (10 minutes for 15 questions) and reading comprehension of three passages (50 minutes) with multiple-choice, short-answer, and cloze questions. Listening includes dialogues and longer passages recorded at normal speed, with 40 questions lasting 50 minutes.

Aug 29, 2026

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