Nova Scotia adults who were unable to complete their regular high school curriculum still have the opportunity to attain a secondary education credential by passing the five subtests included in the Canadian CAEC exam.
The CAEC (Canadian Adult Education Credential) exam is Canada’s new high school equivalency assessment that replaced the outdated Canadian GED exam in early 2024.
The credential is used in most of Canada’s jurisdictions, and students who complete the CAEC’s five independent sub-exams are accepted just like high school students by colleges, universities, and employers.
What’s on the CAEC test?
The CAEC exam is a series of five modular, independent sub-exams that, when taken and passed, result in the Nova Scotia CAEC Certificate. For Nova Scotia residents, the CAEC exam is free.
The five subtests assess knowledge and skills in these fields:
- English Language Reading
- English Language Writing
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
Who qualifies?
To be eligible for CAEC testing, an applicant must be:
- at least 18 years of age
- a Canadian citizen living in Nova Scotia
- not currently enrolled in an education program
- not already the holder of a high school or equivalent diploma
CAEC Scoring System
On each CAEC subtest, students achieve a passing score if they answer 55% or more of the answers correctly. This is the requirement for meeting the CAEC’s minimum passing standard. The CAEC scoring system has four ranges:
• 0 – 39 percent = DMS (Does Not Meet Minimum Standard)
• 40 – 54 percent = AS (Approaching Minimum Standard)
• 55 – 79 percent = MS (Meets Minimum Standard)
• 80 – 100 percent = ES (Exceeds Minimum Standard)
Online CAEC prep
Some CAEC students benefit more from studying while being guided by a teacher. To help these students locate a prep facility in their area, we have compiled this overview of CAEC prep locations across Nova Scotia.
However, an ever-increasing number of CAEC students have discovered how online learning can be very advantageous. Sure, studying with an online course requires some decent self-discipline on the student’s behalf, but for students who can learn well by themselves, the benefits of flexibility are fantastic.
They don’t have to commute at set times to a CAEC prep facility, and a good online course lets them complete the CAEC lessons in any order they choose, without a set schedule.
Online learning allows students to learn where, when, and which subjects they learn. This flexibility makes online learning unique, but be sure to choose an up-to-date, accredited online prep course, like Cansego’s CAEC Prep Course.
Preparing for the CAEC exam
For adult learners who prefer to learn under the supervision of a teacher, we have compiled the following list of CAEC prep facilities across Nova Scotia.
Perhaps the best way to prepare for the Canadian CAEC exam is by combining physical classroom instruction with an up-to-date and accredited online course.
CAEC prep sites in Nova Scotia (cities by alphabet)
Afton
Paq’tnkek First Nation
7 Dillon Street, Afton, NS B0H 1A0, Ph: (902) 386-2781
Amherst
Cumberland Upgrading Adult Network-CAN-U
21 Acadia Street, Second floor, Amherst, NS B4H 4W3, Ph: (902) 660.3095 or (902) 661.0153
Antigonish
Antigonish County Adult Learning Association
283 Main Street, Room 120, Antigonish, NS B2G 2H8, Ph: (902) 872-0933 or (902) 863-3060
Arichat
Richmond County Literacy Network
2543 Highway 206, Arichat, NS B0E 1A0, Ph: (902) 226-0383
Barrington Passage
Shelburne County Learning Network
3394 Highway 3, Barrington Passage, NS B0W 1G0, Ph: (902) 637-4333
Bedford
Bedford Education Centre Campus (Adult High School)
1658 Bedford Highway, Ste 0070, Bedford, NS B4A 2X9, Ph: (902) 832-8630
CAEC classes by Halifax Regional Centre for Education
Boutiliers Point
Western Halifax Regional Municipality Community Learning Network
7451 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, Boutiliers Point – NS B3Z 1S7, Ph: (902) 225-6320
Bridgewater
Lunenburg County Adult Learning Network (Employment Solutions Society)
110-215 Dominion Street, Bridgewater, NS B4V 2K7, Ph: (902) 543-2479
South Shore Regional Centre for Education-Bridgewater (Adult High School)
75 High Street, Bridgewater, NS B4V 1V8, Ph: (902) 527-5990
Cambridge
Annapolis Valley First Nations
29 Toney Boulevard, RR #2, Cambridge, NS B0P 1G0, Ph: (902) 538-7149
Dartmouth
Dartmouth Learning Network
802-73 Tacoma Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2W 3Y6, Ph: (902) 463-9179
Dartmouth Learning Network
45 Alderney Drive, Suite 604, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 2N6, Ph: (902) 463-9179
Solutions Learning Centre (formerly Dartmouth Work Activity Society)
15 Poseidon Court, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4T9, Ph: (902) 468-1320
Dartmouth Education Centre (Adult High School)
136 Pinecrest Drive, Dartmouth, NS B3A 1J9, Ph: (902) 832-8630
CAEC classes by Halifax Regional Centre for Education
Digby
Digby Area Learning Association
87 Warwick Street, Digby, NS B0V 1A0, Ph: (902) 245-7447
Digby Area Learning Association
207A Highway 303, Digby-Conway, NS B0V 1A0, Ph: (902) 245-7540
Elmsdale
East Hants Community Learning Association
The Nova Centre, Suite 101A, 224 Highway 214, Elmsdale, NS B2S 1J7, Ph: (902) 883-1608
Guysborough
Guysborough County Adult Learning Association
9996 Chedabucto Mall, Guysborough, NS B0H 1N0, Ph: (902) 533-4252
Halifax
Nova Scotia Community College-Halifax Campus
5685 Leeds Street, Halifax, NS B3J 2X1, Ph: (902) 491-6722
Black Educators Association
2136 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS B3K 3B3, Ph: (902) 424-3359
Deaf Literacy Nova Scotia Association
329-7071 Bayers Road, Halifax, NS B3L 2C2, Ph: (902) 423-3353
Halifax Community Learning Network
2099 Gottingen Street, Suite 214, Halifax, NS B3K 3B2, Ph: (902) 422-7648
CAEC classes are available at 16 Sussex Street (Capt. W. Sprey Community Center)
Captain William Spry Community Centre
16 Sussex Street, Halifax, NS B3R 2J7, Ph: (902) 422-7648
CAEC classes by Halifax Community Learning Network
MetroWorks CAEC Instruction
LL05-7071 Bayers Road, Halifax, NS B3L 2C2, Ph: (902) 453-2982
Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Society
2158 Gottingen Street, Halifax, NS B3K 3B4, Ph: (902) 420-1576 ext.233
Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre
2021 Brunswick Street, Suite 209, Halifax, NS B3K 2Y5, Ph: (902) 420-1576
Frontier College Halifax
5880 Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS B3H 1Y1, Ph: (902) 494-7003
Ingonish
Community Learning Association North of Smokey
36243 Cabot Trail, Ingonish NS B0C 1K0, Ph: (902) 285-2354
Kentville
Valley Community Learning Association
49 Cornwallis Street, Suite 106, Kentville, NS B4N 2E3, Ph: (902) 679-5252
Liverpool
Queens County Learning Network
279 Main Street, Liverpool, NS B0T 1K0, Ph: (902) 354-3635
Queens Adult High School
137 Old Bridge Street, Liverpool, NS B0T 1K0, Ph: (902) 354-7630
Lower Sackville
Bedford-Sackville Learning Network Society (@Sackville Sports Stadium)
409 Glendale Drive, Lower Sackville, NS B4C 2T6, Ph: (902) 869-3838
Middleton
Valley Community Learning Association
295 Commercial Street, Middleton, NS B0S 1P0, Ph: (902) 679-5252
Location: Nova Scotia Community College Campus
Millbrook
Millbrook First Nation
820 Willow Street, Millbrook, NS B2N 5E5, Ph: (902) 897-9199 ext 122
New Glasgow
PiCCoLA New Glasgow
174 Archimedes Street, New Glasgow, NS B2H 2T8, Ph: (902) 755-5827
New Minas
Kings County Adult High School
18 Jones Road, New Minas, NS B4N 3N1, Ph: (902) 681-4930
CAEC classes by Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
North Preston
Preston Area Learning Skills Society
979 North Preston Road, Suite 124, North Preston, NS B2Z 1A2, Ph: (902) 462-6042
Pictou
Pictou County Continuous Learning Association
91 Beeches Road, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0, Ph: (902) 485-7014
PiCCoLA Pictou
21 Caladh Avenue, Pictou, NS B0K 1H0, Ph: (902) 755-5827
Pointe-de-l’Eglise
Universite Sainte-Anne
1695, Route 1, Pointe-de-l’Église, Nouvelle-Écosse B0W 1M0, Ph: (902) 424-5609
Port Hawkesbury
Port Hawkesbury Literacy Council
305 Granville Street, Unit 1, Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2M5, Ph: (902) 625-1599
Port Hood
Inverness County Literacy Council
375 Main Street, Port Hood NS B0E 2W0, Ph: (902) 787-2274
Sheet Harbour
Eastern Shore & Musquodoboit Valley Literacy Network
22756 Nova Scotia (Trunk 7), Sheet Harbour, NS B0J 3B0, Ph: (902) 391-0014 (cell)
(Musquodoboit Valley: (902) 891-0503; Musquodoboit Harbour: (902) 891-0286)
Shelburne
Shelburne County Learning Network
25C King Street, Shelburne, NS B0T 1W0, Ph: (902)637-4333
St. Peter’s
Chapel Island First Nation-Potlotek Education Office (Richmond County)
342 Sitmuk Road, St. Peter’s, NS B0E 3B0, Ph: (902) 535-3160
Sydney
Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County
440 George Street, Sydney, NS B1P 1K3, Ph: (902) 564-8404
Sydney Adult Education Centre (Adult High School)
290 Whitney Avenue, Sydney, NS B1P 5A6, Ph: (902) 562-5178
CAEC classes by Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education
Truro
CALA (Colchester Adult Learning Association)
36 Arthur Street, Room 127, Forrester Hall, Truro, NS B2N 1X5, Ph: (902) 895-2469
Colchester Adult Learning Association (CALA)
966-B Prince Street, Grinners Building, Truro, NS B2N 1H8, Ph: (902) 895.2468
Literacy Nova Scotia (@Nova Scotia Community College)
Forrester Hall, Room 125, Truro, NS B2N 5V2, Ph: (902) 897-2444
Tusket
Équipe d’alphabétisation – Nouvelle-Écosse
CP 59, 1, rue Slocumb, Tusket, Nouvelle-Écosse B0W 3M0, Ph: (902) 648-0501 Fax: 902-648-3525
Upper Tantallon
Western Halifax Community Learning Network
5209 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, Suite 205, Upper Tantallon, NS B3Z 1E3, Ph: (902) 225-6320
Whycocomagh
We’koqma’q First Nation
140 Reservation Road, Whycocomagh, NS B0E 3M0, Ph: (902) 756-2485
Windsor
Hants Learning Network Association
90 Sanford Drive, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0, Ph: (902) 792-6754
Windsor Adult High School
94 Wentworth Road, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0, Ph: (902) 679-6750
CAEC classes by Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education
Yarmouth
Yarmouth County Learning Network
3B-101 Water Street, Yarmouth NS B5A 4P4, Ph: (902) 742-8151
No online CAEC test
Although the five CAEC sub-exams are entirely computer-formatted, the exam itself is not available online.
To write the sub-exams, you must come to one of Nova Scotia’s official CAEC testing sites and write the exam in person.
You can take the five CAEC subtests in the order you prefer and one (or more) at a time. Your test results will remain valid.
CAEC Testing Sites in Nova Scotia (cities by alphabet)
Amherst
NSCC Amherst, 147 Albion Street South, Amherst, Ph: (902) 661-3180
Bridgewater
NSCC Lunenburg, 75 High Street, Bridgewater, Ph: (902) 543-4591
Dartmouth
NSCC Akerley Campus, 21 Woodlawn Road, Dartmouth, Ph: (902) 491-4966 or (782) 641-3018
NSCC Ivany Campus, 80 Mawiomi Place, Dartmouth, Ph: (902) 491-1228
Digby
NSCC Digby Learning Centre, 87 Warwick Street, Digby, Ph: (902) 247-3229
Halifax
NSCC Institute of Technology Campus, 5685 Leeds Street, Halifax, Ph: (902) 491-5236
Kentville
NSCC Kingstec, 236 Belcher Street, Kentville, Ph: (902) 679-7572
Lawrencetown
NSCC Centre of Geographic Sciences Campus, 50 Elliott Road, Lawrencetown, Ph: (902) 584-2100
Middleton
NSCC Annapolis Valley Campus, 295 Commercial Street, Middleton, Ph: (902) 584-2100
Port Hawkesbury
NSCC Strait Area, 226 Reeves Street, Port Hawkesbury, Ph: (902) 625-7595
Springhill
NSCC Cumberland Campus, 1 Main Street, Springhill, Ph: (902) 597-3737
Stellarton
NSCC Pictou Campus, 39 Acadia Avenue, Stellarton, Ph: (902) 755-8107
Sydney
NSCC Marconi Sydney, 500 Esplanade Street, Sydney, Ph: (902) 563-8038
Truro
NSCC Truro Campus, 36 Arthur Street, Truro, Ph: (902) 893-6642
Yarmouth
NSCC Burridge, 372 Pleasant Street, Yarmouth, Ph: (902) 742-3099