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CAEC Science Preparation Course 2026

This course is for adults in Canada who are getting ready for the Science test of the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC). It follows the three official strands: the nature of science, scientific inquiry skills and science, technology, society and environment, with most practice on reading experiments, tables and graphs. Study each lesson, try its topic quiz, then take the timed 35-question final assessment. Score 80% or more to get a certificate of completion.

  • Course
  • Canada
  • 97 questions
  • Checked October 13, 2026
  • Fact-checked October 13, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 300 minutes of lessons, 6 untimed topic quizzes (97 questions in all) and a timed final assessment of 35 questions drawn at random. Score 80% or more on the final assessment to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.

Start with the lessonsCAEC Science Preparation: Lessons: about 300 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

  • Describe the length, timing, strands and pass mark of the CAEC Science test
  • Tell observations from inferences and testable questions from untestable ones
  • Explain how placebos, blind studies, sampling, peer review and replication reduce bias
  • Identify independent, dependent and controlled variables and control groups in an experiment
  • Read WHMIS pictograms and household hazard symbols, choose measuring tools and convert SI units
  • Read tables and graphs, describe trends and estimate values
  • Judge the reliability and validity of an investigation and choose a supported conclusion
  • Weigh the risks, benefits and unintended consequences of a technology

Score 80% or more to download your certificate.

Your study plan

Read each lesson, take its topic quiz (untimed, with explanations), then the timed final assessment. A new mix of questions is drawn every time. Your progress is saved in this browser.

  1. Read the lessons6 lessons, about 300 min
  2. Topic quiz 1: The Science test and the nature of science17 questions
  3. Topic quiz 2: Inquiry: questions, hypotheses and variables16 questions
  4. Topic quiz 3: Inquiry: safety, tools and SI units16 questions
  5. Topic quiz 4: Inquiry: tables, graphs and trends16 questions
  6. Topic quiz 5: Inquiry: error, reliability and conclusions16 questions
  7. Topic quiz 6: Science, technology, society and environment16 questions
  8. Final exam35 questions, 90 min · Score 80% or more

Topic quiz 1: The Science test and the nature of science

  1. Question 1 of 17

    How many questions are on the CAEC Science test?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 35

    The CAEC Science test has 35 questions.

  2. Question 2 of 17

    How much time do you have to write the CAEC Science test?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. 90 minutes

    You have 90 minutes for the 35 Science questions.

  3. Question 3 of 17

    Which strand makes up the largest share of the CAEC Science test?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Scientific inquiry skills

    Scientific inquiry skills make up 60–85% of the test, far more than the other two strands.

  4. Question 4 of 17

    What score do you need to pass the CAEC Science test?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. 55%

    Every CAEC test, including Science, needs at least 55% to meet the minimum standard.

  5. Question 5 of 17

    A student writes: "The water in the beaker is bubbling." What kind of statement is this?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. An observation

    It describes only what the student can see. An observation uses the senses or a tool and adds no explanation.

  6. Question 6 of 17

    A student writes: "The tomato plant's leaves are yellow, so it probably needs more nitrogen." Which part is an inference?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It probably needs more nitrogen

    An inference is an explanation based on what you observed. Yellow leaves are seen; the lack of nitrogen is a guess about why.

  7. Question 7 of 17

    Which question can be answered by a scientific investigation?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Does a bike tire lose air faster in cold weather?

    A testable question can be answered by measuring something. Moral, beauty and supernatural questions cannot be tested with evidence.

  8. Question 8 of 17

    Why is "Should cities ban gas-powered leaf blowers?" NOT a question science alone can answer?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It asks what people should do, which depends on values

    Science can measure noise or pollution, but deciding what we should do is an ethical or social choice that also depends on values.

  9. Question 9 of 17

    Doctors once thought most stomach ulcers were caused mainly by stress and lifestyle. Later studies found that a bacterium was often the cause. What does this show about science?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Ideas can change when new evidence is found

    Science is ongoing inquiry. Ideas are kept, changed or replaced when new evidence appears.

  10. Question 10 of 17

    In a study of a new cough medicine, one group takes the medicine and another takes a sugar pill that looks the same. What is the sugar pill called?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A placebo

    A placebo looks like the real treatment but has no active ingredient. It shows how much people improve just from being treated.

  11. Question 11 of 17

    In a double-blind study, who knows which people are getting the real treatment during the study?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Neither the participants nor the researchers who work with them

    In a double-blind study, both groups are kept unaware, so expectations cannot affect the results or how they are recorded.

  12. Question 12 of 17

    Why do researchers try to use a large, randomly chosen sample?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Results are less likely to come from chance or one unusual group

    A large random sample better represents the whole population, which makes the results more reliable.

  13. Question 13 of 17

    What happens during peer review?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Other experts check a study before it is published

    Peer review is a check by independent experts in the same field. It helps keep research credible.

  14. Question 14 of 17

    A lab in Winnipeg reports a surprising result. Labs in Halifax and Vancouver repeat the experiment and get the same result. Why does this matter?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Replication makes the result more trustworthy

    Replication means other scientists can repeat a study and get similar results. It increases confidence in the finding.

  15. Question 15 of 17

    A study saying an energy drink improves memory was paid for by the company that sells the drink. What possible problem should a reader notice?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Bias from interest-group funding

    When a group that benefits from a result pays for the study, there is a risk of bias. Readers should look for independent studies.

  16. Question 16 of 17

    A company ran six trials of its new fertilizer. Two showed better growth and four showed no change. Its ad mentions only the two good trials. What kind of bias is this?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Selective reporting

    Selective reporting means sharing only the results that support what you want and leaving out the rest.

  17. Question 17 of 17

    A researcher strongly believes a new teaching method works. She grades the tests herself and knows which students used the method. What is the best way to limit bias?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Have a grader who does not know the groups mark the tests

    A researcher's own beliefs can affect judgement. Blind grading removes the chance that her expectations shape the scores.

What to know before the test

  • The CAEC replaced the GED® in 2024. Completed GED® credentials stay valid.
  • There are five CAEC tests: Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. Your credential is issued when you pass all five and/or meet PLAR requirements.
  • The Science test has 35 questions in 90 minutes.
  • The Science test has three strands: nature of science (10–25%), scientific inquiry skills (60–85%), and science, technology, society and environment (5–15%).
  • Most Science questions (50–80%) are of moderate complexity: applying concepts, choosing an approach or selecting tools, rather than simple recall.
  • You need 55% to pass. 80–100% is "exceeds minimum standard" and 55–79% is "meets minimum standard".
  • Calculators may be used only on Part II of the Mathematics test. Dictionaries, thesauruses and translators are not permitted on the Science test.
  • You may write a subject test once per calendar month and up to 3 times per calendar year. A sample test is available in each subject on the CAEC digital platform.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official CAEC Science test?

No. This is an independent practice course. It is not run by the CAEC Testing Service or any province or territory, and your scores here are not CAEC results.

What does the certificate from this course show?

The certificate of completion shows that you finished this practice course and scored at least 80% on its final assessment. It is not the CAEC, not a high school equivalency and not an official result, so schools and employers will not accept it in place of the CAEC.

Do I need to memorize a lot of science facts?

Less than you might think. Most of the test (60–85%) is scientific inquiry skills, such as finding variables, reading tables and graphs and judging conclusions. Practise those skills with the scenarios in this course.

Can I use a calculator on the Science test?

The CAEC Test Administration Guide allows calculators only on Part II of the Mathematics test. Practise simple arithmetic, such as averages, differences and unit conversions, by hand.

Why is the pass mark 80% here when the CAEC needs 55%?

The real test needs 55%. We set a higher bar so that a pass here is a good sign you are ready, not just close.

Where do I register for the CAEC?

Eligibility rules, fees and testing centres depend on your province or territory, so start with your provincial or territorial CAEC page. You then create an account on the CAEC digital platform and book a test at a testing centre.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.

Sources

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