Failed the CAAT twice — what finally helped me pass it

by Chris D. 6 views3 replies
C
Chris D.OP
May 27, 2026

I'm not gonna sugarcoat it — the CAAT kicked my butt twice before I finally passed last month. I went in the first time thinking my accounting background would carry me, and I scored a 58. Second attempt I studied harder but still hit a 61. Passing is 70, so I was getting closer but running out of confidence fast.

What changed for the third attempt was actually using a proper CAAT practice test instead of just re-reading my notes. I found one that mimicked the real format — timed sections, the same mix of numerical reasoning and verbal — and my weak spots became really obvious really fast. I also stopped ignoring the study guide sections on applied mathematics because I kept assuming I knew that stuff.

Anyone else here taken the Canadian Adult Achievement Test through Humber or another college? I'd love to compare notes on the reading comprehension section especially. That one is sneaky — it moves faster than you expect and the passages are pretty dense.

C
Carlos B.
May 28, 2026
The reading comp section got me too on my first attempt. What helped me was doing timed practice passages every single day for two weeks — like 10 minutes, not a full session. Your brain just gets faster at pulling the main idea without rereading everything. Also the math section has a specific format for percentage questions that keeps repeating, so once you see the pattern it's way easier.
J
Jessica L.
May 28, 2026
Third time is the charm honestly. I passed on my third too and felt like I actually understood the material by then instead of just cramming. The repeated exposure makes a huge difference even when it's frustrating in the moment.
S
Samantha C.
May 28, 2026
Congrats on passing! I'm currently prepping for mine, scheduled in about six weeks. Do you remember roughly how many questions were in each section? I've seen different numbers floating around online and can't figure out which version I'll get. Also did you find the exam tips about skipping and coming back actually useful, or is the pacing tight enough that you don't really have time to do that?

Join the Discussion

Sign in or register to reply with your account, or reply as a guest below.