2025 Comprehensive Guide to the AEAS Exam for Australian High Schools
What is the AEAS exam in Australia? When it comes to English proficiency tests, many are familiar with IELTS, TOEFL, and TOEIC. However, for parents considering sending their children to study in Australia, it's essential to understand the details related to the AEAS Exam.
About AEAS Exam
AEAS (Australian Education Assessment Services) is a comprehensive assessment designed for international students planning to study primary and secondary school in Australia. Since 1985, AEAS has served as a standard for evaluating the proficiency of international students, with offices in Melbourne, Beijing, and Hong Kong.
AEAS offers a range of services, including examinations, mock tests, preparatory courses, marketing, and various activities related to the assessment process. Over the past 40 years, AEAS has earned the trust of Australian schools through its reliable, accurate, effective, and rigorous on-site examination services, dedicated to providing a high-quality assessment experience for students.
AEAS has established strong partnerships with all stakeholders (schools, educational institutions, government, families, and students) to collaboratively promote the development of international education.
Why Take AEAS?
- High Recognition: Accepted by over 80% of schools in Australia, including public schools.
- Faster Decision-Making: Schools can make quicker decisions based on exam results.
- Efficient Applications: Enhances the efficiency of applying to Australian schools.
- Assessment of English Proficiency: Helps schools understand students' English proficiency and needs for English courses.
- Balanced Results: Exam results provide a fair assessment.
When to Take the Exam?
Note: Students cannot retake the exam within three months.
AEAS Exam covers:
- English Proficiency
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
Students will be assessed based on their age and the grade they are applying for. For example, a student currently in Year 9 will take the English exam for Years 10-12; a student preparing to apply for Year 10 next year will take the Year 10 math and reasoning tests. AEAS does not have "Pass or Fail" grading; the aim is to accurately reflect a student's ability to thrive in an English-speaking learning environment.
English Proficiency Assessment
For Students Preparing for Years 10-12:
- Vocabulary Section: (20 minutes) Includes multiple choice, matching, and fill-in-the-blank questions.
- Reading Section: (30 minutes) Includes multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and graphical questions.
- Writing Section: (30 minutes) Students write a 200-word essay on a topic suited to their interests and age.
- Listening Section: (20 minutes) Includes multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, and graphical questions.
- Speaking Section: (10-15 minutes) Involves a series of dialogues, presentations, image descriptions, and discussions, which will be recorded.
For Students Preparing for Years 7-9 (similar format to Years 10-12):
- Vocabulary Section: (30 minutes) Includes matching, context-based fill-in-the-blank, and spelling.
- Reading Section: (30 minutes) Similar to the above.
- Writing Section: (30 minutes) Students write a 150-word essay on a topic suitable for their age.
- Listening Section: (20 minutes) Similar to the above.
- Speaking Section: (10-15 minutes) Similar format, with age-appropriate topics, recorded.
For Students Preparing for Years 4-6 (similar format to Years 7-9):
- Mathematical Reasoning: A 45-minute multiple-choice assessment tailored for different grade levels, assessing students' mathematical reasoning skills. Students may use calculators and printed dictionaries during this section, but mobile phones and other electronic devices are prohibited.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: A 30-minute multiple-choice assessment evaluating students' reasoning abilities, with scores accurately reflecting their intellectual level.
Registration Information
Beyond Australia, AEAS assessments are conducted in over 25 countries, including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. A list of testing centers can be found at AEAS Registration.
Items to Bring on Exam Day
- One passport-sized photo (with the student's name written on the back)
- Original and copy of the past year’s school transcript (with English translation)
- Original and copy of a photo ID
- Black ballpoint pen
- Calculator and printed dictionary (only for math assessment)
AEAS Assessment Report
The AEAS Educational Assessment Report provides the following information:
- Total score for the English proficiency test (out of 100) and individual scores for its five components.
- Recommendations for the duration of English preparatory courses (in weeks).
- Scores and average grades for the mathematical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning assessments.
- Suggested entry grade.
Schools will reference the recommendations in the report when reviewing applications, to determine the student's enrollment date, allowing sufficient time to enhance their English proficiency and smoothly transition into an English-speaking learning environment. Schools may also require students to retake the exam before classes commence to ensure they meet the required standards.
The AEAS Educational Assessment Report is prepared by the AEAS Australia headquarters and sent to:
- The school the student is applying to
- The student/parents
- The education service center indicated by the student/parents on the AEAS registration form
Benefits of the AEAS Report:
- Helps parents and education service centers choose schools that best fit the student’s needs and level.
- Assists schools in understanding students’ abilities to provide appropriate admission arrangements.
- Shows the student's current level of English proficiency.
- Prevents students from entering an English-learning environment without adequate language skills.
- Aids parents in formulating a more comprehensive budget for overseas studies (including costs for English preparatory courses).
Variations in English Proficiency Requirements Across Schools
Different schools may have widely varying requirements for English proficiency, depending on the level of English support they can provide. Language programs can range from full-time intensive English courses to just a few hours a week. Schools with limited ESL/EAL support may have higher AEAS English proficiency requirements, while those providing high-level support may set lower AEAS English proficiency standards.
Extended Readings
Complete Guide to Applying for Oxbridge Universities in 2025
Comprehensive Guide to UK Medical Schools in 2025
Complete Guide to Applying for HKU and CUHK Medical Schools via Non-JUPAS in 2025
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Ready to Hear Success Stories? See Why Ascent Prep is a Student Favourite!
Michelle has excelled in academics since she was young and has been determined to apply to medical school since her third year of junior high school. She attends a local traditional girls' school that offers British A-Level courses. To lay a solid foundation for her dream of studying medicine, Michelle chose challenging subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. In the summer vacation after completing the IGCSE exam, Michelle interned in a cardiologist's clinic for five days through our arrangement. During her internship, she deeply realized the busy schedule of doctors and their sense of mission for the recovery of patients, which made her more determined to become a doctor.
Academically, Michelle took a UCAT preparation course during her first Christmas in the A-Level course, and learned various exam techniques under the guidance of the tutor, mastering how to quickly understand questions. She eventually scored an excellent 2830 in the UCAT exam and obtained a level 1 in the situational judgement test, which led to an interview invitation from the University of Nottingham Medical School. During the Easter period, she attended a personal statement guidance course. With the advice of her tutor, Michelle chose appropriate extracurricular activities and revised the content of her personal statement to make it more clearly express her passion and motivation for medicine. In addition, Michelle also took the BMAT exam (note that the BMAT has now been cancelled) and obtained a good score of 12.7, which exceeded the qualifying score and increased her chances of entering medical school.
To ensure that Michelle can fully express herself in the interview, we recommend arranging three targeted mock interviews to ensure that the areas that need improvement can be accurately improved. Finally, Michelle received an interview invitation from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong through the Non-JUPAS application. Her efforts finally paid off and she successfully received admission notices from the University of Nottingham and the University of Hong Kong.
After sharing Michelle's case, for students who aspire to enter the medical school, starting preparation one to two years in advance can indeed significantly increase the chances of success. Michelle's story not only inspires other students, but also proves that with planning and hard work, pursuing your dreams is achievable.
David attends a top secondary school in the UK and has excellent academic performance, with all 9s in GCSE and all A* predicted A-level grades. His dream has always been to become a doctor, and he has worked hard to achieve this goal. However, David unfortunately encountered a setback in the interview for a British medical school in January. The failure of the interview for his first application to a medical school made him depressed and anxious, and he began to doubt his abilities and future. At this time, his father contacted us at Ascent Prep for advice and suggestions.
We first comforted David and encouraged him not to give up his dream. Although he missed the chance to apply for medical school at a British university, the start date of medical school in Australia is half a year later than that in the UK, so he still has a chance to enroll. We suggested that he consider switching to medical school in Australia. In order to help David overcome the difficulties in the interview, we analyzed the reasons for his failure and found that although he was knowledgeable, he was flustered in the interview, especially lacking logic in judgment and problem-solving questions. We developed a personalized coaching program for him, including mock interview training and various coping skills, such as the STAR rule, responding to open-ended questions, and demonstrating passion for medicine and personal traits.
Through these intensive trainings, David's interview skills and confidence have been significantly improved. He also used the summer vacation when he returned to Hong Kong to retake the ISAT and UCAT exams and continued to practice under our guidance. At the same time, he continued to work as a research assistant at HKU, enhancing his medical experience and understanding of medical biology. Eventually, David successfully obtained admission notices from three Australian medical schools, including the University of New South Wales (UNSW). This proves that as long as you persevere, you can overcome challenges. His experience inspires other students pursuing their medical dreams, demonstrating to them the importance of persistence and hard work.
Brian is a student with a passion for medicine and his goal is to attend one of the top medical schools in the world. In order to realize this dream, he not only worked hard in his studies and achieved excellent results, but also actively participated in various extracurricular activities to comprehensively improve his abilities. Brian observed in the hospital’s cardiology department for a week and participated in the BSMS Virtual Work Experience, which allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding of the medical field through technological simulation. He not only learned the skills and qualities required to be a competent doctor, but also experienced the close relationship between doctors and patients.
After learning about Brian's goals, we encouraged him to set his sights on the University of Cambridge Medical School, whose outstanding reputation in medical research and teaching quality are impeccable. We also advised him to apply to other G5 medical schools such as Imperial, UCL and KCL. In order to improve his BMAT score and interview skills, we arranged a 15-hour BMAT preparation course ((Note that BMAT has been cancelled), which provided systematic training by experienced tutors, including problem-solving skills, test-taking strategies and time management. We also conducted several mock interviews for him, specifically targeting the interview style of Cambridge University, and designed relevant questions to help him prepare and better deal with academic and ethical issues.
Brian submitted his UCAS application in mid-October, took the BMAT in November, and received an interview invitation from Cambridge University in December. He was successfully accepted by Cambridge in January and also successfully obtained interview invitations from ICL and UCL. In order to reduce his financial burden, we encouraged him to apply for the Hong Kong Excellence Scholarship Scheme, which offers a scholarship of up to HK$300,000 and can support outstanding students to study in well-known overseas universities. In the end, Brian not only achieved high scores in the BMAT exam, but also was admitted to Cambridge University Medical School and KCL. He finally chose to go to Dowling College, Cambridge, England to pursue higher academic goals and realize his dream.