Test format & sections
Vocabulary
20m · 50 questions across 3 parts
Three genuinely different parts, not one mixed format. Part 1 matches definitions to words drawn from repeating pools of 5 (each pool labelled A–E, several definitions per pool) — real past papers confirm the exact mechanic. Part 2 is a strict one-word gap-fill where the answer's first letter is already given. Part 3 gives a sentence with exactly one misspelled word to find and correct.
Reading Comprehension
30m · ~28-29 questions across 2 passages
Two independent passages per test (~400-800 words each, typically current-affairs or science-news style), each followed by multiple choice (including vocabulary-in-context and "all of the following EXCEPT" trap questions), then fill-in-the-blank/short-answer questions requiring a written response — confirmed against real past papers. Strict True/False statements (no "Not Given" option, unlike IELTS) appear from Years 7-9 upward only; Years 4-6 papers have no True/False section at all.
Listening
20m · Several parts, escalating difficulty
Structured like Cambridge English's Listening paper: several parts of rising difficulty, each recording typically played TWICE. Completion answers must be the exact word(s) heard, verbatim — a correctly understood paraphrase still loses the mark. (Based on structural comparison rather than a directly reviewed AEAS Listening past paper — verify against a real one if available.)
Writing
30m · 1 task (150+ words Years 4-9, 200+ Years 10-12)
Genre varies test to test, not just topic — real past papers include personal narratives, opinion essays, informal/formal letters, and (Years 10-12) magazine articles, usually with the genre named explicitly in the prompt (e.g. "Write a letter to...", "Write an article for..."). A tight, disciplined task either way — planning briefly and finishing cleanly beats an ambitious but incomplete piece.
Speaking
10–15m · 3 sections
Three sections, not one: an unassessed warm-up interview (education, family, interests, health, languages — Years 10-12 also cover study plans in Australia), a cue-card monologue, and a picture task. Section ORDER differs by year: Years 4-9 go Interview → Picture Task → Monologue; Years 10-12 go Interview → Monologue → Picture Task. Monologue prep/talk time flips too: Years 4-9 get 2 minutes to prepare and 1 minute to speak; Years 10-12 get 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to speak. The Picture Task differs by year as well — Years 4-6 and 10-12 describe ONE picture; Years 7-9 compare TWO pictures.
Mathematical Reasoning
30–45m · Multiple choice
A student applying to a HIGHER year than their current one sits that higher year's content — a common source of an unexpectedly low score if this isn't planned for.
Non-Verbal General Ability
~30m · Multiple choice
Tests general cognitive ability independent of English. Format-familiarity (rotations, sequences, matrices, odd-one-out) is the realistic prep target — this section isn't curriculum content that can be crammed the way English or Math can.
How AEAS is scored
English is scored out of 100 total plus 5 component scores. Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning each convert a raw score to a stanine (1–9, mean 5, SD 2). There is no universal pass mark — every school sets its own entry threshold from the AEAS Report, which also recommends a number of weeks of English preparation.
Score levels
Typical requirements
AEAS frequently asked questions
Is there a pass or fail score for AEAS?
No. There is no universal AEAS pass mark — each school sets its own entry threshold using the AEAS Report. If you have a specific target school, ask them (or your education agent) what score they look for, rather than treating AEAS itself as pass/fail.
What does the stanine score mean?
Mathematical Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning are reported as a stanine — a normalised scale from 1 to 9 with a mean of 5. Scores of 1–3 are below average, 4–6 are average, and 7–9 are above average, relative to same-age peers.
Which year levels sit the AEAS test?
Mainly students applying for Years 4–6, 7–9, and 10–12 (Australian/US year numbering). Very young applicants (Years 1–3) typically aren't required to sit the formal test — schools usually assess them a different way.
Does Mathematical Reasoning difficulty depend on my current year or my target year?
Your target year level. A student applying to study a year ABOVE their current one sits that higher year's Math content, not an easier version — this catches families off guard if it isn't planned for in advance.
How is Non-Verbal Reasoning different to prepare for?
It's language-free and tests general cognitive ability (patterns, sequences, matrices) rather than curriculum content. The realistic prep goal is format familiarity — practising enough items that no question TYPE is a surprise on the day — rather than "studying" it the way you'd study vocabulary or math content.