Preparing for the test
There are three independent levels of the AEES tests:
- Year 10: English, General Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics & Science
- Year 12: English, General Mathematics, Advanced Mathematics & Science
There are a number of resources we recommend including books, sample questions and study tips.
Candidate preparation kit
Download the Candidate Preparation Kit for the year level of the tests you need to sit:
- Year 10 Candidate Preparation Kit (2.03MB pdf)
- Year 12 Candidate Preparation Kit (2.10MB pdf)
- Year 12 Candidate Preparation Kit: Advanced Mathematics supplement (2.12MB pdf)
If you are booked to sit the Year 12 Advanced Mathematics test, download both the Candidate Preparation Kit and the Advanced Mathematics supplement.
Reference Materials
We suggest you access books from your local library or consider using a tutor from within your local community.
There are many relevant text books available across Australia that would provide suitable reference material for each test. Download a list of suggested text books:
- List of Year 10 reference materials (178KB pdf)
- List of Year 12 reference materials (234KB pdf)
These text books and many other relevant books not listed can be reviewed and ordered through the corresponding publisher website:
- Jacaranda
- Oxford University Press
- Pearson Australia
- Haese Mathematics
- Nelson Cengage Australia
- Macmillan Education Australia
Types of questions in the tests
Below are the topics that are tested within each test.
English:
- Reading & comprehension
- Writing
- Language structure and use
- English written expression task
General Mathematics:
- Space
- Number
- Measurement
- Chance & data
- Algebra
- Reasoning & strategies
Year 10 Advanced Mathematics:
- Basic arithmetic and algebra
- Real numbers
- Ratio & proportion
- Patterns & algebra
- Linear & non-linear relationships
- Measurement
- Geometric reasoning
- Pythagoras & trigonometry
- Chance
- Data representation & Interpretation
Year 12 Advanced Mathematics:
The questions in this test are based on the Year 12 New South Wales Mathematics 2 Unit curriculum. You can download the 'Year 12 New South Wales Mathematics 2/3 Unit Years 11-12 Syllabus' (373KB pdf). (Please refer to the '2 Unit' content only)
Further information, including HSC exam papers, is available from the 'Board of Studies New South Wales' website at: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au.
The topic areas covered in the test are:
- Basic arithmetic and algebra
- Real functions
- Linear functions
- The quadratic polynomial and the parabola
- Plane geometry - geometrical properties
- Tangent to a curve and derivative of a function
- Coordinate methods in geometry
- Applications of geometrical properties
- Geometrical applications of differentiation
- Integration
- Trigonometric functions (including applications of trigonometric ratios)
- Logarithmic and exponential functions
- Applications of calculus to the physical world
- Probability
- Series and series applications
Science:
- Physics: balance, pressure, frequency, speed, force, reflection, circuits, efficiency, pulleys, energy and springs
- Chemistry: solubility/reactivity, indicators, solids, equilibrium, elements
- Biology: classify, populations, photosynthesis
- Environmental science: salinity/soil HP, species
- Earth and space: humidity, planets
- Thinking scientifically
Revision and study tips
View our revision and study tips to help you adequately prepare.
Sample questions
There are some sample questions to help you prepare for each test but they do not necessarily cover the full range of topics or question difficulty.
- Year 10 sample questions (931KB pdf)
- Year 12 sample questions (794KB pdf)
- Year 12 Advanced Mathematics sample questions (1.11MB pdf)
Practice tests
A Practice test for each test you are booked to sit will be sent from VETASSESS with the Candidate Preparation Kit.
You can also download these Practice tests below:
- Year 10
- Year 10 English (489KB pdf)
- Year 10 English Written Expression Task (376KB pdf)
- Year 10 General Mathematics (1.3MB pdf)
- Year 10 Advanced Mathematics (827KB pdf)
- Year 10 Science (1.21MB pdf)
- Year 12
- Year 12 English (445KB pdf)
- Year 12 English Written Expression Task (376KB pdf)
- Year 12 General Mathematics (831KB pdf)
- Year 12 Advanced Mathematics (Part A) (1.44MB pdf)
- Year 12 Advanced Mathematics (Part B) (1.1MB pdf)
- Year 12 Advanced Mathematics (Part C) (1.37MB pdf)
- Year 12 Science (1.51MB pdf)
If you are booked to sit the Year 12 Advanced Mathematics test, download all three Practice Test components (Part A, Part B & Part C).
Each Practice test has the same number of questions as the final test. For an accurate result, follow the instructions at the front of the Practice test and time yourself so it's similar to the final test conditions.
After you finish the Practice test, use the Answer Key provided to check your answers. The topics on the Answer Key can give you an indication of areas you can improve.
The score on the Practice test is an indication only of how you may perform on the final test.
The Practice test score cannot be used in place of sitting the final test.
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