Defence Force Recruiting
Summary of AEE Assessments information
The Alternative Education Equivalency (AEE) Assessments is an alternative pathway for some Australian Defence Force candidates who don’t have evidence of their educational achievements.
Do I need to complete the AEE Assessments?
You should sit this test if you:
- do not possess evidence of the required education standard
- do not have the required education standard for a specific Defence Force Recruiting employment category
How to apply
If you are interested in joining the Australian Defence Force, visit the Defence Force Recruiting website or call 13 19 02.
As part of the recruitment process, Defence Force Recruiting will assess your education and determine if you need to complete the assessments then book you into a test session. You can't book a test directly through VETASSESS.
Once you are booked into a test session, we will send you:
- Confirmation letter with the test session details
- Candidate Preparation Kit
- Candidate Voucher
Testing Schedule
Click here for schedule of test sessions
Testing Locations
Click here for map of Australia and list of test venues
Examination locations too far away?
Candidates who live more than 100 kilometres away from the test venues shown may be eligible to complete the AEE Assessments within their local community.
If this applies to you, we will send you the relevant information once your booking has been made by Defence Force Recruiting.
Candidate preparation kit
Download the Candidate Preparation Kit (PDF - 825 Kb) for the complete range of preparation resources and important information about attending the test session.
Format of the AEE Assessments
You may be required to complete between one and three assessments at either Year 10 or Year 12 level and will generally be booked to complete the required assessments at one test session.
| Assessments | Time allowed | Year 10 items | Year 12 items |
|---|---|---|---|
| English
Multiple choice – reading, comprehension & language English written expression task |
30 minutes 30 minutes |
50 1 task |
45 1 task |
| Mathematics Multiple choice |
30 minutes |
30 |
25 |
| Science Multiple choice |
30 minutes |
35 |
35 |
Types of questions in the AEE Assessments
Below are the topics that are tested within each assessment
English:
- Reading & comprehension
- Writing
- Language structure and use
- English written expression task
Mathematics:
- Space
- Number
- Measurement
- Chance & data
- Algebra
- Reasoning & strategies
Science:
- Physics: balance, pressure, frequency, speed, force, reflection, circuits, efficiency, pulleys
- Chemistry: solubility, indicators, solids
- Biology: classify, populations, photosynthesis
- Environmental science: salinity, species
- Earth and space: humidity, planets
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 assessment. Download a list of suggested text books:
- List of Year 10 reference materials (Word – 27Kb)
- List of Year 12 reference materials (Word – 29Kb)
These text books and many other relevant books not listed can be reviewed and ordered through the corresponding publisher website:
- Jacaranda Publishing
- Oxford University Press
- Pearson Heinemann (Australia)
- Haese & Harris Publications
- Cengage Learning Australia
- Macmillan Education Australia
Sample questions
There are some sample questions to help you prepare for each assessment but they do not necessarily cover the full range of topics or question difficulty.
- Year 10 sample questions (Word - 174 Kb)
- Year 12 sample questions (Word - 275 Kb)
Attending the test session
If you can’t attend the test session, call Defence Force Recruiting or VETASSESS to cancel or change your booking. If you don’t call and you don’t attend the test session, it will count as one of your attempts.
When you arrive at the test venue on the day, you must register before the test session.
What to bring
On the day of the test, you must bring the following:
- Candidate Voucher (sent from VETASSESS)
- Photo identification (can include driver's licence, boat licence, passport, student ID card, employment ID card, proof of age card or other identification with a photograph that shows your full name and date of birth)
If you do not have photographic identification, call VETASSESS on 03 9655 4849.
Please note: you will NOT be admitted to the test room without the above items
You will also need to bring:
- Pens, 2B pencils, soft eraser, sharpener
- silent, battery-operated, non-programmable scientific calculator (for use in the mathematics and science assessments) Please note: mobile phones with calculator functionality and graphics calculators are not permitted
- bottled water (recommended)
Results
VETASSESS will report your results back to Defence Force Recruiting.
You need to contact Defence Force Recruiting for these results, as they will not be available through the test venue or VETASSESS.
Defence Force Recruiting will advise you of your results and the next steps in the process.
More information
- View the testing schedule
- Testing locations
- Candidate Preparation Kit
- Preparing for the test
- Year 10 reference materials
- Year 12 reference materials
- Year 10 sample questions
- Year 12 sample questions
- Sitting the test
- Results
- Frequently Asked Questions
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