Test centre protocol

Important note: You must read the test centre protocol before you register to sit AEA. Completion of AEA registration is dependent on your agreement to the terms of the test centre protocol.

Identification

On the day of the test, you will be required to show an appropriate photo identification. The only acceptable forms of identification are:

  • a current passport
  • an Australian driver’s licence
  • an Australian Keypass
  • a National Identity Card from your country of citizenship, or
  • a certified identification letter from your school or place of employment. This letter must be on official letterhead, and state your full name, date of birth and signature. The letter must be signed by a staff member/employer. A photo of you must be attached to the letter and have the school/business stamp overlapping it.

The identification must contain a photograph which is a recognisable likeness of you as you are at the time of sitting the test – a group or childhood photograph is not acceptable. A National Identity Card must include your name, signature, date of birth and recent photograph.

If you do not present any of the forms of identification listed above, or if the identity document you present does not contain a photograph of you as you look on the test day, you will not be permitted to sit AEA.

Confirmation of test registration

After you have registered to sit AEA, you will receive an email confirmation from ACER.

Arrival at test venue

Test takers should arrive at the test venue at least 15 minutes prior to the advertised starting time of the test.

Test security procedures and behaviour

ACER has established test security procedures which will be strictly enforced at all times.

It is the responsibility of the test taker to ensure that they understand that the following are considered to be breaches of test rules:

  • the giving of false or misleading information
  • attempting to gain access to test questions prior to the test
  • attempting to copy or memorise all or part of the test
  • taking the test on behalf of another person
  • allowing another person to take the test on your behalf
  • using the test questions, their content or information about them for purposes other than your sitting of the test
    • This includes publishing the test questions, any of their content or information about them in any format; and/or passing the test questions, any of their content or information about them to third parties.
  • failing to follow the test supervisors’ instructions at all times
  • providing or receiving assistance during the test
  • creating a disturbance
  • being found with or attempting to use prohibited aids (e.g. notes, note paper, dictionary, calculator, mobile phone, smart glasses, smart watches or any device capable of audio or video recording, etc.)
  • the giving of false or misleading information
  • infringement of copyright 
    • Copyright infringement includes: performing those rights or authorising the performance of those rights which are granted at law exclusively to the copyright owner. These rights include the exclusive right to reproduce the copyright work in a material form and to communicate that work to the public.
  • in any way breaching (as determined by ACER in its absolute discretion) any of the terms and conditions of your registration to participate in the test
  • any negligent, unlawful or wilful act or omission by you which ACER, in its absolute discretion, renders you to be unfit to participate in the test, whether or not you are registered to participate at the time of ACER’s determination.

The penalty for any of the above breaches will be the cancellation of the test taker's test and a ban from registering to sit for AEA on a future occasion.

Regional test takers: Online test sittings

You will need to download the Zoom platform to take the AEA test online.

Download the free version of Zoom.

Once you have registered for the test, your University will send you the Zoom meeting link to take the test online.

Computer and test room requirements

Before booking your test, you MUST ensure that you have:

  • a desktop computer or laptop to undertake the AEA test online; iPads, tablets or mobile phones are not suitable
  • a functioning web camera and microphone connected to (or built into) the computer you plan to use for the test
  • a stable, strong internet connection (Wi-Fi or hardwired)
  • a suitable, private room to sit the test, free from noise and distraction (public locations often have network firewalls in place which may block your connection to the online invigilatoring service and prevent you from sitting AEA)
  • an appropriate workstation on a stable desk in a room at a suitable temperature, and with appropriate lighting and ventilation
  • downloaded the Zoom platform as per the instructions above.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your computer meets the minimum technical requirements and is able to download and use the Zoom platform before you register for the AEA test.

Test time

Test taker's should log into the Zoom meeting at least 10 minutes prior to the nominated starting time of the test.

Test security procedures and behaviour

ACER has established test security procedures which will be strictly enforced at all times.

It is the responsibility of the test taker to ensure that they understand that the following are considered to be breaches of test rules:

  • the giving of false or misleading information
  • attempting to gain access to test questions prior to the test
  • attempting to copy or memorise all or part of the test
  • taking the test on behalf of another person
  • allowing another person to take the test on your behalf
  • using the test questions, their content or information about them for purposes other than your sitting of the test. This includes publishing the test questions, any of their content or information about them in any format; and/or passing the test questions, any of their content or information about them to third parties.
  • failing to follow the test supervisors’ instructions at all times
  • providing or receiving assistance during the test
  • creating a disturbance
  • being found with or attempting to use prohibited aids (e.g. notes, note paper, dictionary, calculator, mobile phone, smart glasses, smart watches or any device capable of audio or video recording, etc.)
  • the giving of false or misleading information
  • infringement of copyright. Copyright infringement includes: performing those rights or authorising the performance of those rights which are granted at law exclusively to the copyright owner. These rights include the exclusive right to reproduce the copyright work in a material form and to communicate that work to the public.
  • in any way breaching (as determined by ACER in its absolute discretion) any of the terms and conditions of your registration to participate in the test
  • any negligent, unlawful or wilful act or omission by you which ACER, in its absolute discretion, renders you to be unfit to participate in the test, whether or not you are registered to participate at the time of ACER’s determination.

The penalty for any of the above breaches will be the cancellation of the test taker's test and a ban from registering to sit for AEA on a future occasion.

Test delivery

The test will be administered under secure test conditions which will be strictly enforced at all times. You will be monitored at all times during the test session and you must follow the instructions of your online invigilator. Failure to comply with the instructions of the online invigilator will be considered as misconduct and your test results may be withheld.

You may use the bathroom during test time and your identity will be verified and your test room scanned again after the break. No additional test time will be given. You will need to ask your online invigilator for permission to use the bathroom and this will be recorded in your session report. 

During your test session, the following actions may need to be taken by your online invigilator to ensure that your test is administered securely and within the test rules:

  • Communicate with you via the chat box or audio if there is an issue.
  • Ask you to adjust your webcam in order to be able to see your face and what you are doing clearly during the entire test session. If you are planning to use a laptop when you sit the test and the angle of the integrated webcam is not adjustable, you may consider using an external webcam.
  • Your test session may need to be paused to check your equipment or to resolve a technical issue. In such instances, the test timer may need to be paused depending on the severity of the issue.
  • If you act in a manner that is intentionally disruptive, offensive or abusive during your test session or after the test, or if you engage in any of the acts listed as misconduct, the invigilator will give you a warning, and they may stop your test session if you repeatedly engage in the behaviour after the warning. In such cases, invigilator will provide an incident report to ACER.

Invigilators are unable to answer any questions regarding the content of the test. If you wish to query a particular test question on the day of the test you should alert the online invigilator of your concern and contact ACER by email immediately after your test. Queries will be reviewed by ACER.

If you experience any issues (for example, technical or connection problems) during your test session, you should communicate these to your invigilator immediately so that they may be resolved. It is possible that your test session may need to be rescheduled within the test window.

If your invigilator cannot resolve your issues, or for any other queries and concerns you may have regarding your test session, please contact ACER by email on the test day so the issue can be addressed without delay.

Technical issues

If there are significant and/or unforeseeable technical problems during your test session that cannot be resolved by the online invigilator, your session may need to be rescheduled.

Permitted aids

Test takers whose native language is not English may bring a printed bilingual dictionary into the test. Any test taker taking this option must show the dictionary to the test supervisor on the test day for inspection before the test begins. Test takers should note that electronic dictionaries are not permitted.

Required items

Upon logging in for the test, you will be required to provide appropriate photo identification to the test invigilator.

Prohibited items

The following items are not permitted on your examination desk:

  • bags, briefcases, crash helmets, hats
  • audio devices, with or without earphones
  • books, papers, notepaper
  • mobile phones, iPods, iPads, laptops, and electronic devices of any kind
  • pencil cases, rulers
  • calculators
  • food or drinks other than bottled water
  • dictionaries, other than a standard printed bilingual dictionary.

Large items must be left outside the test room or in a designated area in the test room. No eating is permitted during the test sessions, or in the test room. Bottled water is permitted.