Australian Technology Network Engineering Selection Test (ATNEST)

Contact us

Australian Council for Educational Research

19 Prospect Hill Road
Camberwell, Victoria, Australia 3124

T: +61 3 9277 5502
F: +61 3 9277 5757
E: atnest@acer.edu.au

ATNEST structure and content

Australian Technology Network Engineering Selection Test (ATNEST) is produced by ACER for the ATN universities to offer an alternative pathway to Engineering faculties for students without the prescribed pre-requisites, mature age students, international students, students wishing to provide further information about their aptitude to study Engineering and students from various equity groups.

ATNEST is not a test of subject-specific knowledge; rather it is a secure two and a half hour multiple-choice test that assesses a candidate’s aptitude in three areas:

• Quantitative Reasoning and Problem Solving
• Scientific and Critical Reasoning
• Interpersonal Reasoning

Equity and fairness

ATNEST is developed to rigorous professional and technical standards. Test questions are designed and developed by a team of ACER writers who are expert in their subject areas. The content, style and duration of the test are determined to ensure the testing program is relevant, valid and reliable.

ATNEST test data are subjected to statistical analysis to check that each test question has performed as required. There is an ongoing attempt to minimise gender, ethnic or cultural bias.

As part of the ongoing development of ATNEST, the test may contain a small number of trial questions which will not be scored.

Confidentiality

All ATNEST candidates are asked to sign a statement acknowledging that relevant authorities may use their test results for research purposes. Candidates are assured that any use of their registration and test records will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Candidate names will be separated from data in all cases. Information about ACER’s collection of, access to and use of personal information can be found at Disclaimers.