Students hoping for a second chance to gain entry to the Australian National University will no longer be able to sit its annual uniTEST.
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The ANU confirmed yesterday it had cancelled the 2-hour, 95-question general aptitude test as an alternative pathway to a degree because applications had fallen and students were not getting high enough marks for admittance.
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UniTEST, which was developed by the Australian Council for Educational Research and is still offered by a number of universities, was first trialled at the ANU in 2006 as a way for students with lower-than-hoped-for entrance marks to secure a place. By 2009 it drew 330 hopeful students.
But a spokesman said yesterday those numbers had fallen in 2010 and that, combined with lower than expected exam results, led the ANU to axe the test for the 2012 academic year.
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The spokesman stressed, however, that the ANU was still offering two alternative pathway programs for students who failed to achieve the required Australian Tertiary Admission Rank which, for all of the ANU's undergraduate courses last year, was a minimum of 80 or above.
If students didn't gain a place, they could complete a two-year associate degree in engineering or science with the Canberra Institute of Technology and move into a science or engineering bachelor degree at the ANU.
Alternatively they could complete an associate degree with the ANU College across any academic discipline. The associate degree offers an exit point at the sub-bachelor degree level, or status towards a bachelor degree.
Vice-chancellor Professor Ian Young said those preparation programs ensured students were ''adequately equipped to succeed at university''.
''It is important that students have the necessary study skills and maturity to make the most of their university experience. Pathway programs ... should not be seen as an extra burden, rather they are an important step in ensuring students can achieve their aspirations.''
At the University of Canberra, where ATAR scores are expected to rise this year because of an increased demand for places, Professor Stephen Parker wanted to assure students there were also alternative pathways to a degree. ''There's certainly no need to panic,'' he said.
The UC will offer several new diploma programs in international studies, science, justice studies, design and business informatics from first semester next year, which can be stand-alone qualification or as a pathway into a degree. Diplomas of pharmacy and accounting will be available in second semester.
The University of Canberra College will also take students with ATARs of 54 and above for preparatory courses that will articulate into degrees.
The Ngunnawal Indigenous Higher Education Centre requires no ATAR and assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to prepare for university.
Professor Parker said, ''The options will only increase under the new University of Canberra Institute of Technology, with diploma courses specially designed to link into undergraduate degree.'' The UCIT will take students from 2013.
Early January round university offers will be announced by the Universities Admissions Centre on its website on Wednesday.
Main round offers will be announced on January 18, late round offers will be announced on February 1 and final round offers will be announced on February 8.