Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining testing parameters of a melt flow rate testing apparatus, comprising the steps of: (i) providing a reference input indicative of a selection of a melt flow rate testing procedure from a predetermined list of melt flow rate testing procedures; (ii) providing a characteristic input indicative of a load mass and a testing temperature for melt flow rate testing; (iii) providing a sample input indicative of an estimated value of the melt flow rate of the sample; and (iv) determining at least one characteristic testing parameter for the melt flow rate testing apparatus, utilising a representative value generated from a predetermined combination of any one of said reference input, said characteristic input and said sample input.