The　effects　of　selected　admixtures　on　the　set　time,　rheology,　rate　of　workability　loss　with　time　and　heat　of　hydration　of　an　alkali　aluminosilicate　cement　formulated　with　coal　fly　ash　were　investigated.　The　potential　of　these　admixtures　to　make　these　aspects　of　the　fresh　alkali　aluminosilicate　paste　behaviour　more　comparable　to　those　of　Portland　cement　paste　were　evaluated.　Citric　acid,　borax　and　phosphoric　acid　were　the　admixtures　considered　in　this　investigation.　They　exhibited　various　degrees　of　effectiveness　in　achieving　the　targeted　improvements　in　the　fresh　mix　characteristics　of　alkali　aluminosilicate　cement.　All　admixtures　produced　favourable　effects　on　at　least　one　of　the　properties　considered　in　the　investigation.　As　far　as　rheology,　set　time　and　retention　of　fresh　mix　workability　over　time　is　concerned,　citric　acid　performed　better　at　the　dosages　considered　in　the　project,　producing　qualities　comparable　to　those　of　Portland　cement.　Borax　and　phosphoric　acid,　however,　were　more　effective　in　reducing　the　rate　of　exothermic　heat　release　and　also　the　total　heat　released.　©　2015　ICE　Publishing.　All　Rights　Reserved.