Recent measurements of complete Auger electron emission angular distributions from solid surfaces have pointed to the need for an accurate description of Auger electron scattering at surfaces and the angular intensity distributions which result. Presented here is a description of electron-atom scattering which includes the effects of inhomogeneous elastic scattering as required for analysis of Auger electron emission angular distributions from ordered solid surfaces. As a first test of the description, use is made of elastic scattering differential cross-section measurements reported by various workers for scattering of electrons by rare gas atoms (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe). These gas-phase data allow the elastic portion of the description to be tested in the absence of complications due to long-range structure and multiple scattering. The resulting simulations, which span the kinetic energy range from 50 to 100 eV, are found to be in good agreement with the gas-phase scattering data, suggesting future applicability to solid surfaces.