ACER Primary (Yr 4–6) – Australian Edu

ACER Primary —

Year 4–6 Entry Scholarships

Scholarship preparation for Year 3–5 students applying for Year 4, 5 or 6 entry at independent schools using ACER Primary tests

Aligned to ACER Curriculum

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3

SECTIONS

61+

QUESTIONS

90 min

TOTAL TIME

Online / Paper

DELIVERY MODE

No

CALCULATOR

Self-Assessment

WRITING FEEDBACK

Exam At a Glance

Age / Year

Year 3–5 (Age 8–11)

Subjects

3 Sections

Total Duration

90 minutes

Format

Paper-based

TARGET SCHOOLS

3 Sections. 90 Minutes.
One Chance.

Here's exactly what your child will face — broken down by subject, question count, time limit, and format.

01

30 30 min

Reading Comprehension

Passage-based reading covering fiction, non-fiction and informational texts at the relevant year level.

02

1–2 tasks

30 min

Writing

Writing tasks assessing Ideas, Structure, Vocabulary, Spelling and Punctuation at primary level.

03

30 30 min

Mathematics

No calculator. Multi-step problems covering number, measurement, geometry, statistics and algebra fundamentals.

Overview

ACER Primary scholarship tests are sat by Year 3, 4 and 5 students applying for entry scholarships at Years 4, 5 and 6.
The tests assess Reading Comprehension, Writing and Mathematics — designed to identify academically talented primary students for scholarship awards at independent schools.

Who Is This For?

Year 3 students (applying for Year 4 entry), Year 4 students (applying for Year 5 entry), and Year 5 students (applying for Year 6 entry) at independent schools using ACER-format tests.

Key Details

Administered by

ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research)

Level

Primary — Year 4, 5 & 6 Entry

Sat by

Year 3, 4 & 5 students

Sections

Reading, Writing & Mathematics

Duration

90 minutes total

Calculator

Not permitted

Application & Exam Process

Follow each step to stay on track and maximise your child's chances of success.

🕒 6–12 Months Prior

Research Scholarship Schools

Identify independent schools using ACER Primary tests for Year 4, 5 or 6 entry scholarships.
Check application deadlines.

Step 1

🕒 3–6 Months Prior

Begin Preparation

Start with AustralianEdu.au ACER Primary mock exams covering Reading, Writing and Mathematics.

Step 2

🕒 1–2 Months Prior

Intensive Practice

Complete full-length mock exams under timed conditions.
Focus on weaker sections identified through analytics.

Step 3

🕒 Feb – Jun

Sit Scholarship Test

Most schools hold ACER tests between February and June.
Dates vary by school.

Step 4

🕒 After Test

Receive Results & Offers

Schools notify families of scholarship outcomes.
Accept within specified timeframes.

Step 5

Mock Exam Packs

Each pack includes full mock exams, detailed answer keys, and performance insights. More packs = better preparation & bigger savings.

ACER Primary — Year 4 Entry (sat by Year 3)

100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Not happy? Contact us within 7 days for a full refund. No questions asked. All packs include 12 months of unlimited access.

Everything your child needs
to succeed

Prepare with real exam-style questions written by teachers

Identical to Real Exams

Our mocks replicate the exact structure, question types, and timing so your child knows exactly what to expect.

Pinpoint Weaknesses

See a clear breakdown by section and skill area after each test — know exactly where to focus revision.

Built by Educators

Content designed by experienced Australian educators and markers who understand the marking criteria.

Unlimited practice attempts

Works on any device

Results emailed to parents

Teacher approved content

Zara Khan's Test Report

Here is a detailed report on your child's progress

Language Conventions

Attempts 6

Best Result 85%

Average Result 67%

Lowest Result 41%

National Average 69%

Results summary

Clear summaries show overall performance, strengths, and areas for improvement at a glance.

Student Dashboard

Writing Numeracy Reading Grammar

AprMayJunJul

Progress tracking

Visual tracking shows how your child's skills develop over time across subjects and tests.

Liam Thompson's Test Report

Here is a detailed report on your child's progress

Language Conventions

Average Result

Highest Result

National Average 69%

National comparison

Compare your child's results with national averages to see how they are performing overall.

Schools Using ACER Primary Tests

Melbourne Grammar School

📍 VIC

Primary entry

Scotch College

📍 VIC

Primary entry

PLC Melbourne

📍 NSW

Primary entry

Shore School

📍 NSW

Primary entry

St Peter's College

📍 SA

Primary entry

Christ Church Grammar

📍 WA

Primary entry

Hundreds of independent schools across Australia use ACER-format tests for scholarship and entry assessment. The schools listed are examples — check with your target school.

Helpful Links & Official Information

Trusted government and institutional sources to support your child's preparation.

Australian Curriculum

Official Australian Curriculum standards for primary education.

MySchool — Compare Schools

Compare school results, NAPLAN data and ICSEA ratings across Australia.

What's in Our Mock Packs?

ACER Primary tests assess academic potential for scholarship entry — targeted practice helps students perform at their best

Our mocks replicate the exact ACER format including Writing, which many younger students find the most challenging section

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything parents ask about this exam — answered clearly.

What is the ACER Primary test?

ACER Primary is a scholarship entry test for students in Years 3–5, assessing Reading, Writing and Mathematics at the relevant year level.

Which year levels does ACER Primary cover?

ACER Primary covers Year 4 entry (sat by Year 3), Year 5 entry (sat by Year 4) and Year 6 entry (sat by Year 5).

How is ACER Primary different from ACER Level 1?

ACER Primary covers younger students (Years 3–5) and assesses Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Level 1 is for Year 7 entry and includes Written Expression, Humanities and Mathematics at a higher difficulty.

Can my child apply to multiple schools?

Yes — you can nominate multiple schools during registration and your child's results will be sent to all of them.

When is the test held?

Most schools hold the test between February and June. The exact date varies by school.

How are the writing tasks assessed?

Writing is assessed on Ideas, Structure, Vocabulary, Spelling and Punctuation. Our mock packs include model responses and marking rubrics for self-assessment.

Ready to Start Preparing?

Join thousands of Australian families who trust us. Start with a free trial — no credit card required.

By State

By Exam Type

By Age & Grade

How It Works

Pricing

ACER Primary —

Year 4–6 Entry Scholarships

3

61+

90 min

Online / Paper

No

Self-Assessment

Exam At a Glance

Age / Year

Subjects

Total Duration

Format

TARGET SCHOOLS

3 Sections. 90 Minutes. One Chance.

Here's exactly what your child will face — broken down by subject, question count, time limit, and format.

01

30

30 min

Reading Comprehension

02

1–2 tasks

30 min

Writing

03

30

30 min

Mathematics

Overview

Who Is This For?

Key Details

Application & Exam Process

Follow each step to stay on track and maximise your child's chances of success.

Research Scholarship Schools

Step 1

Begin Preparation

Step 2

Intensive Practice

Step 3

Sit Scholarship Test

Step 4

Receive Results & Offers

Step 5

Mock Exam Packs

ACER Primary — Year 4 Entry (sat by Year 3)

Category

Subcategory

ACER Scholarship

HSC

NAPLAN

NCEA

NSW Opportunity Class

NSW Selective

QCE

QLD Academies

SA Ignite

SACE

TCE

VCE

VIC Selective Entry (SEHS)

WA GATE

NAPLAN Year 7 - 8 MEGA Mock Exam Pack

NAPLAN Year 5 - 8 MEGA Mock Exam Pack

NAPLAN Year 3 - 8 MEGA Mock Exam Pack

VCE Further Mathematics Units 1 & 2 — 3 Practice Pack

VCE Biology Units 1 & 2 — 1 Practice Pack

NCEA Whole Bundle Level 2 — 5 Practice Pack

ACER Primary — Year 5 Entry (sat by Year 4)

Category

Subcategory

ACER Scholarship

HSC

NAPLAN

NCEA

NSW Opportunity Class

3 Sections. 90 Minutes.
One Chance.

Everything your child needs
to succeed