Scholarship Tests Yr 5–11

ACER Scholarship Test Preparation

Primary, Level 1, 2 & 3 — Used by 200+ independent schools across Australia. Backed by 30+ years of ACER research into assessing academic ability.

Aligned to ACER Curriculum

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Discover :

3

SECTIONS

82+

QUESTIONS

110 min

TOTAL TIME

Online / Paper

DELIVERY MODE

No

CALCULATOR

Self-Assessment

WRITING FEEDBACK

Exam At a Glance

Age / Year

Years 3–10 (Age 8–16)

Subjects

3 Sections

Total Duration

110 minutes

Format

Paper-based

TARGET SCHOOLS

3 Sections. 110 Minutes.
One Chance.

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

01

2 TASKS

30 min

Written Expression

Two writing tasks in different genres — marked on Ideas, Structure, Vocabulary, Cohesion, Paragraphing, Punctuation and Spelling.

02

40 40 min

Humanities Comprehension

Passage-based reading across humanities, science and social studies texts. Multiple choice format assessing comprehension and inference.

03

40 40 min

Mathematics Reasoning

No calculator. Multi-step problems covering all areas of mathematics at the relevant year level, testing higher-order reasoning.

Overview

The ACER Scholarship Tests are used across Australia by 200+ independent schools to identify academically outstanding students for scholarship awards.
The tests assess critical thinking, problem solving, and higher-order reasoning — designed to finely differentiate top-end performance.
Supported by 30 years of ACER research into assessing ability in school-aged students.

Who Is This For?

Students applying for academic scholarships at independent schools — Primary (Year 4–6 entry, sat by Year 3–5 students), Level 1 (Year 7 entry, sat by Year 6), Level 2 (Year 9 entry, sat by Year 8), Level 3 (Year 11 entry, sat by Year 10).

Key Details

Administered by

ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research)

Used by

200+ independent schools Australia-wide

Delivery

Online or paper-based (school decides)

Primary

Year 4/5/6 entry — sat by Year 3/4/5 students

Level 1

Year 7 entry — sat by Year 6 students

Level 2+3

Year 9/11 entry — sat by Year 8/10 students

Application & Exam Process

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

🕒 Mid-Year Prior

School Registers

School registers their test date with ACER for the upcoming scholarship round.

Step 1

🕒 Aug – Dec

Parent Registration

Parents register and pay for each school they wish to apply to via the ACER portal.

Step 2

🕒 Feb – Jun

Student Sits Test

Students sit the ACER Scholarship test at their chosen school's registered date.

Step 3

🕒 After Testing

ACER Marks Papers

ACER marks all applicants' test papers and produces detailed reports.

Step 4

🕒 4–6 Weeks Later

Results to Schools

ACER delivers results and reports to the participating schools.

Step 5

🕒 Following Term

Scholarship Awarded

School informs parents if a scholarship has been awarded based on results.

Step 6

Mock Exam Packs

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

🔥 Scholarship Combo Packs

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 Scholarship Tests

Melbourne Grammar School

📍 VIC

Top VIC

Scotch College

📍 VIC

Top VIC

PLC Melbourne

📍 VIC

Top VIC

Haileybury

📍 VIC

Top VIC

Caulfield Grammar School

📍 VIC

Top VIC

Wesley College

📍 VIC

Top VIC

Shore School

📍 NSW

Top NSW

Pymble Ladies' College

📍 NSW

Top NSW

SCEGGS Darlinghurst

📍 NSW

Top NSW

Trinity Grammar School

📍 NSW

Top NSW

Brisbane Grammar School

📍 QLD

Top QLD

Brisbane Boys' College

📍 QLD

Top QLD

St Peter's College

📍 SA

Top SA

Prince Alfred College

📍 SA

Top SA

Christ Church Grammar

📍 WA

Top WA

Hale School

📍 WA

Top WA

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 — the foundation for all scholarship test content.

MySchool — Compare Schools

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

ACARA — Assessment Standards

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority — national education standards.

What's in Our Mock Packs?

Schools using ACER include Scotch College, Trinity Grammar, Pymble Ladies' College, Shore School, PLC Sydney, SCEGGS, Haileybury, Brighton Grammar, St Peter's College (SA) and many more

The exact test level and date varies by school — check directly with your target school

ACER Scholarship tests are used for academic, music, arts and sports scholarships

Results are sent directly to the schools you nominate during registration

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything parents ask about NSW exams — answered clearly.

What are the ACER Scholarship test levels?

Primary covers Year 4–6 entry (sat by Year 3–5 students). Level 1 is for Year 7 entry (sat by Year 6), Level 2 for Year 9 entry (Year 8 students), and Level 3 for Year 11 entry (Year 10 students). Difficulty increases with each level.

Is the ACER Scholarship test the same for every school?

The format is consistent (Written Expression, Humanities, Mathematics for secondary levels), but schools may use different levels depending on the entry year. Schools can choose online or paper-based delivery.

When is the ACER Scholarship test held?

Most schools hold the test between February and June. The exact date varies by school — some offer multiple sitting dates. Schools register their preferred date with ACER.

Can my child apply to multiple schools with one test?

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

What does the ACER test actually assess?

Unlike school exams that test curriculum knowledge, the ACER Scholarship tests assess critical thinking, higher-order reasoning, and problem-solving skills — indicating a candidate's future potential to achieve academically.

How are the writing tasks marked?

Written Expression is marked on Ideas, Structure, Vocabulary, Cohesion, Paragraphing, Punctuation and Spelling. Two tasks in different genres are required. Our mock packs include model responses and rubrics for self-assessment.

Ready to Start Preparing?

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By State

By Exam Type

By Age & Grade

How It Works

Pricing

ACER Scholarship Test Preparation

3

82+

110 min

Online / Paper

No

Self-Assessment

Exam At a Glance

Age / Year

Subjects

Total Duration

Format

TARGET SCHOOLS

3 Sections. 110 Minutes. One Chance.

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

01

2 TASKS

30 min

Written Expression

02

40

40 min

Humanities Comprehension

03

40

40 min

Mathematics Reasoning

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.

School Registers

Step 1

Parent Registration

Step 2

Student Sits Test

Step 3

ACER Marks Papers

Step 4

Results to Schools

Step 5

Scholarship Awarded

Step 6

Mock Exam Packs

🔥 Scholarship Combo Packs

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

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 4–6 Entry)

Category

Subcategory

ACER Scholarship

HSC

NAPLAN

NCEA

NSW Opportunity Class

NSW Selective

QCE

3 Sections. 110 Minutes.
One Chance.