What are ACER exams?
The ACER (Australian Council for Education and Research) Scholarship Test is a set of independent academic assessments used by schools across Australia to accept high-achieving students. This test is not purely curriculum-based and does not test the ability of students to memorise learnt information. Rather, students have to showcase a range of skills such as analysis, thinking critically, interpretation, inference and deduction.
How to register for the ACER exams?
To apply for an ACER scholarship test, parents must register and pay for each school they wish to apply to on the acer website and follow the instructions below
- Create a Parent Account.
- Log in to your parent account.
- Add your child to your account.
- Click on the 'Apply for a scholarship' link next to your child's name and follow the instructions to apply for a school.
Each school sets its own application fee. To apply, you must complete a separate application and pay a separate fee for each school that you intend to sit the exam for. Details are available on the schools’ websites.
2025 Key dates for 2026 entry
QLD, NSW, NT, WA, VIC
Test date: Saturday the 22nd of February 2025
Applications open: September 23rd, 2024
Applications close: 2nd February 2025 midnight AEDT
SA only:
Test date: Saturday 1st February 2025
Applications open: September 23rd, 2024
Applications close: 16th January 2025 11:30pm ACDT
ACER Scholarship Test Structure
The scholarship test is broadly divided into two sections
- Primary Level Tests (Level P tests)
- For Entry to Years 4-6
- Secondary Level Tests.
- Further subdivided into Levels 1, 2 and 3.
- Level 1: Entry to Years 7 & 8
- Levels 2 & 3: Entry to Years 9 to 12
- Further subdivided into Levels 1, 2 and 3.
We will go through the test structures of each category so feel free to scroll down to you/your child’s relevant entry year level.
1. Primary Level Tests (Level P tests)
Reading & Viewing - assesses the student’s reflective comprehension and interpretation skills. The paper consists of short passages to be read and answered, along with visual and written elements.
Mathematics - students need to apply their mathematical skills to solve various problems. This will mainly involve short calculations with addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.
Writing - students need to write two short pieces in response to two extended responses. The assessment will assess their writing in terms of quality, clarity, expression, structure and organisation of ideas.
2. Secondary Level Test Sections
Written Expression - students are required to answer two writing prompts, looking the ability at the student’s ability to express, compile and organise their thoughts and ideas. Note: quality of the content is of utmost importance than quantity.
Humanities (Comprehension & Interpretation) - students are required to answer questions from various subject areas such as History, Geography, Social Studies and Art. The ability to recall previously learnt information is not assessed but rather the student's critical thinking skills.
Mathematics - students will be assessed on skills such as quantitative problem solving, mathematical analysis and interpretation, selection of key information, relationship identification, information reorganisation and transformation.
Science (only levels 2 & 3) - this section is combined with mathematics and forms half the paper. Students are assessed on their ability to analyse and interpret scientific concepts and information, hypothesising, application of scientific methods and logic and evaluation based on evidence.
Tips on how to study and prepare for the ACER exams
This can be both an exciting and daunting experience for students. So here are some preparation tips to boost confidence for acing the ACER Scholarship Test.
- Understand the test structure well - knowing the test format, structure, question type and pattern, and other related information is a must before diving into any preparation.
- Prepare with the right resources - there is only so much one can do within the timeframe you have, so preparing right is incredibly important. Resources such as ACER-published practice questions, preparation guides, and study materials are a great place to start.
- Practise critical thinking - the tests designed by ACER assess understanding of academic knowledge rather than rote learning and recall. One way to practice this is through practice questions and practice tests- if you have a mentor even better! You’ll be surprised how quickly some of these skills can be learned
- Stay calm on the day of your exam - easier said than done but keeping your cool on the test day is paramount for success. Learning to stay calm and composed amid the chaos before the test also helps in staying focused and performing better.
FAQs
Is the ACER exam harder than other scholarship exams?
This is a common misconception many students have. The answer is no! Whilst the exam sections are created to assess critical thinking and reasoning skills rather than rote learning, these skills can be practised and developed!
Which schools use the ACER exam?
Many schools across Australia use the ACER exams, for a full list please visit this link to get an idea of which school you/your child may intend to apply to. Keep in mind that you will need to apply and pay for each individual school you plan to sit the exam for.
What is the difference between ACER and Edutest?
Other than a few differences in the sections tested by ACER and Edutest, ACER’s mathematics tests more problem-solving abilities and quantitative reasoning but very simple maths, whilst Edutest’s maths is more straightforward as it has quantitative reasoning as a separate section.
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