The ACER scholarship test explained: levels, sections and timing

Quick answer: The ACER scholarship test is used by many independent schools to award academic scholarships. There are four levels, chosen by the year your child will enter, not the year they're in now: Level P for entry to Years 4 to 6, Level 1 for entry to Years 7 and 8, and Levels 2 and 3 for later secondary entry. Level P has three sections (Reading and Viewing, Mathematics, Writing) and is on paper. Levels 1 to 3 have Written Expression, Humanities and Mathematics, and can be online or on paper. The secondary test takes a little over two hours of working time.

Which level will my child sit?

The level depends on the year your child is applying to start, so it's one year ahead of their current year.

Example: a child in Year 5 applying for a Year 6 scholarship sits Level P. A child in Year 6 applying for Year 7 sits Level 1. If you're unsure, the school you're applying to will tell you which level to register for.

Level P: sections and timing

Level P is designed for younger students and is shorter than the secondary test.

Question counts and times can vary slightly from year to year, so check the information your school sends with the test confirmation.

Levels 1 to 3: sections and timing

That's about 2 hours 10 minutes of working time. With instructions and breaks, schools typically allow around three and a quarter hours. For example, one Sydney school's 2027 session runs from 8:30am to 11:45am.

What makes the ACER test different

The ACER test is built to rank strong students, not to check whether they've met a standard. That changes how it feels:

• Questions get genuinely hard. Many students won't finish every section, and that's expected. The test is designed to separate the top end.
• Humanities is about interpretation, not knowledge. Students read unfamiliar texts, including poetry and cartoons, and work out meaning, tone and purpose. Wide reading is the best preparation.
• Mathematics rewards reasoning. Questions often look unfamiliar and need a student to work out an approach, not just apply a method.
• Writing is two pieces, not one. Students need to plan quickly and switch between two very different tasks in the time.

How registration and results work

1. The school sets the test date with ACER. Most schools hold the test on a Saturday in February. For example, one Sydney school's 2027 test is on Saturday 27 February 2027, with registration closing on 7 February.
2. You register and pay for each school you want to apply to, through ACER's online registration. Fees are set per school (one 2027 example is $180).
3. Your child sits the test once, usually at a test centre or at the school.
4. ACER marks the test and reports to the school. The school decides who is offered a scholarship and contacts families. A results report is sent by ACER or the school.

Registration usually closes a few weeks before the test date, so check deadlines in December and January.

Are there past papers?

ACER doesn't publish past papers. It offers its own practice materials for the scholarship tests, some of them paid, which are the best guide to the official question style. Be wary of anything sold as a "real ACER past paper".

Independent practice tests are useful for timing, stamina and finding weak skills, as long as they follow the ACER format for your child's level.

How to prepare

• Start about three months out. For a late-February test, that means November.
• Read widely and talk about it. Short stories, poems, news articles and cartoons are all fair game in Humanities and Reading and Viewing. Ask "what is the writer suggesting here?" rather than "what happened?".
• Practise two writing tasks back to back. Plan each for three to five minutes. Finishing both matters more than perfecting one.
• Do unfamiliar maths problems. Puzzles and multi-step problems build the reasoning the test rewards. Don't worry about getting every question right in practice.
• Sit at least one full timed practice test at your child's level, so the length and difficulty aren't a shock on the day.

ACER practice tests on this site

Our ACER-style practice tests follow the Level 1 format for Year 7 entry, with Humanities, Mathematics and Written Expression. See the product page for current mock and writing-marking options.

• Free ACER Level 1 practice test
• ACER Level 1 sample questions
• ACER Level 1 mock exams

These are independent practice materials. They are not official ACER tests and don't predict scholarship outcomes.

Already decided to apply? Our ACER scholarship application checklist covers the registration steps.

Frequently asked questions

What level is the ACER scholarship test for Year 5?

A Year 5 student applying for Year 6 entry usually sits Level P. A Year 6 student applying for Year 7 entry sits Level 1. The level is based on the year of entry.

How long is the ACER scholarship test?

The secondary test (Levels 1 to 3) has about 2 hours 10 minutes of working time: two 25-minute writing tasks and two 40-minute multiple-choice sections. Level P is shorter, at about 1 hour 40 minutes of working time.

When is the ACER scholarship test held?

Each school registers its test date with ACER. Most tests are on a Saturday in February. Check the date with the school you're applying to.

Can my child sit the ACER test for more than one school?

Yes. You register and pay for each school separately, and your child sits the test once.

Is the ACER scholarship test online?

Level P is on paper. Levels 1 to 3 can be online or on paper, depending on the school and test centre.

What's the difference between the ACER and EduTest scholarship tests?

They're run by different organisations, and schools choose one or the other. ACER uses Written Expression, Humanities and Mathematics. EduTest uses verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics and written expression. Check which one your school uses before you start practising.

See how your child handles the ACER format. Try a free ACER Level 1 practice test. No card required.

Practice Tests & Exams is an independent provider and is not affiliated with ACER (the Australian Council for Educational Research). Test details are based on ACER's published information and school notices as of October 2026; always confirm details with the school you're applying to.