Brisbane State High School (BSHS) uses ACER's Higher Ability Selection Test for Academic Selective Entry. Year 5 applicants sit the primary level, HAST-P, in a three-part package:
| Test | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 35 min | Multiple choice (A to D) |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 min | Multiple choice (A to D) |
| Written Expression | 30 min | Handwritten response to a stimulus |
The test is on paper, not on a computer. Below are 10 original sample questions and a writing stimulus at Year 5 level, with answers at the end.
These are practice questions we've written, not ACER material. ACER doesn't release past papers. For which test applies to your child, see BSHS Year 5 vs Year 6: HAST-P vs HAST.
Reading comprehension
HAST reading often includes poetry. Read the poem, then answer questions 1 to 4.
The Old Gate
The gate at the end of our garden
has forgotten how to close.
It leans on one hinge like a tired old man
and creaks whenever wind blows.
Dad says he will fix it on Sunday.
He has said so for seven years.
Through the gap we slip to the creek bed
where the heron stands still as a spear.
Some Sundays I hope he forgets again.
Some gates should stay open, I think.
1. "Has forgotten how to close" is an example of: A. a simile B. personification C. alliteration D. rhyme
2. "He has said so for seven years" suggests that Dad: A. keeps putting the job off B. fixes the gate every Sunday C. has only just noticed the gate D. is too young to fix it
3. How does the speaker feel about the broken gate? A. Annoyed B. Frightened C. Fond of it D. Bored by it
4. "Still as a spear" describes the heron as: A. moving quickly B. dangerous C. standing straight and not moving D. hiding in the water
Mathematical reasoning
5. At a show, adult tickets cost $12 and child tickets cost $7. A family pays $50 for 5 tickets. How many adult tickets did they buy? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4
6. Shape 1 is made of 4 tiles, Shape 2 of 7 tiles and Shape 3 of 10 tiles. If the pattern continues, how many tiles are in Shape 10? A. 28 B. 30 C. 31 D. 34
7. Which fraction is the largest? A. 3/5 B. 5/8 C. 2/3 D. 7/12
8. A bus leaves the station every 15 minutes, starting at 7:10 am. Ella arrives at the station at 8:02 am. How long does she wait for the next bus? A. 3 minutes B. 8 minutes C. 13 minutes D. 15 minutes
9. A box holds 24 apples. One-quarter are green and one-third of the rest are yellow. The others are red. How many apples are red? A. 6 B. 8 C. 10 D. 12
10. Sam's number is 3 more than Lucy's. Lucy's number is half of 18. What is Sam's number? A. 9 B. 12 C. 15 D. 21
Written expression
You have 30 minutes. Your writing must grow from the stimulus.
Stimulus: A photograph shows an old leather suitcase sitting alone on an empty railway platform. Underneath it are the words: "Someone will come back for it."
You may write a story, a description or a piece that shares your opinion, as long as it's clearly based on the stimulus.
Important: ACER says students are penalised for writing a rehearsed piece that isn't developed from the stimulus. Practise planning a fresh response in the first five minutes, rather than memorising a story. See our HAST exam format guide.
Answers and explanations
| Q | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | A gate can't really forget. Giving it a human ability is personification. |
| 2 | A | Promising for seven years without doing it means he keeps delaying. |
| 3 | C | The gap leads somewhere special, and the speaker hopes Dad forgets to fix it. |
| 4 | C | A spear is straight and, in this image, unmoving. |
| 5 | C | Try 3 adults: 3 × $12 = $36, plus 2 children × $7 = $14. Total $50. |
| 6 | C | Add 3 each time. Shape 10 = 4 + 3 × 9 = 31. |
| 7 | C | As decimals: 0.6, 0.625, about 0.667, about 0.583. So 2/3 is largest. |
| 8 | B | Buses at 7:10, 7:25, 7:40, 7:55, 8:10. From 8:02 to 8:10 is 8 minutes. |
| 9 | D | Green: 24 ÷ 4 = 6. The rest: 18. Yellow: 18 ÷ 3 = 6. Red: 18 − 6 = 12. |
| 10 | B | Lucy's number is 9, so Sam's is 9 + 3 = 12. |
What these questions show
- Poetry worries many families, but the questions mostly test figurative language and feeling, which children can learn to spot.
- Maths reasoning at HAST-P rewards trying values (question 5) and reading every word (question 9 says "of the rest").
- Writing is judged on whether it grows from the stimulus. A strong ordinary idea beats a memorised clever one.
Words like "personification" and "disapproval" appear in questions and passages. See our vocabulary list for selective tests.
More practice
- BSHS practice tests: Year 5 and Year 6 packs with 4, 8 or 12 timed mocks, worked explanations and human-marked writing
- Brisbane State High School entry guide
- HAST-P Year 5 conditional entry
Frequently asked questions
What test does Brisbane State High use? ACER's HAST. Year 5 applicants sit HAST-P, the primary level.
Is the BSHS test on a computer? No. HAST is a paper test with a separate answer sheet.
Are there BSHS past papers? No. ACER doesn't release past papers.
Sample questions written by Practice Tests & Exams. Test structure from ACER's HAST Student Information Bulletin (Primary). Not affiliated with Brisbane State High School or ACER.