The ACER scholarship test, explained
Many independent schools award academic scholarships on the ACER test — the Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program, or CSTP. Here’s who runs it, the three levels, what’s tested, the single test date and how the cooperative model works, and how to prepare calmly and honestly.
- Run by ACER
- The CSTP cooperative program
- 3 levels
- Year 7, Years 9–10, Year 11
- One date
- A single Saturday in February
Written and reviewed by the Hootbrook education team · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
What is the ACER scholarship test?
ACER — the Australian Council for Educational Research — runs the Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP). Many independent schools use it to award academic scholarships, so rather than each school writing its own exam, they rely on this shared ACER test.
The score is one part of a school’s decision — schools may also weigh interviews, reports and a child’s wider potential. What makes ACER’s program distinctive is the cooperative model: a child sits once and the result can be shared with several schools at the same time.
This page is a plain guide to the ACER test specifically. For the wider picture across all the setters, see our scholarship tests hub.
The three levels
ACER names its scholarship tests by level. You choose the level that matches the year your child would start at a new school.
Year 7 entry
For a scholarship starting in Year 7 — the move into secondary school. This is the most common level for families planning ahead.
Years 9 & 10 entry
Sat for a scholarship starting in Year 9 or Year 10 — a mid-secondary entry point, often as students move between schools.
Year 11 entry
Sat for a scholarship starting in Year 11, the senior years — for students entering a school for the final phase of secondary schooling.
What’s on the test
Every ACER scholarship test covers the same three components, whatever the level.
Humanities
Reading and interpreting texts — meaning, inference, tone and how writers use language — often drawing on humanities-style material.
Mathematics
Multi-step problems that reward clear reasoning — number, proportion, measurement, patterns and logic applied to real situations.
Written Expression
A writing task marked for ideas, structure, vocabulary and control of language — planned and written within a set time.
One sitting, shared with many schools
The ACER program is “cooperative”, and that word does a lot of work. There is one central test date — a Saturday in February — and a child sits the test just once on that day. There is no separate exam to sit at each school.
When you register, you can nominate around six schools. The result of that single sitting is then shared with every school you applied to, so one test can support several scholarship applications at once. That is what makes the cooperative model far less taxing than sitting a different test at each school.
Exact dates, fees, closing dates and the list of schools in the program change from year to year, so always confirm the current details on the official ACER site before you plan.
How to prepare
There are no shortcuts and no secret tricks — but there is a calm, honest way to build real readiness over time.
Read widely. Wide reading lifts comprehension and vocabulary for the Humanities section and feeds better writing at the same time. Ten real minutes a day beats any single worksheet.
Practise written expression. Written Expression is one of the three components, so practise planning quickly and then writing a full, structured response — persuasive or creative — that says something clearly.
Get used to timed conditions. The test is sat in one sitting on a set day. Occasional practice under a gentle timer builds the calm and pacing that let a child do themselves justice, without turning practice into pressure.
Understanding over tricks. Reasoning and comprehension reward genuine thinking. Practise reasoning your child can explain out loud, not shortcuts to guess an answer.
Little and often. Short, steady sessions build more than last-minute cramming — and they keep a child settled rather than anxious about a high-stakes day.
Keep it in proportion. Scholarships are highly competitive and far more children sit than win one. A scholarship is a bonus, not the goal — wellbeing comes first.
An honest note
Scholarship places are limited and highly competitive — far more children sit the ACER test than win a scholarship. Practice builds familiarity and confidence with the format, which can help a child do themselves justice; it can’t promise a place, and no program can. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a scholarship or entry. For authoritative dates, fees and the schools in the program, the official ACER scholarships site is the source of truth. Hootbrook is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACER.
Keep going
Free guides and practice for every part of scholarship preparation.
ACER scholarship test — frequently asked
Who runs the ACER scholarship test?
It is run by ACER — the Australian Council for Educational Research — through its Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program, or CSTP. Many independent schools use it to award academic scholarships.
What year levels does the ACER scholarship test cover?
There are three levels. Level 1 is for Year 7 entry, Level 2 is for entry in Years 9 and 10, and Level 3 is for Year 11 entry. Families choose the level that matches the year their child would start at a new school.
What is on the ACER scholarship test?
Every level covers three components: Humanities, Mathematics and Written Expression. Humanities is reading and interpreting texts, Mathematics is multi-step problem solving, and Written Expression is a timed writing task.
When is the ACER scholarship test held?
There is one central test date — a Saturday in February. Under the cooperative model, a child sits the test once on that day rather than sitting a separate exam at each school.
How does the cooperative model work?
A child sits the test once and can register for around six schools. The result of that single sitting is then shared with every school they applied to, so there is no need to sit multiple tests. Exact dates and the schools in the program change each year — always check the official ACER site.
Can practice guarantee a scholarship?
No. Scholarship places are limited and highly competitive, and no program can guarantee one. Practice builds familiarity with the format and the confidence that comes with it, which can help a child do themselves justice on the day — but the honest goal is a calm, well-prepared child, not a promised outcome.
See where your child stands today
Start with the free assessment. It finds your child’s real level across reading, maths and reasoning — so any preparation begins from the truth, not a guess.