The EduTest scholarship test, explained
Many independent schools award scholarships and offer entry on a test set by Edutest Pty Ltd — an outside body, not the school itself. Here’s who runs it, its five components, the year levels it’s commonly sat at, and how to prepare calmly and honestly.
- 5 parts
- Two reasoning, three achievement
- Years 7 & 9
- Common scholarship entry points
- Edutest
- Set by Edutest Pty Ltd
Written and reviewed by the Hootbrook education team · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
What is the EduTest scholarship test?
EduTest is a set of scholarship and entrance exams run by Edutest Pty Ltd, an independent testing body. Rather than write their own exam, many schools use EduTest to help decide who receives an academic scholarship or a place — the score is one part of the picture, alongside things like interviews and school reports.
Because it’s set by an outside body, the exact shape can differ by school and year level. The authoritative source for the current format, dates and registration is Edutest’s own website: edutest.com.au. Always check it, and the specific school, before you plan.
The five components
An EduTest scholarship test has five parts. Two are reasoning tests — they look at how a child thinks — and three are achievement tests in reading, maths and writing.
Reasoning (ability) tests
How a child thinks — with words and with numbers — rather than what one particular class has taught.
Verbal Reasoning
Reasoning with words — relationships, patterns and logic in language. It looks at how a child thinks with words rather than what they have been taught in one particular class.
Numerical Reasoning
Reasoning with numbers — spotting patterns, relationships and the logic behind quantities. It rewards clear thinking about numbers, not memorised procedures.
Achievement (subject) tests
What a child has learned and can do in reading, mathematics and writing.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding and interpreting written passages — meaning, inference, tone and how writers use language to make their point.
Mathematics
Curriculum-style mathematics — number, operations, measurement and multi-step problem-solving that draws on what children learn at school.
Written Expression
One or more writing tasks, judged for ideas, structure, vocabulary and control of language — the ability to write clearly for a purpose.
Which year levels sit it?
Scholarship entry with EduTest is most commonly at Year 7 and Year 9 — the two main points where families move into, and then further through, secondary school. Schools also use EduTest at other entry points, so the level your child sits depends on the school.
Exact dates, closing dates and the level offered change by school and by year. Confirm the current details with the specific school and with edutest.com.au 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.
Little and often. Short, steady sessions build more than last-minute cramming — and they keep a child calm rather than anxious about a high-stakes test.
Cover all five parts. EduTest spans two reasoning tests and three achievement tests. Move between them so practice mirrors the real test rather than one skill at a time.
Understanding over tricks. The reasoning and comprehension parts reward genuine thinking. Practise reasoning your child can explain, not shortcuts to guess an answer.
Practise writing under time. Written Expression is time-limited. Practise planning quickly, then writing a full, structured response before the clock runs out.
Read widely. Wide reading lifts comprehension, vocabulary and writing all at once. Ten real minutes a day beats any single worksheet.
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
Scholarships are highly competitive — far more children sit the EduTest than win a scholarship, and offers go to those who score among the very top. Practice like this builds familiarity with the question styles and the confidence that comes from recognising them; it can’t promise a place, and no program can. Steady, calm preparation over time helps more than last-minute pressure. Hootbrook is not affiliated with or endorsed by Edutest Pty Ltd.
Keep going
Free guides and practice for every part of scholarship and selective-school preparation.
EduTest scholarship test — frequently asked
Who runs the EduTest scholarship test?
The EduTest scholarship test is run by Edutest Pty Ltd, an independent testing body. Many schools use its tests to award academic scholarships and offer entry, rather than writing their own exam.
What year levels is the EduTest scholarship test for?
Scholarship entry is most commonly at Year 7 and Year 9, though schools also use EduTest at other entry points. The exact levels and dates depend on the school, so always confirm with the specific school and Edutest's official site.
What's on the EduTest scholarship test?
There are five components: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Written Expression. The first two test reasoning ability, and the last three test achievement in reading, maths and writing.
What's the difference between the reasoning and achievement parts?
Verbal Reasoning and Numerical Reasoning look at how a child thinks with words and numbers — ability that doesn't depend on one particular class. Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Written Expression measure achievement in those subjects.
Can practice guarantee a scholarship?
No — the EduTest scholarship test is highly competitive, far more children sit than win a scholarship, and no program can promise a place. Practice builds familiarity with the question styles and the confidence to do your child justice on the day.
Where can I find official EduTest information?
Edutest's own website, edutest.com.au, is the authoritative source for the current test format, dates and registration. Check it — and the specific school — before you plan.
See where your child stands today
Start with the free assessment. It finds your child’s real level across reading, maths and reasoning — so preparation begins from the truth, not a guess.