Scholarship tests, explained
Many independent schools award academic scholarships on a test set by an outside body — usually ACER, Edutest or AAS. Here’s who sets them, what they cover, the entry levels, and how to prepare calmly and honestly.
- 3 setters
- ACER · Edutest · AAS
- Level P / 1
- Year 5/6 or Year 7/8 entry
- 3 core areas
- Reading · Maths · Written Expression
Written and reviewed by the Hootbrook education team · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Academic scholarship tests are exams that independent and private schools use to award academic scholarships — places at a reduced fee, or free — to academically capable students. They are written by independent testing bodies rather than by the schools, and the three main setters are ACER, Edutest and AAS. The format and the year levels each test covers vary by setter and by school.
What is a scholarship test?
Many independent schools offer academic scholarships — places at a reduced fee, or free — to students who show strong academic ability. Rather than write their own exam, schools usually use a test from an independent testing body. The score is one part of the decision; schools may also weigh interviews, school reports and a child’s wider potential.
Because the test is set by an outside body, the format depends on which one your chosen schools use. That’s why the first step is always to find out whether a school uses ACER, Edutest or AAS — and then prepare for that test’s shape.
The three main setters
Almost all scholarship tests in Australia come from one of these three bodies. Check the official site of the one your school uses for authoritative dates and details.
ACER
The Australian Council for Educational Research runs the Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program used by many independent schools — one test can be reported to several schools at once.
acer scholarshipsEdutest
Sets scholarship and entrance exams for a wide range of schools, often including additional reasoning sections alongside the core areas.
edutest.com.auAAS
Academic Assessment Services sets scholarship tests for many schools, covering reasoning, reading, mathematics and written expression.
academicassessment.com.auThe entry levels
ACER names its tests by level; the other setters run tests around the same entry points. The two most common for primary and early-secondary families are:
- P
Level P — into Years 5 or 6
Sat in Year 4 or 5, for a scholarship starting in Year 5 or 6 (a primary-level entry).
- 1
Level 1 — into Years 7 or 8
Sat in Year 6 or 7, for a scholarship starting in Year 7 or 8 (the move into secondary school).
Higher levels exist for later secondary years, and exact dates, fees and closing dates change every year and differ by school. Always confirm with the specific school and the setter’s official site before you plan.
What’s tested
The core is the same across setters — reading, mathematics and writing — with reasoning added by some. The exact sections and timings vary, so check your setter.
Reading & Humanities
Comprehension and interpretation of texts — meaning, inference, tone and how writers use language, sometimes 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
One or more writing tasks — persuasive, creative or from a stimulus — marked for ideas, structure, vocabulary and control of language.
Reasoning (varies)
Some setters add verbal and non-verbal (abstract) reasoning — spotting patterns and relationships that don’t depend on what a child has been taught.
Sample questions in the real format
Six exemplars we’ve written across the scholarship areas, plus a look at the writing task. Choose an answer to see how each one is worked out. These are illustrative examples in the current format — not any setter’s real papers, which are not released.
The sample questions and the writing task below are shown in English — scholarship tests are sat in English.
A jacket is discounted by 20% to a sale price of $72. What was the original price?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — $72 is what fraction of the original?
After a 20% discount, $72 is 80% of the original price. So the original is 72 ÷ 0.8 = $90. (Check: 20% of $90 is $18, and $90 − $18 = $72.) Working out what fraction of the whole the known amount represents is the key step.
The average of five numbers is 12. A sixth number is added and the average becomes 13. What is the sixth number?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — turn each average back into a total.
Five numbers averaging 12 add up to 60. Six numbers averaging 13 add up to 78. The sixth number is 78 − 60 = 18. Turning an average back into a total is the reliable move for these problems.
“‘Of course,’ said the shopkeeper, smiling as he weighed the flour, ‘these old scales have never been wrong in forty years.’ He did not mention that he had adjusted them that very morning.” What does the passage suggest about the shopkeeper?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — read the last sentence again.
The last sentence — that he had ‘adjusted them that very morning’ — quietly contradicts his claim that the scales are never wrong. The gap between what he says and what he does hints he is not fully trustworthy. Comprehension questions reward what a text implies, not only what a character states.
“Her argument was compelling, and even her sharpest critics found little to object to.” In this sentence, the word compelling most nearly means —
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — what would win over sharp critics?
If even sharp critics ‘found little to object to’, the argument must have been convincing. The surrounding sentence points to the meaning whenever a word is unfamiliar.
Look at the sequence: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, … What is the next number?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — look at how the gaps change.
The gaps between the numbers grow by 2 each time: +4, +6, +8, +10, then +12. So the next number is 30 + 12 = 42. When a sequence isn't a constant jump, look at how the gaps themselves change.
In a class, every student who plays chess also plays music. Some students who play music do not play chess. Which statement must be true?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — use only what the statements guarantee.
We're told every chess player also plays music, so ‘every chess player plays music’ must be true. The others go beyond what we're given — ‘some music players don't play chess’ doesn't rule out the ones who do. Stick to exactly what the premises allow.
Sample prompt. “The best lessons are not learned in a classroom.” Write a piece persuading your reader to agree or disagree. You would write your response within the time allowed.
What markers reward in a strong response:
- • A clear position or idea, stated early and held all the way through.
- • Reasons and detail that develop the piece — not just repeated opinion.
- • A deliberate shape: an opening that hooks, paragraphs that build, a firm close.
- • Varied sentences and precise, well-chosen vocabulary.
- • Accurate spelling, punctuation and paragraphing, even under time pressure.
Writing tasks differ by setter — some are persuasive, some creative or based on a picture or stimulus. Planning for a minute before you write is time well spent.
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.
Know your setter. ACER, Edutest and AAS differ in format and sections. Check which test your chosen schools use, then practise that shape rather than a generic one.
Understanding over tricks. Reasoning and comprehension 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.
A note on past papers
The setters do not release their live scholarship papers. Some sell official practice materials — those are worth using — but be wary of anyone claiming to sell “real” current papers. Every question your child sees on Hootbrook is written by educators in the current format and checked before it is used, so your child practises the real thing, not a leak.
Preparing for more than a scholarship?
Scholarship tests share a lot with the NSW selective exams and NAPLAN. If your child is aiming at those too, these guides explain how each one differs.
Scholarship tests — frequently asked
What is a scholarship test?
A scholarship test is an academic exam that many independent (and some other) schools use to award scholarships — places offered at a reduced fee, or free, to academically capable students. The tests are written by independent testing bodies rather than by the schools themselves.
Who sets scholarship tests in Australia?
The three main setters are ACER (the Australian Council for Educational Research), Edutest, and AAS (Academic Assessment Services). A school chooses one of these, so the exact format depends on which test your chosen schools use.
What year levels are scholarship tests for?
ACER uses level names. Level P is sat in Year 4 or 5 for entry in Year 5 or 6; Level 1 is sat in Year 6 or 7 for entry in Year 7 or 8. There are higher levels for senior years too. Edutest and AAS run tests around the same entry points.
What is tested in a scholarship exam?
Most scholarship tests cover reading comprehension (sometimes with humanities material), mathematics, and written expression. Some setters also add verbal and non-verbal (abstract) reasoning. The exact mix varies by setter.
When are scholarship tests held?
Many cooperative scholarship tests are held early in the year — often around February or March — for entry the following year, but each school and setter sets its own dates. Always check the specific school and the official setter site for the current timeline.
How competitive are scholarships?
Very. Far more children sit than there are scholarships, and offers go to students who score among the very top. Steady, calm preparation over time helps more than last-minute pressure — and a scholarship is a bonus, not the only path to a good school.
Are there real scholarship past papers?
The setters do not release their live papers, though some sell official practice materials. Be cautious of anyone claiming to sell ‘real’ current papers. Practising in the real format — as you do on Hootbrook — is the honest way to prepare.
See where your child stands today
Start with the free assessment. It finds your child’s true level across reading, maths and reasoning, so preparation begins from the truth — not a guess.