Scholarship exam preparation: ACER and Edutest, live and one-to-one
Many Australian independent schools award academic scholarships partly on a scholarship test, usually set by ACER or Edutest. This page explains, in general terms, what those tests contain, how to plan for them, and how a one-to-one teacher prepares a child for each section.
What a scholarship test is
Australian independent (non-government) schools commonly offer academic scholarships, and most use an external test as part of the selection. Two providers are common: ACER (the Australian Council for Educational Research) with its Scholarship Tests, and Edutest. A school registers with one provider, sets a test date, and candidates sit the paper for that school — sometimes several schools share a sitting. The school then decides on offers using the test result together with its own information, which can include school reports and an interview.
Each school publishes its own test date, registration deadline and entry years on its website. Year 7 entry is the most common, and many schools also test for other entry points. Dates vary widely between schools, so the first practical step is to list the schools you are considering and note each date — they can fall months apart within the same year.
What the tests generally contain
| Section | What it generally asks | What it rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Reading / humanities | Passages of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and sometimes visual material, with multiple-choice questions on meaning, inference, vocabulary, tone and structure. | Careful reading, going back to the text, and noticing how a writer creates an effect. |
| Mathematics | Multiple-choice problems drawing on number, fractions and decimals, measurement, geometry, patterns, data and multi-step word problems, often beyond the classroom year level. | Choosing a method, working accurately under time, and knowing when to estimate. |
| Reasoning (where included) | Edutest papers commonly add verbal reasoning (word relationships, codes, odd one out) and numerical reasoning (number patterns and puzzles). | Spotting patterns and relationships quickly; these skills are rarely taught at school. |
| Written expression | One or more writing tasks on a prompt — narrative, persuasive or reflective — within a set time. | A clear plan, a controlled structure, precise vocabulary and accurate punctuation, finished on time. |
The tests are designed to tell capable students apart, so the questions extend beyond ordinary classroom work and the time allowed is tight. A child who is doing well at school can still be unsettled by the pace and by question types they have never met. That is the gap preparation is meant to close.
How one-to-one preparation works, section by section
Reading
The teacher works through passages with your child on the shared whiteboard, teaching the four question types — literal, inferential, vocabulary in context, structure and tone — and the habit of finding the line that proves the answer. Poetry and older texts get extra time, because many children have met few of them.
Mathematics
First the content a year or so ahead of your child's class, then problem-solving method: read, draw, choose, calculate, check. Timed sets build pace; the teacher goes through every wrong answer so the same mistake is not repeated.
Reasoning
Verbal and numerical reasoning are taught as explicit question families, each with a method, because children who have "seen one before" are far less thrown on the day.
Writing
A plan-then-write routine rehearsed until it is automatic: a few minutes planning, a strong opening, paragraphs with a purpose, and time left to edit. Every piece is marked with written comments, and redrafted as homework in the parent portal.
Classes are live, one teacher and one child, booked in Australian time with daylight saving handled and WhatsApp reminders before each class. Homework and timed practice tests are set in the parent portal with due dates, and come back marked. After each class you receive a WhatsApp note on what was covered.
A sensible preparation timeline
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| Six months or more before | Diagnose: a demo class and a practice set show which sections need most work. Fill content gaps in maths and reading. Start reasoning question families. One or two classes a week. |
| Three to four months before | Writing to a prompt under time, every week. Mixed maths problem sets at test pace. Reading with harder texts, including poetry. |
| The last six weeks | Full timed practice in each section, reviewed question by question. Pacing: when to leave a question and come back. Keep the writing routine sharp. |
| The last week | Light review, sleep, and the practical details — the venue, what to bring, the time. No new topics. |
If the date is closer than this, preparation is still worthwhile; the teacher simply concentrates on the sections where practice changes the result fastest, usually reasoning and writing.
Common difficulties and how a one-to-one teacher handles them
- Running out of time. The teacher practises triage: answer what is quick, flag what is slow, return with the time left. On a multiple-choice paper an unanswered question earns nothing.
- Strong at school maths, lost in the test. The content is usually fine; the problem is unfamiliar problem types and multi-step reasoning. The teacher introduces these one family at a time.
- Writing that starts well and collapses. No plan, or too ambitious a plan. The teacher drills a simple structure that can be finished in the time, every time.
- Reasoning questions never seen before. Taught explicitly, with the pattern named, so that recognition replaces guessing.
- Nerves. Familiarity is the cure: the format, the pace and the question types should all be old news by test day.
Related preparation
The skills overlap heavily with the NSW Selective High School test (Year 6) and the OC test (Year 4), both of which include Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills; a child can prepare for a scholarship test and the Selective test together. Our OC and Selective maths guide and OC and Selective English guide show the question styles with worked examples, and NAPLAN preparation covers the Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 tests. Subject-by-subject teaching is described on the maths and English pages.
Try first: our free Selective practice papers and OC practice papers use the same reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking-skills styles and are marked online the moment your child finishes.
Questions parents ask
Who sets Australian scholarship tests?
Most independent schools use one of two external providers: ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research) Scholarship Tests or Edutest. Each school chooses its provider and publishes its own test date and registration deadline.
What is in a scholarship test?
Generally reading or humanities, mathematics and written expression; Edutest papers commonly add verbal and numerical reasoning. Check the provider and school for the exact format your child will sit.
When are scholarship tests held?
Dates vary by school and are published on each school's website, usually along with the registration deadline. Year 7 entry is the most common, with many schools also testing for other entry years.
How early should we start preparing?
Six months or more gives time to fill content gaps and learn the reasoning question types before moving to timed practice. Shorter runs are still useful; the teacher focuses on the sections that respond fastest.
Is Mathkari connected with ACER, Edutest or any school?
No. Mathkari Concepts is an independent online tutoring provider based in India and is not affiliated with any testing company, school or education department.
Does a scholarship test result decide the scholarship?
The school decides. The test result is used alongside the school's own information, which can include school reports and an interview; each school explains its own process.
Are classes in Australian time?
Yes. Classes are booked in your Australian time zone, with daylight saving handled, and a WhatsApp reminder arrives before each class.