Edutest scholarship test, explained

Edutest sets and marks the test, but it doesn't award scholarships: each school sets its own criteria and alone decides who gets a place. So start with the school's scholarship page: it says whether it uses Edutest, for which years, and how to register.

Children are tested at their current year level, so this year's result can't be carried into next year. Our Edutest practice is written for children in Years 6–7 applying for Year 7 or 8.

Each scholarship test is made up of Ability tests and Achievement tests. The Ability tests check thinking, reasoning and problem solving, without necessarily relying on prior knowledge; the Achievement tests check actual achievement in Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Written Expression.

School reports show the Achievement side; the reasoning tests need practice of their own.

Edutest says its real multiple-choice tests have between 40 and 60 questions. Each test has its own page of sample questions with worked answers; for Written Expression, sample topics with plans:

The multiple-choice tests use a paper answer sheet, so let your child practise on paper at home.

The school sets the terms, and Edutest runs the registration and the test. You register and pay for each school separately, then your child sits on that school's date.

Applying to several schools needn't mean more tests: most schools share results, so there is usually one sitting in Semester 1 and one in each of Terms 3 and 4. Your child sits on the earliest date in each period.

The exception: a small number of schools do not share results, and their registration page says so in its special conditions.

Hard by design. Edutest calls its tests quite demanding, designed to identify the highest achieving students, and it says most students get only half the questions right. It also expects that many students will not finish every question.

Tell your child this before the first practice test, so a hard paper doesn't feel like failing. Guessing is fine, with no marks lost for wrong or blank answers, so answer every question.

There's no fixed number to aim for. Results are compared with thousands of students in the same year level across Australia, and each school sets its own bar.

You may never see the score itself. Edutest gives results to the school, and parents and schools have no access to raw scores, answer sheets or written responses. You may receive a report comparing your child with others in the same year level, if the school chooses to send one.

So use a practice score to find the test that cost the most marks, not to predict a scholarship: Edutest itself says a result reflects one moment in time.

Edutest runs tests for schools across Australia, including the Queensland Academies. Its Testing dates page lists each school taking registrations, with its test date.

Write down each school's closing date too: Edutest test dates shows how to find them.

Tell Edutest straight away, and keep to its deadlines. A certificate helps, but it doesn't promise another sitting.

Neither is simply harder: they test different things, and the school picks the test. Find out which one your school uses before you practise, because the preparation differs.

The ACER scholarship test page covers ACER.

Pencils, a pen, photo ID and nothing electronic. Pack the bag the night before, using the list below.

Start with a full practice test at the real times to see which test needs the most work. Our Edutest practice tests follow Edutest's sections and times, with 15 full tests of 135 minutes each.

Practice test 1 is free: one full practice test with results, with a free account, including AI writing feedback on the free practice test's writing task. Afterwards you'll see results by skill, so you know where to spend the next few weeks.

Edutest recommends practising at your child's current year level.

After the first practice test, work on the weakest test with its sample questions.

• Practise: Edutest practice tests, then sample questions for Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Written Expression.
• Plan: how to prepare for the Edutest scholarship test and Edutest test dates.
• Directory: schools taking Edutest scholarship registrations.