IGNITE program in SA: what it is and when to sit it

IGNITE is a program for gifted students in South Australian government high schools. It runs at 3^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools and is funded by the Department.

The program gives students the chance to progress at a faster rate that matches their ability^{2The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Students in it were once called Students with High Intellectual Potential, or Gifted and Talented^{2The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published}, so older pages may use those names.

1. Year 5: register

   Registrations open on ACER's portal 2 November 2026^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}, for Year 7 in 2028.

2. Year 6: sit the assessment

   It is held late February every year^{2The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The next one is on 20 February 2027^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

3. Year 6, Term 2: offers

   Last round, offers came early to mid Term 2, possibly in two rounds^{3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

4. Year 7: start IGNITE

   At the school that offered the place, once you accept it.

Which schools run IGNITE?

Three government high schools run IGNITE. ^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published} Each is listed for IGNITE selection^{4SA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} on the Department's list. Each shapes the program its own way.

Glenunga keeps IGNITE students in one mentor group from Year 7 to Year 9^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}. At The Heights, there is acceleration only in a few subjects, from the end of Year 9^{3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Children in Year 6 at the time of the assessment^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published} can sit it. Each child sits it once, at one school: one school, one sitting^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  Your child is in Year 6 at the time of the assessment^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  At Glenunga, a Year 5 child needs a signed recommendation letter from their primary school principal, sent before registering^{1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The rule is one school, one sitting^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}, so an early sitting uses the only attempt.

• ✓

  Your family lives in Australia when the test is held: families must live in Australia^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  Contact the IGNITE team before registering if your child is one of the students on a subclass 500 visa who live and study in SA^{1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

• ×

  Late registration: no late applications^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Can country or interstate children sit it?

Yes, with approval. Country and interstate children may sit at their own primary school with principal approval^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

At The Heights, this works when the principal approves and a teacher there agrees to supervise^{2The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Contact your chosen school before you register.

You register on ACER's HAST portal, for one IGNITE school, from 2 November 2026^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Your child sits the test at the school you most want^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}, so choose with care.

1. Choose one IGNITE school

   It's one school, one sitting^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}. ^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}

2. Read ACER's Parent Guide

   The Heights asks you to read every instruction, including the ACER Parent Guide, before you start^{2The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

3. Register on the portal

   On ACER's HAST portal, create a parent account, add your child, then choose Apply for HAST^{11ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

4. Pay the fee

   Last round it was A$150^{2The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Read the full registration guide, with refunds, School Card rules and family cases.

Both are sat in Year 6, and both have four parts. IGNITE is on paper and you choose one school; the NSW test is on computer, and you can list up to 3^{12NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools.

Families in NSW: read about the NSW Selective test.

Is IGNITE the same as a selective school?

Not quite. IGNITE is a program inside 3^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published} government high schools. A school with an asterisk on the Department's list is allowed to select students by audition, test or interview^{4SA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

How hard is the IGNITE test?

It is designed to stretch strong students. ACER built HAST to finely differentiate high-ability students^{9ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published}, and most children who sit a selection test like it are in the top 20 per cent of students nationwide^{9ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

How much does IGNITE cost?

Last round, registration cost A$150^{2The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published}. School Card rules differ between schools, so check the fees and refunds.

Can my child sit IGNITE twice, or at more than one school?

No. It's one school, one sitting^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and your child sits the test at the school you most want^{1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

What if my child is sick or needs adjustments?

For extenuating circumstances, email the school's IGNITE team^{2The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published}. For a disability, arrangements are possible with supporting medical evidence^{9ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published}: contact the school where your child is registered^{9ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Who can I ask about IGNITE?

Ask the school's IGNITE team: Glenunga at dl.0927.ignite@schools.sa.edu.au^{1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Published}, The Heights at dl.1430.ignite@schools.sa.edu.au^{2The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published} and Aberfoyle Park at APHS.Ignite447@schools.sa.edu.au^{7Aberfoyle Park · 13 October 2026 · Published}. For portal problems, contact the ACER HAST team at hast@acer.org^{2The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published}. We can't see or change any registration.

Do other states have selective tests?

Yes, most states run their own, with different tests, ages and dates. Compare selective tests in every state.