When are the IGNITE exam dates?
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When are the IGNITE dates for Year 7 in 2028?
The assessment is on 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, and registrations open 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published. The close date is not published1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Not published, because each school sets it. 2ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published
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Key dates
Read the answers for each situation
Check your choices
Choose a test and one of the entry years shown for it.
For your situation
Last round, for Year 7 entry in 2027, registrations closed on 11 February 20263The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published and the assessment was on 21 February 20264The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published. Results came within nine to ten weeks of the test3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published, and offers came early to mid Term 2, possibly in two rounds4The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
IGNITE registrations for Year 7 entry in 2028 open on ACER's portal on 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published. The close date is not published1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Not published, because each school sets it. 2ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published The assessment is on 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
IGNITE registrations for Year 7 entry in 2028 opened on 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the close date is not published1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Not published. 2ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published Next: the assessment on 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
The IGNITE assessment for Year 7 entry in 2028 was on 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published. Last round, results came within nine to ten weeks of the test3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published, and offers came early to mid Term 2, possibly in two rounds4The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published. These are last round's patterns, not dates for this round.
For your situation
IGNITE dates for Year 7 entry in 2028: registrations open on 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the assessment is on 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published. The registration close date is not published1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Not published. 2ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published
Check your choices
IGNITE dates are shown for Year 7 entry in 2027, last round, and 2028.
| Step | Date | What it rests on |
|---|---|---|
| Registrations open, on ACER's portal | 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published | Published 1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Registrations close | Not published1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Not published | Set by the schools 2ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Student ID by email | by email in the week before the assessment1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Published | Published rule 1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| The assessment | 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published | Published 1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Results by email | within nine to ten weeks of the test3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published | Last round's pattern |
| Offers | early to mid Term 2, possibly in two rounds4The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published | Last round's pattern |
Which IGNITE round is my child in?
Find your child's school year in 2026. The assessment is for children in Year 6 at the time of the assessment1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, for a high school place the next year.
| Your child's year in 2026 | Their round | What is known |
|---|---|---|
| Year 6 | Year 7 in 2027 | Tested 21 February 20264The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published; offers came early to mid Term 2, possibly in two rounds4The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 5 | Year 7 in 2028 | Test 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published; registrations from 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 4 | Year 7 in 2029 | No dates yet; the assessment is held late February every year3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published |
A child sitting while in Year 5 is a special case: at Glenunga, that needs a signed recommendation letter from their primary school principal, sent before registering1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Published. The rule is one school, one sitting1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, so an early sitting uses the only attempt and rules out sitting in Year 6.
What were last round's IGNITE dates?
For Year 7 in 2027, registrations at The Heights closed 11 February 20263The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published and the assessment was on 21 February 20264The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published. The schools say it is held late February every year3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published.
| Last round, Year 7 in 2027 | Date or time |
|---|---|
| Registrations closed at The Heights | 11 February 20263The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| The assessment | 21 February 20264The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Sign-in at The Heights | 8:15 am to 8:30 am4The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Parents met children at The Heights | 12:50 pm to 1:20 pm4The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Fee | A$1503The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published |
How long is assessment day?
Plan for one long morning on paper. Glenunga says the four parts take about 31Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published hours with a break, and The Heights says 3 to 5 hours including a break3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published.
The week before
The student ID comes by email in the week before the assessment1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Published. Check your school's letter for the start time.
Arrive early
Late arrivals get in only at the supervisor's discretion, with no extra time5Brisbane State High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The papers
Last round the order was Reading Comprehension, Mathematical Reasoning, a break, Abstract Reasoning, then Written Expression4The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Afterwards
Keep the rest of the day light. Results come by email weeks later.
How do IGNITE dates fit with other SA tests?
IGNITE is set; the two STEM programs haven't published their dates for Year 7 in 2028. When schools' dates differ, ACER says your child needs a separate sitting at each school, on its own date2ACER HAST parents · 13 October 2026 · Published.
| Program | Year 7 in 2028 | Last round's test |
|---|---|---|
| IGNITE | 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published | 21 February 20264The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Adelaide Botanic, Health and STEM | December 2026–February 20276Adelaide Botanic · 15 October 2026 · Published | 28 February 20266Adelaide Botanic · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Norwood, STEM | Not published7Norwood · 12 October 2026 · Not published | — |
Which date matters for families like ours?
Four common questions, answered from the published dates, with their limits.
A summer trip already planned
Your child is in Year 5 and you're away for part of the summer holidays.
Registrations open 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published. Register before you leave, because the rule is no late applications1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published.
A February weekend away
You're thinking about a weekend away in late February.
Keep 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published free. The assessment is held late February every year3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published.
A child in Year 4 in 2026
Your child is in Year 4 in 2026.
Their round is Year 7 in 2029. No dates are set yet, but the assessment is held late February every year3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published.
What can't the dates tell you?
They can't give a close date the schools haven't set. They can't tell you whether your child will get an offer, and a score needed for one is not published1Glenunga · 13 October 2026 · Not published.
Can we register late?
No. The rule is no late applications1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published. Register soon after 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, and read how registration works.
Questions parents ask about IGNITE dates
When is the IGNITE test in 2027?
On 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, for Year 7 in 2028.
When do IGNITE registrations open?
On 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, on ACER's HAST portal.
How soon should we register?
Early in the window. Registrations open 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, the close date is not published1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Not published, and the rule is no late applications1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published.
What time does the IGNITE test start?
Your school's letter gives the time. Last round at The Heights, sign-in ran 8:15 am to 8:30 am4The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published and parents met children 12:50 pm to 1:20 pm4The Heights · 13 October 2026 · Published.
When do IGNITE results come out?
Going by last round, within nine to ten weeks of the test3The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published, by email. Read how results and offers work.