If you’re exploring selective school or scholarship options for your child, you’ve probably noticed that not all exams are created equal. From EduTest, ACER, AAS, HAST and ASET/GATE, each provider has its own format, timing, and focus areas which can make things a bit overwhelming. This guide breaks it all down in plain English, so you can understand what each test involves, which schools use them, and how to help your child prepare with confidence. Whether you’re aiming for Melbourne High, MacRob, Perth Modern, Queensland Academies or Suzanne Cory, knowing the exam structure is a key first step.
Overview of Exam Providers
In Australia, student placement at selective or scholarship-based schools is often determined by competitive entrance exams. Specifically, these exams are written and administered by four main testing bodies:
- Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER)
- EduTest
- AAS (Academic Assessment Services)
- Newman Selective Gifted Education Program
Some schools may wish to write their own exam or follow the Independent Scholarship Testing Procedure. In either case, students will be informed of the topics that they will be tested on.
Exam Registration
You must register your child and pay the application fee before the closing date. If you miss the deadline, your child may not be able to sit the examination. To register, contact the school you’re applying to and they will explain the steps you need to follow.
Exam Preparation
Due to selective and scholarship exams being highly competitive, preparation is essential. Many parents and students search for past exam papers, but testing organisations never release them publicly. To bridge that gap, we’ve created our own scholarship and selective practice exams. Written by experienced teachers, they are designed to closely mirror the real test format. This gives students the most realistic preparation possible, and ultimately, the best chance of success on exam day.
Selective and Scholarship Exam Comparison Table
| Provider/Exam Type | Common Schools | Topic Name | Writing Task |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAS | Lauriston Girls, Firbank Grammar, Genazzano, Melbourne Girls, Ruyton Girls, and more. | Mathematical Achievement & Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning & Problem Solving, Reading Comprehension | Yes |
| ACER (standard) | Various private schools | Maths, Reading Comprehension | Yes |
| ACER – Melbourne Selective School Exam Year 9 entry | Melbourne High, MacRob, Nossal, Suzanne Cory | Maths, Reading Comprehension, General Ability Verbal, General Ability Quantitative | Yes |
| ASET/GATE | Perth Modern School, Comet Bay College, Duncraig Senior High School, and more | Quantitative Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Reading Comprehension | Yes |
| EduTest – Melbourne Selective School Exam Year 10 entry | Melbourne High, MacRob, Nossal, Suzanne Cory | Maths, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning | Yes |
| EduTest | Billanook College, Beaconhills College, Geelong Grammar School, Haileybury, Queensland Academies, and more. | Maths, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning | Yes |
| EduTest (Science) | John Monash Science School | Maths, Numerical Reasoning, Science Reasoning, | Yes |
| EduTest (Science) | Elizabeth Blackburn School of Science | Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Science Reasoning, Reading Comprehension | Yes |
| HAST | Brentwood Secondary, Balwyn High (SEAL), and more | Maths, Abstract Reasoning, Reading Comprehension | |
| Newman | Various catholic schools in Sydney | Abstract Reasoning, Qualitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning | Yes |
Exam Topic Description Table
| Topic Name | Description | Common Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Abstract Reasoning | Tests pattern recognition and logical thinking using shapes, symbols, etc. Does not rely on language or numbers. | AAS, HAST, ASET/GATE, Newman |
| English or Reading Comprehension | Assesses how well a student understands written texts, including meaning, tone, and key details. | HAST, ASET/GATE, Elizabeth Blackburn, AAS, ACER, EduTest |
| English Reasoning | Tests how well students understand and interpret written texts including vocabulary, grammar and logical connections between ideas. | ACER (Melbourne Selective School) |
| General Ability | Combines verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning to assess overall problem-solving and thinking skills. | ACER (Melbourne Selective School) |
| Mathematics (also Mathematical Reasoning) | Assesses a students’ skill in arithmetic, problem-solving, and applying concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, algebra, etc. | HAST, John Monash Science School, Elizabeth Blackburn, AAS, ACER (Melbourne Selective School), ACER, EduTest |
| Numerical Reasoning | Tests how well students use logic and number patterns to solve problems beyond the basic calculations. | John Monash Science School, EduTest |
| Quantitative Reasoning | Assesses how students interpret and solve problems using logical analysis, graphs and numerical data. | ASET/GATE, Newman, ACER (Melbourne Selective School) |
| Science Reasoning | Tests how well students apply scientific concepts and logic to interpret data, patterns and experiments. | John Monash Science School, Elizabeth Blackburn |
| Verbal Reasoning | Tests a students ability to understand and work with language, using logic, word patterns and relationships. | Elizabeth Blackburn, Newman, EduTest |
| Writing Task (Narrative & Persuasive) | Usually persuasive or narrative. Essays are scored on structure, clarity, creativity, arguments, vocabulary, grammar, relevance, etc | HAST, ASET/GATE, AAS, Newman, ACER (Melbourne Selective School), ACER, EduTest |
| Writing Task (Science) | Assess how clearly and logically students explain scientific concepts and ideas using evidence and structured reasoning. | John Monash Science School, Elizabeth Blackburn |
Practice Exam Availability
| Exam Type | Strive for Excellence Practice Exams Available? | Link to Strive for Excellence Practice Exams |
|---|---|---|
| AAS | Yes | AAS Practice Exams |
| ACER (standard) | Yes | ACER Practice Exams |
| ACER (Melbourne Selective School Exam Year 9 Entry) | Yes | Melbourne Selective Year 9 Practice Exams |
| ASET/GATE | Yes | ASET/GATE Practice Exams |
| EduTest | Yes | EduTest Practice Exams |
| EduTest ( Melbourne Selective School Exam Year 10 Entry) | Yes | Melbourne Selective Yr 10 Practice Exams |
| Elizabeth Blackburn School of Science | Yes | Elizabeth Blackburn Practice Exams |
| HAST | Yes | HAST Practice Exams |
| John Monash Science School | Yes | John Monash Practice Exams |
| Newman | Yes | Newman Practice Exams |
First, understand the structure and expectations of each scholarship and selective school exam to begin preparing with confidence. From there, if your child aims for Melbourne High, MacRob, John Monash, or a private school scholarship, use the test format to guide and focus their study. At Strive for Excellence, we design tailored practice exams and provide expert guidance to help students tackle each test with clarity and confidence. Explore our resources and give your child the strongest possible foundation for success.