ACER Scholarship Test Preparation for Australian Independent Schools (2027–28)
Choose the correct ACER Scholarship programme before you open drills. Primary Level P (Years 4–6 entry) and Secondary Levels 1–3 (Years 7–12 entry) differ in sections and delivery. Register per school, then use the matching sample path on our practice resources page.
By Braintree Editorial, Exam preparation editors, Braintree Coaching Australia
Reviewed by Braintree Academic Panel on
Last updated
Independent schools nationwide · Level P + Levels 1–3 · ACER-marked
ACER Scholarship practice packs — timed papers, marked on the LMS.
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The ACER Scholarship test, in plain language.
The ACER Scholarship Tests identify academically able students for scholarship awards at independent schools. Unlike curriculum exams, they rank applicants by critical thinking, problem solving and higher-order reasoning so schools can differentiate the top end of performance.
Schools join a Cooperative/ACEP sitting or an Alternative Date programme. Parents register and pay for every school they apply to. On a cooperative date your child sits once and results go to up to six cooperative schools; alternative-date schools each need their own sit. ACER marks the papers and the school decides whether to award a scholarship. Result reports may come from ACER or the school. Delivery is paper-based for Primary Level P and online or paper-based for Secondary Levels 1–3.
Test dates
Cooperative and ACEP programmes publish ACER-set sitting and application windows for each entry year on the parents guide. Alternative-date schools pick their own sitting. Confirm programme type and dates on the Participating Schools list and each school's scholarship page before you register.
Scoring & cutoffs
ACER marks papers and reports results to the school. Scholarship decisions sit with the school, not with ACER. Parents typically receive a result report from ACER or the school after the school has completed its selection process (or on a nominated cooperative results date).
Reading and Viewing (Level P)
Confirm with schoolSee school instructions
Primary Level P reading and viewing items for Years 4–6 entry. Measures comprehension and interpretation of written and visual texts.
Mathematics (Level P)
Confirm with schoolSee school instructions
The Mathematics test offered within Primary Level P for Years 4–6 entry.
Writing (Level P)
Confirm with schoolSee school instructions
The Writing test offered within Primary Level P for Years 4–6 entry.
Written Expression (Levels 1–3)
Confirm with schoolSee school instructions
The secondary writing test ACER lists for Years 7–12 entry.
Humanities (Levels 1–3)
Confirm with schoolSee school instructions
The Humanities test ACER lists for Secondary Levels 1–3.
Mathematics (Levels 1–3)
Confirm with schoolSee school instructions
The Mathematics test ACER lists for Secondary Levels 1–3.
ACER Scholarship mock packs, compared line by line.
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ACER Scholarship preparation details
Quick answer: choose the programme before you open practice
The ACER Scholarship Tests are ability assessments written by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and used by independent schools across Australia to award academic scholarships. This page is for choosing the programme: provider (ACER Scholarship, not EduTest / HAST / AAS), level (Primary Level P or Secondary 1 / 2 / 3), and per-school registration. Trying drills and samples belongs on ACER Scholarship practice resources after the level is locked.
Primary Level P covers Reading and Viewing, Mathematics and Writing for Years 4–6 entry (paper-based). Secondary Levels 1–3 cover Written Expression, Humanities and Mathematics for Years 7–12 entry (online or paper). Parents register through each participating school via the ACER Scholarship application portal (select school and level). ACER marks the papers and reports results back to the school.
Braintree Coaching Australia prepares families for the specific level each target school has registered. Mixing ACER, EduTest and HAST papers in one pack usually wastes the final term on the wrong format. For the AAS + multi-provider overview see private school scholarship exams. When a school lists EduTest instead, read ACER vs EduTest: choosing your prep track before you buy materials.
Who should use this ACER Scholarship programme hub?
This hub is for parents comparing independent-school scholarship sittings who still need to lock provider and level before buying papers or booking coaching. A Year 5 or Year 6 parent targeting Year 7 or 8 entry on Secondary Level 1 should confirm the school pack names ACER Scholarship and Level 1 here first. If the pack already names Level P or Secondary 1 / 2 / 3, use the matching sample path below, then open practice resources. If you are unsure whether coaching is right for your child this cycle, contact Braintree Coaching Australia for a short level check against the pack.
What is the ACER Scholarship Test format for Primary Level P and Secondary Levels 1–3 (2027–28 entry)?
The ACER Scholarship Tests use two level bands: Primary Level P for Years 4–6 entry and Secondary Levels 1–3 for Years 7–12 entry. Cooperative and ACEP programmes publish ACER-set sitting and application windows; Alternative-date schools set their own sitting. Level bands and sections below were re-checked against ACER Scholarships and the parents guide on 9 September 2026.
| Level | Entry years (ACER practice-material bands) | Sections | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Level P | Years 4, 5 or 6 | Reading and Viewing, Mathematics, Writing | Paper |
| Secondary Level 1 | Years 7 or 8 | Written Expression, Humanities, Mathematics | Online or paper |
| Secondary Level 2 | Years 9 or 10 | Written Expression, Humanities, Mathematics | Online or paper |
| Secondary Level 3 | Years 11 or 12 | Written Expression, Humanities, Mathematics | Online or paper |
Use the school’s scholarship pack and the level you select in the ACER Scholarship application portal as the source of truth for this sitting. Do not invent a third year-band split from a coaching site.
2027–28 registration and sitting checklist
| What to confirm | Typical pattern | Status for 2027–28 entry |
|---|---|---|
| School uses ACER Scholarship (not AAS or EduTest) | Named on scholarship page | Confirm per school |
| Registered level (P, 1, 2 or 3) | Selected on portal + school pack | Confirm on school pack and portal |
| Programme type (Cooperative / ACEP / Alternative) | Listed on Participating Schools | Confirm before you register |
| Cooperative / ACEP 2028-entry windows | ACER-set on parents guide | Confirmed on A2 (ACEP SA sit Sat 6 Feb 2027; Cooperative Qld/NSW/NT/WA/VIC sit Sat 27 Feb 2027; apps open Mon 21 Sep 2026); still confirm your school’s row |
| Alternative-date sitting | School-set | Unconfirmed until that school publishes; see participating schools |
| Application fee | School-set (separate fee per school) | Confirm on school portal (no national fee) |
Families also targeting EduTest scholarship sittings in the same year need a separate preparation track; EduTest material does not substitute for ACER Level P or Secondary practice. The national three-way matrix (including HAST) lives on Australian scholarship exams compared; the two-product choosing guide is on ACER vs EduTest.
What is confirmed on this page (and what is not)?
This page separates ACER-confirmed programme facts from school-only items and from Braintree Coaching Australia commercial pack claims that are not yet service-owner confirmed.
| Item | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Provider = ACER Scholarship Tests (distinct from EduTest / HAST / AAS) | Confirmed | ACER Scholarships |
| Level P sections: Reading and Viewing, Mathematics, Writing · paper · Years 4–6 | Confirmed | ACER Scholarships |
| Levels 1–3 sections: Written Expression, Humanities, Mathematics · online or paper · Years 7–12 | Confirmed | ACER Scholarships + parents guide |
| Secondary practice-material year bands (L1 = Y7/8 · L2 = Y9/10 · L3 = Y11/12) | Confirmed | Parents guide |
| Registration = per school via portal (select school + level); fee school-set | Confirmed | Parents guide |
| ACER marks; school decides scholarship | Confirmed | ACER Scholarships |
| Cooperative / ACEP sitting + application windows for 2028 entry | Confirmed on parents guide | ACEP SA + Cooperative Qld/NSW/NT/WA/VIC rows above |
| Alternative-date school sittings | School-set (confirm each school) | Participating schools list |
| Section minute counts / question counts on public cards | Not published | Confirm with school pack |
| Official past papers for purchase | Not offered by ACER | Parents guide |
| Braintree Coaching Australia commercial “ACER scholarship pack” inclusions / turnaround | Not confirmed by service owner (omitted until confirmed) | Ask the centre for the current outline |
We only list course inclusions the service team has signed off. Until that list is confirmed, this hub sticks to official programme facts and the practice handoff. It does not promise kit contents.
What should families do after they lock Level P or Secondary 1–3?
Once the school pack (and portal) name Level P or Secondary 1 / 2 / 3:
- Stay on this page only long enough to lock provider, level and registration steps.
- Open ACER Scholarship practice resources for level-matched starting points, section drills, writing tasks and mock cadence.
- Secondary families can use the Mathematics (Secondary Levels 1–3) sample on this page (sequence → 47) as a format warm-up constructed by Braintree Coaching Australia. It is not an official ACER item.
- Level P families start reading, mathematics and writing drills from the practice page and ACER’s Parent-account materials for Primary.
- Use free mock tests for on-screen stamina only after the level is known. They are format familiarisation, not official ACER papers.
Next step: open the practice resources page for level-matched drills, or book a 15-minute call with the head tutor to check the level against your school pack.
Which schools use the ACER Scholarship Tests?
Participating schools across Australia join a Cooperative/ACEP sitting or an Alternative Date programme. The school chooses Primary Level P or Secondary Level 1, 2 or 3 based on the entry year it is selecting for. Always confirm the level, programme type and date on the school’s scholarship page before you buy practice materials or book coaching.
ACER’s published cycle is:
- School registers a test date with ACER (or joins a Cooperative/ACEP date).
- Parents register and pay for each school they apply to (portal: select school and level).
- Students sit the test (once for cooperative multi-school apps; separately for different alternative dates).
- ACER marks the papers and reports to the school.
- The school decides whether to award a scholarship.
- ACER or the school distributes result reports to parents.
What sections are in Primary Level P and Secondary Levels 1–3?
Primary Level P sections are Reading and Viewing, Mathematics and Writing on paper; Secondary Levels 1–3 sections are Written Expression, Humanities and Mathematics, online or on paper. Per-level Secondary year bands (for practice materials and level choice) are in the format table above. ACER’s public scholarship overview does not list question counts or minute allocations. Treat ACER’s scholarship page and the school’s information pack as the source of truth for the current cycle; do not copy timings from a different assessment.
How do parents register, and what does it cost?
Registration is per school through the ACER Scholarship application portal, not a single national fee schedule. You create a parent account, select each school and level, upload documents the school requests, and pay that school’s application fee. If a link is missing, contact the school’s scholarship coordinator or ACER Scholarships on scholarships@acer.org / 1300 768 952.
Check the fee displayed by each school before submitting. Families considering multiple schools need a separate application and fee for each.
How long should families prepare?
Once the entry year and level are locked, Braintree Coaching Australia usually works to a six- to twelve-month runway (programme guidance, not an ACER rule). Foundations, section drills and full mocks live on ACER Scholarship practice resources. Lock the level here first so that runway matches the paper your child will sit.
In 2024, 4,214 students enrolled across Braintree Coaching Australia programmes. That figure is whole-business volume for the year, not a scholarship-placement count and not a guarantee of any outcome.
When a school’s pack or parallel pathway includes visual pattern items (for example HAST Abstract Reasoning alongside an ACER Scholarship sitting), use the abstract and non-verbal reasoning skills guide for matrices and series drills, then return to Level P or Levels 1–3 mocks for the registered scholarship paper.
Is ACER Scholarship the same as EduTest or HAST?
No. Confirm the assessment provider and level on each school’s own scholarship page before choosing practice material. This page stays focused on ACER’s Level P and Secondary Levels 1–3 rather than repeating a multi-provider matrix. For a secondary comparison, read Australian scholarship exams compared; for a two-provider decision, use ACER vs EduTest.
Where are related ACER Scholarship resources?
- ACER Scholarship practice resources: try matching samples and drills after level choice
- ACER vs EduTest: choosing your prep track
- Australian scholarship exams compared: ACER vs EduTest vs HAST
- Private school scholarship exams (AAS, ACER & EduTest)
- EduTest selective and scholarship exam
- HAST exam preparation
- Historical 2026 Australian selective and scholarship exam dates
Last updated: 2026-09-09. Reviewed by the Braintree Coaching Australia Academic Team. Level bands, Cooperative/ACEP 2028-entry windows and registration cycle verified against acer.org/au/scholarships and the parents guide (checked 9 September 2026). Alternative-date school sittings remain school-set until each school publishes. Commercial pack inclusions remain omitted until service-owner confirmation.
Long-form pieces by our faculty on the strategy, pacing and preparation that work for this exam specifically.
ACER Scholarship results and parent testimonial
Results, reported honestly.
We publish anonymised cohort ranges and the way we measure them, rather than a single placement total we cannot independently audit. See our results and outcomes for the cohort ranges, or read the measurement methodology.
“Great content. Well structured course. Very easy to understand the modules. Extremely helpful”
Hanna V
Google review · 6 June 2025
ACER Scholarship, plainly answered.
Five questions our faculty fields most often about the ACER Scholarship exam.
Other selective exam preparation hubs.
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- NSW · EduTest
EduTest Selective School & Scholarship Exam Preparation
EduTest 2027 guide: the five sections and their published timings, what only your school can confirm, and a 12-month prep runway for NSW and Queensland entry.
- national · HAST
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- NSW · Selective High School
Selective school preparation 2027–28: NSW Year 6 placement test guide
Selective school preparation for 2028 entry — verified NSW placement test format, 2027-cycle outcome dates, mock-test packs and written teacher feedback.
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