BSHS Year 7 vocabulary list

This list targets vocabulary that appears in the ACER Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) used for Brisbane State High School (BSHS) selective entry into Year 7. BSHS reading and written expression reward precise word choice, inference, and clear organisation under timed conditions — not school spelling lists.

Five-day revision routine

Day	Focus	What to do
Monday	Reading comprehension	Learn four words; each child writes one sentence.
Tuesday	Abstract patterns	Learn four words; parent reads example aloud.
Wednesday	Mathematical reasoning	Learn four words; match each to a maths context.
Thursday	Written expression	Learn four words; explain each in your own words.
Friday	Character and setting	Learn four words; recall test — no list visible.

Sample words from the printable pack

The downloadable PDF includes 100 words grouped by theme. Here is a sample from the reading comprehension group:

• analyse — examine in detail to explain meaning
• connotation — an idea suggested by a word beyond its dictionary meaning
• infer — draw a conclusion from evidence in the text
• tone — the author's attitude toward the subject

Each entry in the full pack includes a plain meaning and an example sentence your child can model.

Check understanding, not recognition

BSHS reading items often test whether your child can notice tone, argument, and subtle meaning across fiction, informational, and persuasive passages — not whether they have memorised a list. After each theme, pick three words and ask: “Can you use this in a sentence?” or “What is the opposite?” Short, spoken checks beat copying definitions.

Next step

For exam format and section timing, see our BSHS preparation hub. The printable pack includes the full 100-word list. For structured weekly preparation, see the BSHS course outline.