Calm, exam-style practice for the ACER Primary scholarship test, for a child going for a Year 5 place (the test is sat in Year 4), with instant results, worked explanations and progress tracking.
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A sample report. Yours fills in with your child's own result.
Many independent and private schools offer scholarships for primary entry: a place with part or all of the fees covered. Most of them use the ACER Primary scholarship test (ACER calls it Level P) to choose. For a Year 5 place, your child sits it in Year 4, the year before entry.
There is no pass mark. ACER designs the test to rank the children who sit it, and each school makes its own decision. ACER uses one primary test for entry into Years 4, 5 and 6. Our Year 5 entry papers are written for a child in Year 4, and the report compares your child only with other Year 5 entry children.
ACER says short-term training for the test is unlikely to improve performance, and that the best preparation is to read widely and think critically. What also helps is familiarity: knowing the three papers and working to the clock, so the day itself feels calm.
Sit the Free Test now: Reading and Maths, 15 minutes each, no sign-up. The score shows at once and the full report comes by email. Then choose a plan for the full practice papers.
Try Year 5 Entry Free Test View plans & pricingACER lists three tests at the primary level, all done on paper. Reading and Viewing and Mathematics are multiple choice; Writing is two pieces of writing, each in a different genre.
Multiple-choice questions on written texts and visual material.
Multiple-choice problem solving with numbers, shapes and data.
Two extended responses, each in a different genre.
Times and numbers of questions are ACER’s and can change — confirm them with ACER and the school. Our practice sets differ in size: Reading 25 questions in 30 minutes, Maths 25 questions in 30 minutes, and one writing task of 20 minutes, marked by a teacher. Our papers are done on screen.
Give your child access to the full Year 5 Entry practice package, with 60 practice papers, detailed reports and worked explanations.
ACER’s main round, the year before entry:
These are ACER’s dates for 2028 entry, for schools in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, WA and the NT. Applications opened on 21 September 2026 and close at midnight AEDT on 7 February 2027; in South Australia they close on 22 January 2027.ACER’s main test day is usually in late February, the year before entry, and applications close a few weeks before it; South Australia is earlier. Many schools, including most in Victoria, set their own date instead, and a school with its own date needs your child to sit the test at that school. Each school charges its own application fee. Find each school’s dates with the school finder, and confirm with the school.
The ACER Primary scholarship test, which ACER calls Level P. ACER uses the same primary test for entry into Years 4, 5 and 6, and your child sits it in Year 4, the year before entry. Our Year 5 entry papers are written for a child in Year 4.
No. ACER designs the test to rank the children who sit it. Each school decides, and it also looks at the school report and often an interview. Schools contact families directly to offer scholarships.
You register with ACER, on its website, before the school’s closing date, and pay each school’s application fee there. Some schools also want their own application form. Late applications are not accepted.
For 2028 entry, ACER’s main test day is Saturday 27 February 2027 (applications close 7 February 2027); in South Australia it is Saturday 6 February 2027 (applications close 22 January 2027).ACER’s main test day is usually in late February, the year before entry; South Australia is earlier. Many schools use their own date.
Yes. ACER lists the primary test as paper based. Our practice papers are done on screen and timed, and every writing paper is marked by a teacher.
Calmly. ACER says short-term training is unlikely to improve performance, and that the best preparation is to read widely and think critically. Knowing the three papers and working to the clock helps the day feel familiar.
No. Test Magic is an independent practice provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by ACER. Our papers are practice papers designed to reflect the style of the test; they are not ACER’s.
Last reviewed September 2026. Facts on this page are drawn from ACER’s scholarship website (acer.org/au/scholarships). Dates and details change each year — confirm them with ACER and the school. Test Magic is an independent practice provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by ACER.
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