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Get full access Start with a free testMany independent and private schools in NSW offer scholarships — academic, all-rounder, music, sport and more — and select students with a competitive entrance exam. Most are sat in the year before entry, commonly for Year 7 (sat in Year 6), and also for Years 5, 9 and senior entry.
The big complication: different schools use different testing bodies, so the exam your child sits depends on the school. You register with the school (not the testing body), and each school sets its own date, fee and scholarship types.
Three main organisations run scholarship tests for NSW schools, plus some schools write their own. Check which one your chosen school uses — the format differs.
Reading/comprehension, Mathematics and Written Expression, with reasoning embedded. Runs co-operative test dates many schools share.
Verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics and a written task. One sitting can cover several schools.
Writing, reading comprehension, mathematics and an integrated reasoning component (verbal, numerical and figural). A separate company from ACER.
Some NSW schools (for example Sydney Grammar) run their own scholarship exam instead. Exact components, timings and fees vary by body and by year — always confirm with the school and the testing body.
Exact papers differ by body, but most scholarship exams assess a similar core set of skills — pitched above grade level and reasoning-heavy:
Most papers are multiple-choice plus a written task, with tight section time limits. Difficulty rises through each paper, so pacing matters.
Scholarship exams are usually sat between about February and March in the year before entry (some schools run their own dates later). There is a registration fee per school, set by the school or body — it adds up if you apply to several. Because dates and fees are set school-by-school and change every year, confirm them directly with each school and the relevant testing body (ACER, Edutest, AAS).
Scholarship papers reward strong reading, problem-solving and clear writing built over time — plus comfort with the exam format and pacing. Find out which body your school uses, then practise to that style.
A free, exam-style diagnostic across the core scholarship skills — reading, maths, writing and reasoning — with an instant skills report. No payment details needed.
Try a free test See our packagesThey're run by different organisations and have different papers. ACER uses Reading, Maths and Written Expression with reasoning embedded; Edutest separates verbal and numerical reasoning from reading, maths and writing; AAS combines an integrated reasoning component with writing, reading and maths. Check which one your school uses.
It depends on the school — each chooses ACER, Edutest, AAS, or its own exam. Confirm with the school's enrolments or scholarships office.
Most commonly in Year 6 for Year 7 entry, but schools also offer scholarships for Years 5, 9 and senior entry. You sit in the year before entry.
No. Selective and OC are NSW government tests for public selective high schools and opportunity classes. Scholarship tests are run by individual private and independent schools.
There's no universal cut-off. Each school sets its own standard, which depends on the applicants that year and how many scholarships are offered, and the school also considers interviews and reports.
Sometimes — ACER's co-operative program and some Edutest sittings let one test serve several nominated schools. Schools running their own date may require a separate sitting.
There's a registration fee per school, set by the school or body, and exams are usually held around February–March in the year before entry. Confirm exact fees and dates with each school.
Yes — familiarity with the format and timed practice in reading, maths, writing and reasoning all help. Find out the test body first so you practise the right style.
Start with a free, exam-style diagnostic across the core scholarship skills — no payment details needed.
Try a free testLast reviewed June 2026. Information is drawn from the testing bodies (ACER, Edutest, Academic Assessment Services) and is general guidance for NSW. Scholarship exams, dates and fees are set by each school and change every year — always confirm directly with the school and testing body. Test Magic is an independent practice provider and is not affiliated with ACER, Edutest, AAS or any school.
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