Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP)
FOR PARENT ENQUIRIES PHONE 03 8508 9049
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register to sit the CSTP?
Where do I get a Candidate Information Bulletin
and Registration Form?
What if my chosen school is testing
on a different date?
What if two schools have tests on different
dates? Can I sit for one test only?
If I register to sit the
CSTP with more than one school will I need to sit more than one test?
How much does it cost to register?
Where do I send the pen and paper registration
form?
Do I have to submit a pen and paper
registration form to a school if I've registered online with the same school?
When is the deadline for registering
with a school?
Can I take the test at the nearest
school in my neighbourhood?
How can I prepare for the test?
What is the difference between Sample Collection
of Questions Volumes 1 and Volume 2 ?
What is the difference between the Sample
Question Booklets and the Online Sample Questions?
How do I find out about the results?
How do I register to sit the CSTP?
There are two registration methods:
1) Via a pen and paper registration form - available from schools.
2) Online via the Internet - visit the schools' own websites to check whether
or not they offer online registrations. (Scholarship information and registration
is usually accessible from the school's home page or the enrolments/admissions
section of a school's web site.)
Please note that some schools accept online registrations and pen and paper registrations, while others accept only online registrations or pen and paper registration forms.
Check an individual school's website or contact the scholarship administrator for further information about scholarships schools may offer. Some schools may require additional information or have extra registration forms to fill out. It is your responsibility to check whether you have met a school's requirements before making an application.
Where do I get a Candidate Information Bulletin and Registration Form?
Pen and paper registration forms are available from the school(s) with which you intend to register. If you want to register for more than one school, you must contact each school separately to obtain a registration form and the school's individual information regarding fees and deadline dates.
Online registration facilities are available via many participating schools' websites. Visit a school's website to find out more information about scholarships they may offer and to register.
Read your Candidate Information Bulletin carefully.
What if my chosen school is testing on a different date?
This indicates that the school is using an entirely different test to the CSTP. Scores will not be shared amongst schools when they use different tests so you must sit the other tests as well as your CSTP test.
What if two schools have tests on different dates? Can I sit for one test only?
If one school is testing on the CSTP date and another is not, you must sit separately for each school. The tests may be similar in format but will be completely different in content.
If I register to sit the CSTP with more than one school will I need to sit more than one test?
No you won't. If your chosen schools are all using the CSTP and are testing on the same date you can register for multiple schools and sit the test just once. However, if your chosen schools have different test dates then each of these schools will be using a different test and you will have to sit these other tests.
How much does it cost to register?
Each school sets their own registration fee. You must pay a separate fee for each school with which you register. Check with the school(s).
Where do I send the pen and paper registration form?
Send it back to the school with which you are registering. Include the appropriate fee and any other information the school may require of you.
Do I have to submit a pen and paper registration form to a school if I've registered online with the same school?
No, you need only register with the same school once. Online registrations and pen and paper registrations achieve the same aim; though please check with a school to see if they have any additional registration requirements such as special forms you may need to fill out.
When is the deadline for registering with a school?
The CSTP registration deadline* by which time pen and paper registrations should be lodged at participating CSTP schools is Friday April 11 2008 . Schools are NOT bound to accept registrations after this date.
However, some schools determine their own deadline for registrations. You need to go to the school web site and find out that closing date. You must abide by the school's deadline.
* A Late fee of at least $90 applies to ALL registrations received after 5.00 pm AET on Friday April 11 2008 . Some schools set a higher late fee.
The deadline for online registrations is 5.00 pm AET Friday April 18 2008 . At this date and time ACER will close the online registration facility. If you wish to register after this date, you must contact the school and request a pen and paper registration form. Schools are NOT bound to accept registrations after this date.
Can I take the test at the nearest school in my neighbourhood?
You MUST take the test at the school you have registered with. However, some schools offer additional test centres. If you register with more than one CSTP school then you will NOT need to sit more than one test. Schools using the CSTP use the same tests, and scores are to be shared.
What do I do if I live too far away from the nearest test centre?
If a candidate lives over 200 kilometres from his/her nearest school or ACER centre (see Test Centres list), he/she may request a Special Test Centre. The candidate's parents or guardian should find an appropriate supervisor and test site for the candidate to take the test on the same day as candidates elsewhere in Australia. The supervisor should be a teacher or person who has experience in exam supervision. The person should not be the candidate's current teacher, related to the candidate, or coaching the candidate for the CSTP. The supervisor's contact details should be recorded on the registration form.
The registration form must be processed by the school and reach ACER at least two weeks before the late fee registration date applies (i.e. received at ACER by Friday 28 March 2008 ). Special Test Centre requests are not automatically granted. Please contact the school you intend to register with in the first instance.
If this arrangement is suitable to the school, supervisor and ACER, the test papers will be sent to the nominated Special Test Centre. Any costs involved in setting up the centre are to be covered by the candidate's parents or guardian.
see Test Centres
What do I do if I will be overseas on the day of the test?
Candidates living overseas (not holidaying) are expected to attend an ACER overseas centre (see Test Centres list). Under particular circumstances a special examination centre may be approved.
These requests are not automatically granted.
Requests in the first instance should be made to the school. The name, address, phone and fax number of a supervisor with suitable teaching qualifications must be provided on the registration form to the school and sent on to ACER at least two weeks before the registration closing date (i.e. received at ACER by Friday 28 March 2008 ). The person should not be the candidate's current teacher, related to the candidate, or coaching the candidate for the CSTP.
If the arrangement is satisfactory to the school, supervisor and ACER, the test papers will be sent to the nominated Special Overseas Centre. An Overseas registration surcharge of $200* will be payable in addition to the normal registration fee.
Any supervision costs will be the responsibility of the candidate.
*Individual schools may request a higher surcharge be imposed. Check with the school concerned before applying.
Can I purchase past papers or sample questions?
There are no past papers available for purchase. See Sample Purchase Material for more details.
How can I prepare for the test?
The CSTP Sample Collection of Questions will give you a very clear idea about the kinds of questions that will be asked. You should feel more confident about facing multiple-choice questions in particular once you have worked through the collection.
The booklet is not designed to be part of an intensive drill before the test though. The tests you will take are designed to reveal your overall skills and abilities not your detailed knowledge of subjects. CSTP questions might ask you to analyse, interpret, comprehend, or draw conclusions. They won't require you to memorise such things as the States of America, all the names of the characters in a book, or how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. You may be asked to look at a diagram or read a passage referring to these things but you won't have to learn them especially beforehand.
In responding to the Written Expression topics you might be asked to think about the topic, organise your ideas, and express yourself clearly and succinctly.
These skills are learned over your lifetime both in and out of school so short term training for the tests is unlikely to improve performance. Your best preparation is to read widely and think critically.
What is the difference between Sample Collection of Questions Volumes 1 and Volume 2 ?
The booklets are the same in format and cover questions from all four subtests and at all three levels of the test. The only difference is that there are different questions in Volume 2 than Volume 1 . You can purchase one or both booklets and know they are completely relevant to the candidate.
What is the difference between the Sample Question Booklets and the Online Sample Questions?
Once again the difference is that the questions are not the same. The format of the questions, the subtests covered and the levels are the same. You can purchase the booklets and the online test and not double up on questions. Please note that the Online Sample Questions must be completed online - they cannot be printed.
How do I find out about the results?
ACER will provide your results to the school(s) you've registered with. We will also provide an Individual Report to most CSTP schools, which the schools may choose to pass onto you. In all instances, contact should be between candidates and participating schools - not ACER.