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Students sit scholarship exam Around 18,000 students from around Australia take exams set by ACER in the hope of winning a scholarship to one of 250 independent schools. Close to 12,000 candidates sat for the Co-operative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) on 1 May for entrance to one of 150 schools. Results have now been compiled and provided to schools for use in making offers of scholarships to successful students. The CSTP is an Australia-wide annual program of high-level ability tests used to identify academically gifted students for the award of scholarships. Approximately 150 independent schools in all Australian states use the program. All testing across Australia takes place on one testing day, although for religious reasons some schools can arrange to sit on another day. In 2003, 11 802 candidates from capital cities, country centres, remote rural areas and overseas sat the tests on the same date. This year the number increased to approximately 12,000 with increased competition for scholarships. CSTP provides for testing at three major levels: • CSTP Level 1 tests are taken in the final year of primary school for students commencing their first year of secondary school. • CSTP Level 2 tests are taken in the second year of secondary school for students continuing into third year and • CSTP Level 3 tests are taken in Year 10 for students completing their secondary education. Batteries of tests are used to assess student performance in the area of scholastic aptitude but unlike school curriculum based tests, the CSTP tests are designed to extend children past recently covered material. Candidates work through the following tests: Test 1 Written Expression (writing sample) 25 minutes Test 2 Humanities (multiple choice) 40 minutes Test 3 Mathematics (multiple choice) 40 minutes Test 4* Written Expression (writing sample) 25 minutes *For CSTP Levels 2 and 3 this test is Mathematics and Science. New tests are written each year by a professional test development team using a rigorous process which includes: extensive review of all new questions by an expert panel; trial testing of the questions; and thorough question analysis to ensure that the final tests are robust and have predictable qualities. ACER supplies schools with all test materials required, and in addition, can arrange testing centres for candidates in remote areas of Australia as well as overseas. Candidates obtain registration forms, Candidate Information Bulletins and a Sample Collection of Questions directly from the schools they wish to enter. Research carried out annually by ACER indicates that students awarded scholarships based on academic performance on ACER tests, are consistently located within the top two percent of students at the end of Year 12 Schools may obtain further information about the CSTP by contacting the CSTP Project Director on (03) 9277 5705 « Back to eNews
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Around 18,000 students from around Australia take exams set by ACER in the hope of winning a scholarship to one of 250 independent schools. Close to 12,000 candidates sat for the Co-operative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) on 1 May for entrance to one of 150 schools. Results have now been compiled and provided to schools for use in making offers of scholarships to successful students.

The CSTP is an Australia-wide annual program of high-level ability tests used to identify academically gifted students for the award of scholarships. Approximately 150 independent schools in all Australian states use the program. All testing across Australia takes place on one testing day, although for religious reasons some schools can arrange to sit on another day.

In 2003, 11 802 candidates from capital cities, country centres, remote rural areas and overseas sat the tests on the same date. This year the number increased to approximately 12,000 with increased competition for scholarships.

CSTP provides for testing at three major levels:

• CSTP Level 1 tests are taken in the final year of primary school for students commencing their first year of secondary school.

• CSTP Level 2 tests are taken in the second year of secondary school for students continuing into third year and

• CSTP Level 3 tests are taken in Year 10 for students completing their secondary education.

Batteries of tests are used to assess student performance in the area of scholastic aptitude but unlike school curriculum based tests, the CSTP tests are designed to extend children past recently covered material. Candidates work through the following tests:

Test 1 Written Expression (writing sample) 25 minutes

Test 2 Humanities (multiple choice) 40 minutes

Test 3 Mathematics *(multiple choice) 40 minutes

Test 4 Written Expression (writing sample) 25 minutes *For CSTP Levels 2 and 3 this test is Mathematics and Science.

New tests are written each year by a professional test development team using a rigorous process which includes: extensive review of all new questions by an expert panel; trial testing of the questions; and thorough question analysis to ensure that the final tests are robust and have predictable qualities.

ACER supplies schools with all test materials required, and in addition, can arrange testing centres for candidates in remote areas of Australia as well as overseas.

Candidates obtain registration forms, Candidate Information Bulletins and a Sample Collection of Questions directly from the schools they wish to enter.

Research carried out annually by ACER indicates that students awarded scholarships based on academic performance on ACER tests, are consistently located within the top two percent of students at the end of Year 12

Schools may obtain further information about the CSTP by contacting the CSTP Project Director on (03) 9277 5705

Students sit scholarship exam