Primary Scholarship Program

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Practice Questions & Tips

PSP Sample Questions

The skills the PSP test are examining are learned over a candidate's 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.

There are NO Sample Collection of Questions or past papers available for sale. For practice download Get Ready Go!. This booklet contains information for parents/guardians, some sample questions, tips and advice.

PLEASE NOTE: ACER does NOT have past PSP exam papers for sale.

PSP Exam Tips

The PSP tests are not meant to be easy.

Practise more than answering questions. Practise your planning strategies. Plan the way you organise your work and structure your answers, particularly in response to the Writing prompts.

The PSP tests do not require candidates to know factual information but you do need to be able to think about what you have already learnt and apply this knowledge in new situations.

Read and re-read the Candidate's Information Bulletin (main test date) or Candidate's Information Bulletin (for exams that are not held on the main date ).The bulletin sets out several things you need to do or bring on examination day.

Be at the examination centre at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the test (usually 8.45 am but please check). Late-comers will only be admitted at the discretion of the examination supervisor. Late-comers (if admitted) will NOT receive any additional time to complete the test.

Do NOT bring to the examination centre any of the following:

  • rulers,
  • books or papers,
  • calculators,
  • other mathematical instruments such as compasses or dividers,
  • photographic or other data/image recording equipment,
  • programmable watches or mobile phones.

Things to bring include:

  • two (2) blue or black pens for the Writing section of the test,
  • two (2) HB or B pencils for the multiple-choice tests,
  • a good eraser in case you need to change an answer,
  • something to eat/drink during the break between tests (optional).

Your responses to the Mathematics and Reading and Viewing sections of the test will be recorded on a special answer sheet called an OMR sheet. A machine scans the answer sheets so you must be very careful to make sure that you mark your answer against the question you're answering. Frequent cross-checking during the exam will eliminate any problems.

Also:

  • make sure you only use a pencil as the machine can't read pen marks,
  • clearly rub out any mistakes you make,
  • do not fold or tear the answer sheet,
  • do not make any stray marks on the sheet.

On the day of the exam, candidates should try to relax, give themselves time to answer the questions fully, and clarify with the supervisors if they are unsure about any of the test day procedures.