ACER Scholarship Tests (New South Wales)

FAQs

How do I register to sit the ACER Scholarship Test?
How do I edit details from my child's scholarship registration?
Are non-Australian residents/passport holders eligible to apply for a scholarship?
If I register with more than one school will I need to sit more than one test?
What if my chosen school is testing on a different date?
What if two schools have tests on the same non-cooperative date? Can I sit for both schools?
How much does it cost to register?
When is the deadline for registering with a school?
Can I take the test at the nearest school in my neighbourhood? What if I live a long way from the school?
What is the process if I live a long way from the school and would like to sit the test at a different test centre?
My family are living overseas. Can my child sit the test in our current location?
Can I purchase past papers or sample questions?
How can I prepare for the test?
I have purchased sample materials. When will they be delivered?
What is the difference between the Sample Collection of Questions Volume 2, the Scholarship Sample Test and the Online Practise Test?
How do I find out about the results?
How do I find out about whether my child has been offered a scholarship?
My child has an injury/disability/etc that requires special arrangements for the test sitting. What can I do to arrange this?
What is the process if I dispute my child's test results?

How do I register to sit the ACER Scholarship Test?
Parents must register and pay for each school they wish their child to be considered for. Registration is only available online, and is through the schools' websites. Click on the Participating Schools link on the left to view the schools involved and be directed to the individual school websites.

Check the individual school/s website before registering online. 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.

How do I edit details from my child's scholarship registration?
You will receive a Username and Password email after registration is completed. To edit any details in your child's application, return to the school website that you registered for. Follow the links to register for the test. Select "Option 2: Edit my Details". Enter the Username and Password that was provided for your registration for that particular school.

Are non-Australian residents/passport holders eligible to apply for a scholarship?
Each school decides which candidates are eligible to register for their test. Please check with the individual school prior to applying if you are a non-Australian resident/passport holder.

If I register with more than one school will I need to sit more than one test?
If all schools that you are applying for are testing on the cooperative date, then your child will only need to sit the test at one school, and the results will be sent to all schools applied for. However, if your chosen schools have different test dates then each of these schools will be using a different test, and your child will need to sit the test at each school on their nominated date. Scores cannot be shared amongst schools when they are not part of a cooperative program. Click on the Participating Schools link on the left to check if a school is using the cooperative program or testing on an alternate date.

What if my chosen school is testing on a different date?
If your chosen schools have different test dates then each of these schools will be using a different test, and your child will need to sit the test at each school on their nominated date. Scores cannot be shared amongst schools when they are not using the cooperative program. Click on the Participating Schools link on the left to check if a school is using the cooperative program or testing on an alternate date.

What if two schools have tests on the same non-cooperative date? Can I sit for both schools?
No, you will need to choose one school which you sit for. Schools who do not use the cooperative program are 'stand alone' schools who do not share results with other schools. Please note that this does not apply to the cooperative schools - you may then apply to more than one of these schools and only sit the test at one school. If in doubt, check with the schools you are interested in.

How much does it cost to register?
Each school sets their own registration fee. You must pay a separate fee for each school that you register for. Details are available on the school websites.

When is the deadline for registering with a school?
Cooperative schools' registrations will close at midnight AEST on Sunday 20 January 2013 (ACEP SA schools only) or midnight AEST on Monday 4 February 2013 (all other states). There will be NO late registrations taken by ACER.

For schools not testing on the cooperative date, these schools determine their deadline for registrations. You need to go to the school website and find out that closing date. You must abide by the school's deadline, as no late registrations will be accepted.

Can I take the test at the nearest school in my neighbourhood? What if I live a long way from the school?
For the cooperative schools' test, your child must sit at your 1st preference school. If you live over 200 kms away your child can sit the test at a participating school, ACER Test Centre or non-ACER Test Centre.

For alternate date schools, you must sit the test at each school you have registered with. However, some schools offer additional test centres, or the option to sit at a Non-ACER Test Centre if more than 200kms from the school - parents should check with the school.

What is the process if I live a long way from the school and would like to sit the test at a different test centre?
On the cooperative test dates, if you live more than 200kms from your 1st preference school, your child can sit at another participating school, or at an ACER Test Centre (refer to the 2013 ACER Test Centres for a complete list). Parents should select the appropriate ACER centre as their Exam Centre during the online registration process. A surcharge applies for overseas test centres.

If you live more than 200kms from a participating school or ACER Test Centre, you can organise a Non-ACER Test Centre. Parents should select 'Non-ACER Exam Centre' as their Exam Centre during the online registration process. Parents will need to source a supervisor for the test (must be a registered teacher, experienced exam invigilator or church minister) as well as an appropriate venue (local school, library, hall, etc).
A surcharge applies for candidates sitting at a Non-ACER Test Centre within Australia (alternate date schools only), and for all sittings overseas - please contact ACER for details.

Please note that requests for Non-ACER Test Centres must be made AT LEAST 4 weeks prior to the test date for all schools.

My family are living overseas. Can my child sit the test in our current location?
On the cooperative test dates, your child can sit the test at an ACER Test Centre overseas (refer to the 2013 ACER Test Centres for a complete list). Parents should select the appropriate ACER centre as their Exam Centre during the online registration process. A surcharge applies for overseas test centres - please contact ACER for details.

For selected alternate date schools (you will need to check with the individual school) or if you live more than 200kms from an overseas ACER Test Centre on the cooperative date, you can organise a Non-ACER Test Centre. Parents should select 'Non-ACER Exam Centre' in the Exam Centre field during the online registration process. Parents will need to source a supervisor for the test (must be a registered teacher, experienced exam invigilator or church minister) as well as an appropriate venue (local school, library, hall, etc). ACER will email you further details upon recipt of your registration. A surcharge applies for candidates sitting at a Non-ACER Test Centre within Australia or overseas - please contact ACER for details.

Please note that requests for Non-ACER Test Centres must be made AT LEAST 4 weeks prior to the test date for all schools.

Can I purchase past papers or sample questions?
Click on the Preparing for the Test link to the left. There are hard-copy and online preparation materials available for purchase. There are no past papers available for purchase.

How can I prepare for the test?
Click on the Preparing for the Test link to the left. The preparation materials 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 questions.

The materials are not designed to be part of an intensive drill before the test. The tests you will take are designed to reveal your overall skills and abilities not your detailed knowledge of subjects. The 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.

I have purchased sample materials. When will they be delivered?
All orders placed prior to 2.30pm AEST will be delivered to all major metropolitan areas around Australia within 3-5 days. Deliveries to regional areas of Australia may take an additional 1-2 working days, depending on the location.

What is the difference between the Sample Collection of Questions Volume 2, the Sample Test Booklet and the Online Practise Test?
The materials are similar in content, but the questions are not the same. The format of the questions, the subtests covered and the levels are the same. You can purchase both of the booklets and the online test and not double up on questions. The Online Practise Test questions must be completed online - they cannot be printed.

Please note that the Scholarship Sample Test Booklet and Online Practise Test are both currently available for Level 1 candidates only. The Sample Collection of Questions Volume 2 contain questions for Levels 1, 2 & 3.

How do I find out about the results?
ACER will provide your results to the school(s) you've registered with. Your child's results are also available online approximately 3 weeks after the test date, or on Friday 5 April 2013 for cooperative schools. On the day results are available, you will receive an email to your nominated email address with details on how to access the results.

How do I find out about whether my child has been offered a scholarship?
The school/s will contact parents whose child they would like to offer a scholarship. If you have not been contacted by the school/s, you can still access your child's results online as stated above.

My child has an injury/disability/etc that requires special arrangements for the test sitting. What can I do to arrange this?
Under certain circumstances, and with supporting medical evidence, testing can be provided for candidates with disabilities. For example, test material can be provided for candidates with sight disabilities; and for candidates with arm or hand injuries, a scribe may be permitted. Please first contact the school you have applied for (or for cooperative testing, the school your child will be sitting the test at) to alert them to the relevant issues and requirements. The school should then contact ACER for guidelines on the provision of testing for students with disabilities. An arrangement will be made between the school and ACER to provide the necessary measures for your child.

What is the process if I dispute my child's test results?
Please go to our Assessment Services Privacy Policy page, where you can complete a Request for Information form and have your child's test results remarked. The process will take approximately 2 weeks and you will need to pay an administrative fee of $70.

ACER Scholarship Tests - New South Wales

FAQs