Sydney Scholarship Exams Explained
Sydney independent and private schools award academic scholarships through external test providers — most commonly ACER, Edutest and Academic Assessment Services (AAS) — with each school choosing its own provider, entry year levels and test date. These private-school scholarships are completely separate from the NSW government’s selective high school and Opportunity Class tests, which many Sydney families also consider.
Key facts at a glance
- Private-school scholarships use ACER, Edutest or AAS — chosen school by school.
- Separate from government tests: selective high school (Year 7) and OC (Year 5) are run by the NSW Department of Education, not by individual schools.
- Common scholarship entry years: Year 5, Year 7 and Year 9.
- ACER cooperative program lets one Saturday sitting count for several schools.
- Dates vary by school — usually February–June for the following year. Confirm with each school.
Test structures and providers described here last verified June 2026 against official sources. Individual school dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm with the specific school or official body before you rely on a date.
Two different pathways Sydney families confuse
In Sydney there are two distinct academic-entry systems, and mixing them up wastes preparation time:
| Private-school scholarships | Government selective / OC | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Individual independent schools | NSW Department of Education |
| Test | ACER / Edutest / AAS | Centralised placement test |
| Entry years | Year 5, 7, 9 (varies) | OC: Year 5; Selective: Year 7 |
| Outcome | Fee reduction at that school | Place at a selective school / OC |
This page covers the left-hand column. For the right-hand column, see our guides on selective school preparation and the Opportunity Class test.
What Sydney scholarship tests assess
Whichever provider a school uses, the recurring skills are reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, abstract or verbal reasoning, and a short timed written piece. ACER gives more thinking time per question but asks harder reasoning; Edutest and AAS pack in more questions at a faster pace. Our provider comparison sets out the differences.
The ACER cooperative program
Many Sydney schools take part in ACER’s cooperative scholarship program. A student sits one test on a set Saturday and can have results shared with up to six participating schools. If your shortlist includes several cooperative schools, one well-prepared sitting can cover them all — check which of your target schools are in the program.
How to prepare
- Confirm each school’s provider, entry year and date first.
- Build reading, maths reasoning, abstract reasoning and writing in parallel.
- Practise under realistic timing; teach a skip-and-return rule.
- Treat the writing task seriously — see how examiners mark it.
- Start three to six months out and use a diagnostic to target gaps.
Common mistakes Sydney families make
Three avoidable errors come up again and again. The first is preparing for the wrong format — buying generic “scholarship practice” without checking whether the school uses ACER, Edutest or AAS, which test quite differently. The second is starting too late: scholarship and selective windows can fall within weeks of each other early in the year, so a January start often leaves no room. The third is treating the test like a school exam and drilling content, when the papers reward reasoning with unfamiliar problems.
Planning a Sydney calendar
Because many Sydney families pursue both private scholarships and government selective or OC places, the calendar gets crowded. Scholarship sittings cluster in the first half of the year, the OC test (Year 4) and selective test (Year 6) typically fall around early May, and ICAS competitions run in August. Map every target date for your child’s year level first, then work backwards so preparation peaks at the right time rather than colliding. A single timed diagnostic early on tells you how much runway each test really needs.
Frequently asked questions
Are Sydney private-school scholarships the same as the selective school test?
No. Private-school scholarships are run by individual schools using ACER, Edutest or AAS. The selective high school and Opportunity Class tests are run by the NSW Department of Education and lead to a place at a government selective school.
What is the ACER cooperative scholarship program?
It lets a student sit one scholarship test on a set Saturday and have the results shared with up to six participating schools, so one sitting can cover several applications.
Which providers do Sydney schools use for scholarships?
ACER, Edutest and Academic Assessment Services (AAS) are the most common. Each school picks its own, so confirm on the school’s scholarship page.
When are Sydney scholarship exams held?
Dates vary by school, typically between February and June for entry the following year. Always check the specific school.
Can my child sit both a scholarship test and the selective test?
Yes. They are separate processes with separate timetables, and many families pursue both. Plan the calendar carefully so preparation and test dates do not clash.