EduTest 2026: The Complete Parent & Student Guide to Australia's Selective & Scholarship Exam

The EduTest is a computer-based selective and scholarship exam from Edutest Pty Ltd, covering five sections over about 2.5 hours: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, and Written Expression. Results are percentile rankings; competitive schools often expect 95th percentile or higher. Plan 12–18 months of structured preparation.

What Is the EduTest?

The EduTest measures reasoning, comprehension, and applied problem solving — not memorised curriculum content. Edutest Pty Ltd has supplied selective and scholarship assessments for more than 30 years. Schools use results to rank candidates for Year 7, Year 8–9, and Year 10–11 entry.

EduTest is used by NSW selective high schools (where schools specify EduTest), Queensland Academies, and many independent schools for academic and general scholarships. It is not the same exam as the NSW Selective High School Placement Test run by the NSW Department of Education.

For the full exam family overview, see our EduTest selective school and scholarship hub.

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Which Schools Use the EduTest?

Always confirm with each school's website. Prominent EduTest users include:

NSW selective high schools (Year 7 entry)

James Ruse Agricultural High School, Baulkham Hills High School, North Sydney Boys High School, North Sydney Girls High School, and Sydney Girls High School — where the school specifies EduTest for that intake.

Queensland Academies (Year 7 entry)

QASMT, QACI, and QAHS use EduTest-style assessments for academy entry.

Independent and Catholic schools

Many GPS, AGSV, APS, and systemic schools use EduTest for Year 7, mid-secondary, and senior scholarship rounds across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, and WA.

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EduTest Format: The 5 Sections

EduTest preparation courses

Structured practice across all five sections, with timed mocks and writing feedback.

Explore Braintree Coaching Australia courses

EduTest runs in one sitting of about 2.5 hours (including breaks). Section timing is typically ~30 minutes each, with 15–25 minutes for Written Expression depending on year level.

EduTest at a Glance

Five sections, ~2.5 hours total

~30 min

Verbal ReasoningAnalogies, classification, deduction, vocabulary

~30 min

Reading ComprehensionInference, tone, author purpose, poetry

~30 min

Numerical ReasoningSequences, matrices, data tables, abstract logic

~30 min

MathematicsApplied number, algebra, measurement, probability

15–25 min

Written ExpressionStructure, ideas, vocabulary, grammar

1. Verbal Reasoning

Synonyms, antonyms, analogies, odd-word-out, sentence completion, and verbal deduction under time pressure. Vocabulary breadth is the main lever for improvement.

2. Reading Comprehension

Fiction, non-fiction, and increasingly poetry, with inference-heavy questions on tone, implication, and author intent.

3. Numerical Reasoning

Pattern recognition, sequences, matrices, and data interpretation — not long arithmetic drills. Flag hard items and move on.

4. Mathematics

Curriculum-aligned applied problems: fractions, ratios, percentages, geometry, probability, and more algebra at senior entry levels.

5. Written Expression

Creative, persuasive, or descriptive tasks marked by human assessors. Clear structure and a strong opening usually outscore length.

For question-type detail, see the EduTest exam format guide. For section practice, use the EduTest Ultimate course and our Year 5 sample paper.

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Year-Level Entry Points

| Entry year | Usually sat | Difficulty focus | Typical prep window | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Year 7 | Year 5 or early Year 6 | Upper primary + reasoning | 12–18 months | | Year 8–10 | Year 6–8 | Lower-secondary curriculum | 9–12 months | | Year 11 | Year 8–9 | Senior secondary, more algebra | 6–9 months |

Choose preparation matched to entry year, not only the year your child sits the test. The EduTest preparation strategies guide maps timelines by entry point.

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How EduTest Is Scored

Results are percentile rankings — the share of candidates your child outperformed. Each section is reported separately; schools often weight Reading and Mathematics more heavily. Writing is human-marked and can lift a borderline profile.

| Percentile band | Typical outcome | | --- | --- | | 99th | Strong contender for top selective and academy places | | 95th–98th | Competitive for leading selective schools and full scholarships | | 85th–94th | Partial scholarships or less competitive selective offers | | Below 85th | Usually below competitive cut-offs for top schools |

Cut-offs shift each year with cohort strength. Use prior-year guidance from schools, not fixed score guarantees.

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EduTest vs ACER vs NSW Selective Test

| Feature | EduTest | ACER | NSW Selective Test | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Provider | Edutest Pty Ltd | ACER | NSW DoE / Cambridge | | Delivery | Computer-based | Paper or digital (school-dependent) | Computer-based | | Sections | 5 | 4 | 4 | | Entry years | 7, 8–9, 10–11 | 7, 9, 10–11 | Year 7 only | | Scoring | Percentile | Stanine + percentile | Scaled 0–300 |

NSW state selective entry uses the NSW Selective Test. Many private scholarship candidates sit EduTest or ACER instead. Confirm each target school's required test before you plan preparation.

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Sample Questions by Section

Verbal Reasoning: Reluctant is to eager as scarce is to ___ — Answer: abundant (antonym pair).

Reading: After a passage about a coastal village, tone questions ask whether the narrator is nostalgic, critical, or hopeful — evidence comes from word choice, not facts alone.

Numerical: Sequence 2, 6, 12, 20, 30 → 42 (gaps increase by 2: +4, +6, +8, +10, +12).

Mathematics: 240 books, 5/8 fiction → 90 non-fiction (3/8 × 240).

Writing: Open with "The door at the end of the corridor had not been opened in fifty years." Plan briefly, write ~250–350 controlled words, edit for clarity.

Run a timed baseline with our free mock tests, then deepen practice via the sample paper.

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12-Month Preparation Plan

12-Month EduTest Preparation Plan

1. 1.Months 12–10: Foundation

   Diagnostic mock, daily reading (30 min), vocabulary (10 words/week), mental-maths fluency, and a written baseline task.

2. 2.Months 9–7: Skill building

   Timed drills in the weakest section, weekly writing with feedback, poetry inference, and numerical pattern practice three times per week.

3. 3.Months 6–4: Integration

   Fortnightly full mocks, track percentiles by section, two writing tasks per week, and back-to-back section stamina work.

4. 4.Months 3–1: Exam readiness

   Weekly full mocks under exam conditions, speed work on sections below the 80th percentile, then taper volume in the final fortnight.

5. 5.Final week

   One light mock, review notes, sleep routine, no new content — confidence and rest over cramming.

Section-specific tactics — vocabulary drills, poetry weekly, pattern speed limits, applied maths word problems, and timed writing structures — are in the EduTest prep strategies guide.

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Common Mistakes and Test Day

Ten preparation mistakes to avoid

• Starting only six weeks before the test

• Practising untimed when the exam is strictly timed

• Assuming strong school marks remove the need for reasoning practice

• Skipping vocabulary because your child reads widely

• Over-focusing on Mathematics while neglecting Verbal Reasoning

• Avoiding writing practice because feedback feels subjective

• Never sitting full-length mock tests

• Reviewing only incorrect answers, not correct reasoning

• Cramming new content in the final week

• Forgetting to confirm which test each target school uses

Test-day essentials

• Confirm test centre address and arrival time the night before

• Photo ID, booking confirmation, clear water bottle

• Approved snacks for breaks; no phones, smart watches, or calculators

• Protein-rich breakfast; arrive about 20 minutes early

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Free vs Paid Practice

Free samples on edutest.com.au, a free mock test, and the Year 5 sample paper suit diagnostics and format familiarisation. Scholarship-level preparation usually needs timed full mocks, breadth across all five sections, and structured writing feedback — covered in the EduTest Ultimate course.

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FAQ

What is the EduTest exam?

The EduTest is a computer-based standardised test used for selective school and independent scholarship entry. It assesses Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, and Written Expression in one sitting of about 2.5 hours.

Which schools use EduTest in Australia?

James Ruse, Baulkham Hills, North Sydney Boys, North Sydney Girls, and Sydney Girls High (where specified), Queensland Academies (QASMT, QACI, QAHS), and many independent schools across eastern states. Always check each school's current entry page.

How is EduTest scored?

Each section receives a percentile ranking. Schools combine section percentiles (often weighting Reading and Mathematics) to rank candidates. Top selective and academy places commonly require performance around the 95th percentile or higher.

How early should my child start preparing?

For Year 7 entry, 12–18 months is realistic for most families. Six months can work for already-strong students, but vocabulary and reasoning speed rarely improve overnight.

Is EduTest the same as the NSW Selective Test?

No. The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is run by the NSW Department of Education. EduTest is a separate product from Edutest Pty Ltd used by a different set of schools and scholarship programmes.

Can my child use a calculator?

No. Calculators are not permitted. Mathematics and Numerical Reasoning must be completed with mental maths and rough working on provided paper.

What percentile is needed for QASMT or James Ruse?

Offers at the most competitive schools typically sit in the 97th–99th percentile range across sections, with particularly strong Reading and Mathematics. Exact cut-offs vary by year and cohort.

How long is the Written Expression section?

Usually 15–25 minutes depending on year level and prompt type. Markers reward structure, specific vocabulary, and control — not word count alone.

Benchmark EduTest readiness

Use a free mock test for a baseline across all five sections, then build structured practice through the EduTest hub and Ultimate course.

Try a free EduTest mock testView EduTest Ultimate