Is EduTest Harder Than the ACER Selective Entry Test?
Is EduTest harder than the ACER selective entry test? Neither is simply harder. Both are built so that getting about half the questions right is normal: ACER says it is not unusual for VIC candidates to answer only half correctly and that many don't finish, and EduTest says it is quite normal for students to get only half correct. What differs is the format — EduTest splits the test into four short, fast sections with five options per question, while the ACER exam has two longer combined parts with four options, plus more writing. Which one feels harder depends on your child.
What each exam is for
- ACER (VIC selective entry): the exam for Year 9 entry to Melbourne High, Mac.Rob, Nossal and Suzanne Cory, sat in Year 8. See our VIC selective entry exam page.
- EduTest: used by many independent schools for scholarships and entry, by NSW selective schools such as James Ruse and North Sydney Boys for out-of-year-group entry (Years 8–11), and by Nossal and Suzanne Cory for Years 10 and 11 entry. See our EduTest practice page.
The NSW Year 7 selective test is different again — written by Cambridge University Press & Assessment and taken on computer. It is neither ACER's VIC exam nor EduTest.
How the formats differ
| ACER VIC selective (from 2026) | EduTest | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning (60 min); Reading & Verbal Reasoning (55 min) | Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Mathematics, 30 min each |
| Options | A–D | A–E in the papers we have studied, often with “None of these” as E in the numerical sections |
| Writing | Two tasks, 40 minutes | One task: 15 minutes for scholarship testing; 30 minutes plus 5 minutes planning for selective entry |
| Content level | Never beyond the Year 8 curriculum | Varies with the year group being tested |
| Question counts | Not published | Not published |
| How it is used | One statewide ranking for about 1,000 Year 9 places | Each school uses the results in its own process |
So which will feel harder?
- Speed: EduTest's 30-minute sections are fast, and EduTest says not all students may finish. A careful, slow worker may find that harder than ACER's longer parts.
- Stamina: ACER's 60- and 55-minute parts mix two skills each. A student whose concentration fades may find that harder.
- Vocabulary and logic: EduTest Verbal Reasoning leans on hard vocabulary and syllogism-style logic. ACER's verbal questions also include analogies and “must be true” logic, but sit inside a part shared with reading.
- Writing: ACER asks for two pieces in 40 minutes; an EduTest scholarship sitting asks for one in 15. A reluctant writer will feel the ACER load more.
Don't use a score on one provider's practice papers to predict the other exam. Practise the format your child will actually sit.
Practical advice
- Confirm which test the school uses on its own website.
- Start with that provider's official sample material.
- Add timed practice in the matching format. On EduSpark, VIC, EduTest and NSW papers are separate programs, each with one free paper per subject.
- If your child is sitting both (for example a scholarship test and the VIC selective exam), plan for both formats rather than assuming one set of practice covers the other.
- Treat books and tutoring-centre PDF packs as extra drills: they are often untimed, so check they match the exam and year level. Skip free PDF dumps of unknown origin as a core plan — format mismatches and copied material are common. Tutoring is most useful for writing feedback. For a wider look, see practice platforms compared.
To see the question styles side by side, try the EduTest sample and the VIC selective sample — five questions each, no signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EduTest harder than ACER selective entry?▾
Not in a single universal sense. Both are designed so that getting about half the questions right is normal. EduTest has four fast 30-minute sections with five options per question; ACER's VIC exam has two longer combined parts (60 and 55 minutes) with four options, plus two writing tasks. Which feels harder depends on your child's speed, stamina and writing.
Can I use ACER practice for an EduTest exam?▾
Only partially. Reasoning skills transfer somewhat, but timing, option styles, and writing products differ. Practise the named provider for your school.
Is NSW Year 7 selective the same as ACER VIC?▾
No. NSW Year 7 selective uses a different computer-based placement test. ACER VIC is the Year 9 government selective pathway in Victoria.
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