Is EduTest Harder Than the ACER Selective Entry Test?
Is EduTest harder than the ACER selective entry test? They are different exams for different pathways — so “harder” depends on which skills your child finds taxing, not on a universal difficulty ranking. Comparing raw percentages across providers is misleading.
What each exam is for
- ACER VIC selective entry: government Year 9 entry to Melbourne High, Mac.Rob, Nossal, Suzanne Cory. Format guide: VIC exam format.
- EduTest: used widely for independent-school scholarships and some NSW Year 9 / entrance pathways. Overview: EduTest scholarship guide and EduTest practice hub.
NSW Year 7 selective is yet another provider format (Cambridge/Janison computer-based) — not ACER VIC and not EduTest. Hub: selective test practice.
Where parents feel the difficulty difference
| Dimension | ACER VIC selective | EduTest (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | 4 government selective schools | Scholarships / school entrance (varies by school) |
| Style | Strong reasoning + writing tasks; curriculum-linked maths | Ability + achievement mix; Verbal/Numerical/Reading/Maths + writing products vary |
| Competition shape | Statewide ranking for limited Year 9 places | School-by-school shortlists and scholarship rules |
| Prep transfer | Partial overlap in reasoning skills | Partial overlap — still practise EduTest-style timing |
So which is “harder”?
- Students strong at extended writing under ACER's two-task block may find VIC writing tougher than a single EduTest writing product (or vice versa).
- Students who struggle with speeded verbal analogies may find EduTest Verbal Reasoning feel harder than ACER Verbal Reasoning even if maths feels easier.
- Cohort pressure at top VIC selective preferences can feel “harder” socially even when question difficulty is similar.
Do not use a high score on one provider's practice book to predict the other exam. Practise the format you will sit.
Practical advice
- Confirm the named provider on the school or Department page.
- Complete official samples for that provider first.
- Add timed mocks in the matching library — VIC ACER vs EduTest vs NSW Selective are separate on EduSpark.
- If applying to both scholarship and VIC selective paths, schedule dual prep deliberately; do not assume one mock set covers both.
Try 1 free paper per subject: free practice papers · subjects · VIC papers · EduTest papers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EduTest harder than ACER selective entry?▾
Not in a single universal sense. They serve different pathways and emphasise different task mixes. Difficulty depends on your child's strengths and which exam they will sit.
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.
Related articles
See how your child performs
Try free practice papers — timed, auto-corrected, with instant results and detailed explanations for every question.
Try Free Practice Papers