Start with the school page, not the provider
You do not choose the test. Each school chooses its provider, books its own sitting and publishes the details on its scholarship or admissions page. If your list has three schools, you may be dealing with two or even three providers.
Side-by-side comparison
| ACER | Edutest | AAS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sections | Primary (Level P): Reading and Viewing, Mathematics, Writing. Secondary (Levels 1 to 3): Written Expression, Humanities, Mathematics. | Commonly five: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Written Expression. | A battery drawing on writing, reading comprehension, mathematics and reasoning. Parts vary by school. |
| Main focus | Interpretation and reasoning within subjects. Secondary Humanities tests comprehension and interpretation of texts and visuals. | A mix of ability (reasoning) and achievement (school-type skills), under tight timing. | Depends on the school’s selection. Often includes abstract or problem-solving reasoning as well as maths and literacy. |
| Typical timing | Several separate papers, each with its own time limit. Check the school’s schedule for the total. | About 30 minutes per section, with Written Expression shorter (15 minutes, with no separate planning time). | Two sessions with a break. Each paper runs roughly 40 to 50 minutes, with writing about 25 to 30 minutes. Check the school’s information. |
| Primary vs secondary | Level P for entry into Years 4 to 6. Levels 1 to 3 for entry into Years 7 to 12. | Pitched to the child’s current year level, with results compared to others in the same year. | Pitched to the entry year chosen by the school. |
| Delivery | Level P typically on paper. Secondary online or on paper. | As arranged by the school. | As arranged by the school. Some schools use online sittings at home. |
| Who sets the date | Each school, with ACER. Parents register and pay per school. | Each school, with Edutest. | Each school, with AAS. |
| Calculator | Follow the instructions for the level and school. | Not allowed. Working-out paper is not allowed either. | Not allowed. |
Summary drawn from public provider and school information, checked October 2026. Details change, so treat the school’s own page as the final word.
Ability vs achievement: what that means for practice
Achievement sections (Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Written Expression) test what children have learnt and can apply. Regular schoolwork helps, and practice sharpens accuracy and speed.
Ability sections (Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, abstract reasoning) use unfamiliar question types: number series, matrices, analogies, codes and logic puzzles. Children who have never seen these formats lose time working out what is being asked. Short, regular exposure over months makes a real difference to familiarity.
ACER secondary tests sit somewhere in between. The Humanities paper asks children to interpret poems, extracts, cartoons and diagrams, and the Mathematics paper often rewards working out what a problem is really asking more than recalling a method.
How to prepare for each one
If a school uses ACER
- Read widely, including poetry, opinion pieces and visual texts, and talk about meaning and intent.
- Practise multi-step maths problems without a calculator, explaining the reasoning.
- Practise both creative and persuasive writing to a time limit.
- Try our free ACER-style maths questions.
If a school uses Edutest
- Get familiar with verbal and numerical reasoning question types early.
- Practise in short, timed blocks that match the section lengths.
- Learn to move on from a hard question and come back to it.
- Try our free Edutest-style numerical reasoning.
If a school uses AAS
- Find the exact parts in the school’s information pack first.
- Cover abstract reasoning and problem solving as well as maths and reading.
- If the test is online at home, rehearse the set-up and timing.
- Try our free AAS-style maths reasoning questions.
If your schools use different providers
- Build shared foundations first. Reading stamina, mental arithmetic, problem solving and structured writing help with every test.
- Prioritise the earliest test date, then switch focus to the next format once that sitting is done.
- Do at least a few full practice runs in each format so nothing about the timing or question style is a surprise.
- Use a diagnostic to find the gaps, so you are not spending weeks on skills your child already has.
Planning for Year 7 entry? The Year 7 entry guide covers timelines and multi-school logistics. For earlier entry, see Year 5 and Year 6 prep. For the bigger picture, go back to the scholarship hub.