The Australian Computerised Selective Trial (ACST) is Test Academy's full-length mock selective exam. It runs on the same software used in the real NSW Selective High School Placement Test, on dedicated computers at the Parramatta campus. After sitting the ACST, students receive detailed analytics including percentile rankings, time-per-question data, and school-entry predictions.
Who this is for
- Year 5 and Year 6 students preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test
- Students who want to experience the real computerised test interface before exam day
- Students who want diagnostic data — detailed analytics to identify exactly where to focus preparation
- Students who want to benchmark their current performance with a percentile ranking
What the ACST covers
The ACST mirrors the official NSW Selective Test format exactly:
- Reading — 45 minutes, 17 questions
- Mathematical Reasoning — 40 minutes, 35 questions
- Thinking Skills — 40 minutes, 40 questions
- Writing — 30 minutes
The interface, question navigation tools, and timing are identical to what students encounter in the real test.
How it works
- Book a session via the ACST Portal in your dashboard
- Arrive at the Parramatta campus at the session start time (morning or afternoon)
- Sit the full timed test on a dedicated computer — no BYOD required
- Results are published to your ACST Portal approximately one week after the final session for that intake
Session times
Each ACST event offers two session options:
- Morning session: 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
- Afternoon session: 2:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Upcoming ACST events and available spots are shown in the ACST Portal. Each session has a capacity limit — book early to secure your spot.
What's included in the results
Approximately one week after the sitting, students receive a comprehensive analytics report including:
- Overall score and percentile ranking — how your child compares to all students who sat the same ACST
- Section-by-section breakdown — score and percentile for each of the four sections
- Time-per-question analysis — how long was spent on each question
- School-entry predictions — data-driven estimates of which NSW selective schools your child may be competitive for, based on performance
- Full question review — access every question and your child's answers via the Test Academy platform
School prediction tiers
The predictions group NSW selective schools into four competitiveness tiers:
- Tier 1 — Top 5 schools (Extremely Competitive)
- Tier 2 — Top 15 schools (Highly Competitive)
- Tier 3 — Top 30 schools (Competitive)
- Tier 4 — Top 50 schools (Moderately Competitive)
Pricing
Pricing is set per ACST event and may vary. The current price is shown when you click Book Now in the ACST Portal. Payment is via Stripe (BECS or card). A card surcharge of 1.75% + $0.30 applies if paying by card.
Location
In-person only: Suite 107, 18–20 Ross Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Dedicated computers are provided — students do not need to bring a device.
How to book
Log in and go to the ACST Portal. Select an upcoming session, choose your preferred time (morning or afternoon), and complete the Stripe checkout. A booking reference is generated immediately on payment.