How to apply for a scholarship at Essington?

ACER Excellence Scholarships

The Essington School utilises ACER Scholarship Tests, which are used across Australia to identify academically able students for the awarding of a scholarship. The tests are designed to rank applicants, finely differentiating the top end of performance.

Applicants are required to demonstrate a range of skills such as the ability to interpret, infer, deduce and think critically. The tests are not curriculum based and do not test the ability to retrieve learned knowledge, nor are they diagnostic. Students who achieve very highly in relation to the Australian cohort will be shortlisted for interview.  

2026 Scholarship Testing available at Essington

Both current and external students are eligible to apply. Below are the application options:

• If your child is entering Year 7 or 8 in 2027, please apply for the Level 1 ACER Scholarship Test.
• If your child is entering Year 9 or 10 in 2027, please apply for the Level 2 ACER Scholarship Test.
• If your child is entering Year 11 or 12 in 2027, please apply for the Level 3 ACER Scholarship Test.

Please note that the deadline for applications is Sunday 8 February 2026.

The test will be held at The Essington School on the morning of Saturday 28 February 2026. Participation in the Test is a prerequisite for eligibility for an Essington Scholarship, which will be awarded at the commencement of Semester 2 2026.

The ACER Scholarship Tests are employed nationwide to identify academically talented students eligible for scholarship awards. These assessments are meticulously designed to rank applicants, particularly those at the highest level of achievement.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a diverse range of skills, including the ability to interpret, infer, deduce, and engage in critical thinking. Importantly, these tests do not assess a specific curriculum, nor do they evaluate the memorisation of acquired knowledge. Students who excel significantly in comparison to their Australian peers will be shortlisted for interviews.

To register your child, please visit the following link: ACER Scholarships The registration fee is $140.

There is no requirement to inform the school directly about your intentions.

For more information, you can visit the ACER link above or contact Jayne Lomas, on: jayne.lomas@essington.nt.edu.au