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.  

Scholarship Testing

Online applications are now open for the 2027 ACER Essington Scholarship Test. This test is for scholarships commencing in Semester 2, 2027.

Both current and external students are eligible to apply. Applicants should select the appropriate test level based on the year level their child will be entering in 2027:

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 7 February 2027.

The test will be held at The Essington School on the morning of Saturday 27 February 2027.

The ACER Scholarship Tests are used nationwide to identify academically talented students eligible for scholarship awards. These assessments are carefully designed to rank applicants, particularly those performing at the highest level. 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 or the memorisation of acquired knowledge. Students who perform exceptionally well compared with their Australian peers will be shortlisted for an interview.

To register your child, please visit the following link: ACER Scholarships The registration fee is $150.

There is no requirement to inform the school directly of your intention to apply.

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