Why prepare your child for the Selective or Scholarship Tests?
Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course is designed for high-achieving students. The course develops the advanced skills, strategies, and mindset needed to perform under exam conditions and thrive in future high school years. Students learn not just what to think, but how to think, building critical reasoning, problem-solving, and effective writing abilities.
With expert teachers, tailored support, and smaller class sizes, our program provides a focused and supportive environment where students are challenged and motivated alongside like-minded peers. The course also fosters personal growth, resilience, and confidence, all key traits for long-term academic success. It’s more than just exam preparation; it’s an investment in your child’s future potential.
Inside our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course
Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course has been created to develop your child’s full potential without piling on excessive homework. It’s built around research-based methods and personalised teaching. Our engaging teaching style in small group settings inspires a love of learning without overwhelming homework loads.
Our course helps students build strong skills in Maths, English, Thinking Skills, and writing, while developing confidence and exam readiness.
Students master problem-solving, systematic thinking, and core reasoning skills.
From critical thinking to both inductive and deductive reasoning, we train students to think clearly and apply logic, especially under exam conditions.
Students complete 8 mock tests throughout the course and receive personalised feedback following each mock test.
Receive individual attention & support in our small group class
Become a critical thinker & master our unique problem-solving technique
Ignite their passion for learning through our unique teaching style
Build a strong conceptual understanding of key concepts in English
What our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course Covers
Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course
The NSW Selective Placement Test and Scholarship tests are similar in structure and difficulty level. The tests are designed to assess your child’s abilities in reading, thinking, maths, and writing.
We have designed our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course to help students prepare for the 4 components of the test. We cover thinking skills in both our English and Maths classes.
Students Will :
- Learn and develop a strong conceptual understanding of all key concepts in Math, English, Writing, and Thinking Skills.
- Build reading and writing skills through exposure to a diverse range of text genres.
- have exposure to higher-level of maths concepts and develop problem-solving skills
- develop critical thinking skills.
- Master exam and time management techniques and tools to reduce cognitive load.
- Receive individual attention and support in our small group class.
- Ignite their passion for learning through our unique teaching style.
- Have access to FREE homework help classes
Our goal is to help students achieve their full potential and reach their academic and personal goals.
What Students Learn in Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course:
English
- Exposure to a wide range of genres to strengthen Reading Comprehension
- Comprehensive coverage of all reading levels:
- Literacy (Level 1)
- Interpretation (Level 2)
- Critical Reading (Levels 3 & 4)
- Delivered by qualified and experienced teachers
- Strong emphasis on skills assessed in scholarship exams
Writing
- Focus on both creative and imaginative writing, incorporating advanced language forms, features, and literary devices
- Structured persuasive writing lessons tailored to match the unique format of scholarship test requirements
Thinking Skills (English focused)
- Critical Thinking
- Creative Thinking
- Reading Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Problem Solving
- Lateral Thinking
This section of the course sharpens a student’s ability to approach unfamiliar questions, think independently, and justify their answers under time pressure.
What Students Learn in Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course:
Maths
- Covers all key concepts assessed in scholarship and competitive exams
- Uses a unique problem-solving strategy: UPSL™ – Understand, Plan, Solve, Learn
- Lessons delivered by ICAS-trained writers with assessment expertise
- Focus on effective strategies for multiple-choice questions and exam techniques
Thinking Skills (Mathematics-Focused)
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Problem Solving
- Logical Thinking
- Mathematical Deductions
- Spatial Reasoning Skills
These thinking skills are essential for excelling in scholarship tests and selective school exams, where abstract reasoning and logical pattern recognition are highly valued.
Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course Structure
- Course starts Year 5 Terms 2 and continues to Year 6, Term 1
- Weekly lessons for 10 weeks per term
- 1.5 hours, per week, per subject (English & Maths)
- English classes also include writing and thinking skills
- Maths classes also include Thinking Skills
- Opportunities to give your child an extra boost during the school holidays with our specialised holiday courses
- Mock Test Holiday Course – Build confidence and exam readiness through realistic test practice
- Intensive Writing Holiday Course – Strengthen writing skills across a variety of genres
- Thinking Skills Holiday Course – Develop advanced reasoning and problem-solving abilities
- Intensive Fast Track Holiday Course – Accelerate progress with focused, fast-paced learning
These courses are a great way to reinforce learning, close gaps, and ensure your child stays on track to achieve their goals.
What’s Included Each Term:
- Your child will receive a GEA text Book per subject per term
- The program includes 8 full-length mock exams similar in structure and difficulty to the actual test
- Each mock test comes with detailed, personalised feedback to track progress and guide improvement
Exam Techniques for Scholarship Success
Our program includes targeted support to help students master test-taking strategies and build confidence under exam conditions.
- 8 full-length mock tests with detailed, personalised feedback
- Time management techniques to optimise pacing under pressure
- Multiple-choice question (MCQ) strategies to improve accuracy
- Maximising marks by understanding marking criteria
- Focus on aligning written responses with test writing rubrics
Cognitive Load Techniques
We integrate Cognitive Load Theory into our teaching to help students stay focused, resilient, and independent.
- Stress management strategies for exam readiness
- Building self-esteem through achievement and positive reinforcement
- Fostering independence and mastery to reduce reliance on repetition or rote learning
Our Teachers Go Beyond Academic Excellence
At GEA, our teachers are experts in preparing students for entrance exams. We also focus on helping students develop skills that will serve them well beyond the exams and into their high school years.
In addition to academic excellence, our teachers aim to boost confidence and instil critical thinking skills, and a love of learning in their students. We believe that these skills are crucial for success not only in school but also in life.
We believe that every student has the potential to succeed. With the right support, guidance, and resources, students can achieve their academic and personal goals and become confident and independent lifelong learners.
Why Selective School?
There are two main reasons why selective schools are a good option for your child: academic and non-academic.
Academically, students in selective schools learn at a higher level. More importantly, their HSC results are usually scaled up for the ATAR score used to enter university.
Students who attend selective schools have the opportunity to learn alongside high-achieving students and are often exposed to a wider range of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Selective School Entrance Test
The Selective High School Placement Test is a computer-based test that has 4 sections.
- Reading: 16 multiple-choice questions (2 questions have multiple parts to answer), 40 minutes. The Reading Test questions assess various reading skills through a diverse range of texts such as non-fiction, fiction, poetry, magazine articles, and reports.
- Mathematical Reasoning: 35 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes. The Mathematical Reasoning Test assesses the student’s ability to use mathematical understanding and knowledge to solve problems from a range of math topics.
- Thinking Skills: 40 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes. The Mathematical Reasoning Test assesses the student’s ability to use mathematical understanding and knowledge to solve problems from a range of math topics.
- Writing: 1 open response question, 30 minutes. The Writing Test consists of a topic that the student must write about according to the instructions. This test assesses the creativity of the student’s ideas and their ability to write effectively for a purpose and audience. The test will also assess grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary.
Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course
In our course students learn not only Maths, English, Writing and Thinking Skills, but much more. They learn the foundations of problem solving and systematic thinking. They also learn critical thinking which includes inductive and deductive reasoning.
Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course teaches students how to think and how to apply their thinking skills under exam conditions.
At GEA, we understand that parents want the very best for their children. As such, many parents opt to enrol their children in selective schools in Australia, where entry is based on academic merit. However, preparing for the selective school’s entrance exams can be a daunting task, especially for students who have never sat for such an exam before. That’s where Global Education Academy comes in.
Our tutoring programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. Whether a student needs help with specific subjects, exam strategies, or study skills, our tutors provide personalised attention and guidance. Our goal is to help students achieve their full potential and reach their academic and personal goals.
We will also help parents with the Selective School application and the order of school preferences to maximise your child’s chance of getting an offer.
What is the Scholarship Test?
Private schools use scholarship tests to assess academic performance and offer full or partial scholarships based on results.
🔍 Test Types and What They Assess:
The ACER Test:
- Mathematics: Focus on reasoning over rote knowledge.
- Reading Comprehension: Includes various genres and question types.
- Critical Thinking: Tests inductive and deductive reasoning.
- Writing: Covers persuasive and creative/narrative writing.
The AAS Test:
- General Reasoning & Problem Solving
- Mathematics Achievement & Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
- Written Expression
The HAST Test (also by ACER):
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
- Abstract Reasoning
- Written Expression (Creative + Discussion)
Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course
In our course students learn not only Maths, English, Writing and Thinking Skills, but much more. They learn the foundations of problem solving and systematic thinking. They also learn critical thinking which includes inductive and deductive reasoning.
Our Selective & Scholarship Preparation Course teaches students how to think and how to apply their thinking skills under exam conditions.
At GEA, we understand that parents want the very best for their children. Our tutoring programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each student. Whether a student needs help with specific subjects, exam strategies, or study skills, our tutors provide personalised attention and guidance. Our goal is to help students achieve their full potential and reach their academic and personal goals.
Top Reasons to Choose GEA for Selective & Scholarship Preparation:
👩🏫 Highly Qualified Teachers: Experienced professionals.
📈 Immediate Teacher Feedback: Personalized reports and tracking.
📘 Students Actually Learn: Emphasis on understanding, not just worksheets.
🧍♀️ Individualised Support: Small class sizes (max 8 students).
🏠 Balanced Homework: Just enough to help, plus support sessions.
🚀 Unlocking Full Potential: Tailored roadmaps for student success.
