Master the Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) with realistic online mock tests, free HAST past papers, sample questions and ACER-style practice for Primary, Year 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11 entry.
HAST stands for Higher Ability Selection Test. It is an ability test used by secondary schools across Australia to identify academically talented students for selective entry, accelerated learning and gifted & talented programs. The HAST exam draws on ACER's extensive experience in high-stakes selection programs, such as the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, the Ignite program in South Australia and Queensland's Academies Student Entrance pathways.
Rather than testing memorised curriculum content, the HAST test measures higher-order, cross-curricular reasoning — the kind of thinking that is characteristic of gifted students. Depending on the school and entry level, students may sit the Primary HAST (HAST-P) or higher-level HAST papers for Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 entry.
A HAST practice test helps your child prepare the right way before the real exam. It builds familiarity with the question style, sharpens time management, reduces exam stress and pinpoints weaker sections that need more work. Many capable students know the concepts but struggle under pressure — regular timed online HAST practice builds both confidence and accuracy.
If you are searching for HAST past papers, HAST test past papers free PDF, HAST sample questions or online HAST preparation, this page brings together practical guidance, downloadable sample papers and full ACER-format practice courses.
The HAST program brings rigorous testing in reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, abstract reasoning and written expression at every secondary level. All Selectivetrial questions follow the same ACER format.
Assesses the ability to understand and interpret a range of texts — fiction, poetry, drama and non-fiction — alongside diagrams, tables and charts. Candidates relate main ideas, draw subtle inferences and weigh competing interpretations.
Measures the ability to comprehend, interpret and analyse mathematical (and, at higher levels, science) information. Skills include data interpretation, inference, prediction, reasoning and strategic problem-solving across number, space, time and logic.
Tests pattern recognition and the ability to perceive relationships at an abstract level. Candidates identify, continue, complete or re-order sequences of diagrams using size, shape, shading and orientation — skills closely linked to academic success.
Assesses the ability to express thoughts in written English across two tasks — a discursive piece (verbal stimulus) and a creative piece (visual stimulus) — judged on content, structure, expression, style and mechanics.
The test level is determined by the candidate's current year level — not their age. HAST is offered across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA at Junior, Middle and Senior Secondary levels.
Year 4 & 5 students preparing for selective Year 7 entry.
Year 6 students sitting for Year 7 selective placement.
Junior Secondary — Year 7 students testing for Year 8.
Middle Secondary — Year 8 & 9 students for Year 9/10.
Senior Secondary — Year 10 students for Year 11/12.
Realistic, structured, ACER-format practice — not random worksheets. Everything your child needs to walk into the HAST exam with confidence.
21 full-set, time-bound papers written by qualified teachers experienced in selecting and teaching HAST students.
Each test mirrors the real Australian exam, so students build pacing and exam stamina before test day.
Thoroughly worked answers and explanations let students identify mistakes and practise the same patterns again.
Monitor your child's progress with performance reports and graphs across every question type and topic.
Entirely online with instant access to the practice portal — practise from home, any time, unlimited attempts.
Optional one-to-one online tutoring with an advanced whiteboard, audio-video and screen sharing to target weak topics.
We've built a high-quality question bank for the Higher Ability Selection Test using the curriculum and ACER-format sample papers. Practising on our platform gives students confidence about the question pattern, the standard of the questions and exactly how much time each section takes.
Our subject-matter experts and qualified teachers research every question pattern and difficulty level, so students can explore their performance in each practice exam and make the changes needed to avoid the same errors in the real test. Without taking a practice test, students never truly know how strong their preparation is — once they do, they can plan and strategise to win a place at their dream school.
Writing will be assessed as per the below points:
Students who do not address the above points in their writing will receive low marks.
*Writing Review is applicable only with Last Minute Selective Practice Tests, Plus, Pro & Premium package.
21 full-set exam-style tests across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Writing — valid for 180 days. All questions follow the ACER format.
Different schools use different test styles. Our combo packs pair ACER-style HAST preparation with EduTest-style reasoning practice in one streamlined plan for Year 8, 9 & 10 entry — each available with or without writing review.
Download free HAST sample questions and past-paper style booklets across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning — for Primary through Year 11 entry.
HAST reading comprehension sample tests & past papers (free PDF)
HAST mathematics & science reasoning sample questions (free PDF)
HAST abstract reasoning sample questions (free PDF)
A snapshot of the HAST exam sections, durations and question types — mirrored exactly in our online practice tests.
| Test Subject | Duration | Question Type |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 30–45 min | Multiple Choice |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 30–40 min | Multiple Choice |
| Abstract Reasoning | 30 min | Multiple Choice |
| Written Expression | 25–30 min | Writing Topic (Discursive or Creative) |
HAST is used by selective and high-performing schools across NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and WA. Browse participating schools by state below — always confirm current requirements on the school's official website.
| School | HAST levels |
|---|---|
| Beverly Hills Girls High School | Junior secondary |
| Blacktown Girls High School | Junior & middle secondary |
| Canterbury Boys' High School | Junior and middle secondary |
| Caringbah High School | Junior secondary |
| Castle Hill High School | Junior secondary |
| Chatswood High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Cheltenham Girls' High School | Junior secondary |
| Cronulla High School | Junior secondary |
| Epping Boys High School | Junior secondary |
| Fort Street High School | Senior secondary |
| Girraween High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Gorokan High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Gosford High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Granville Boys High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Homebush Boys High School | Junior secondary |
| Hornsby Girls' High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Hurlstone Agricultural High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Macquarie Fields High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Narara Valley High School | Junior secondary |
| Northern Beaches Secondary College | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Northmead High School | Junior secondary |
| Pennant Hills High School | Junior secondary |
| Penrith Selective High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Ryde Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| St George Girls High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Sefton High School | Junior secondary |
| Sydney Catholic Schools – Newman Selective Gifted Education Program | Junior secondary |
| Sydney Grammar School, Edgecliff Preparatory | Primary |
| Sydney Technical High School | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Toronto High School | Junior secondary |
| Willoughby Girls High School | Junior secondary |
| Woolooware High School | Junior secondary |
| School | HAST levels |
|---|---|
| Carey Baptist College | Junior secondary |
| Churchlands Senior High School | Junior secondary |
| Harrisdale Senior High School | Junior secondary |
| Mandurah Baptist College | Middle secondary |
| Mount Lawley Senior High School | Junior secondary |
| Ocean Reef Senior High School | Junior secondary |
| Piara Waters Senior High School | Junior secondary |
| South Coast Baptist College | Junior & middle secondary |
| School | HAST levels |
|---|---|
| Benowa State High School | Primary & junior secondary |
| Brisbane South State Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Brisbane State High School | Primary & junior secondary |
| Indooroopilly State High School | Junior secondary |
| Murrumba State Secondary College | Junior & middle secondary |
| Narangba Valley State High School | Primary, junior & middle secondary |
| Palm Beach Currumbin State High School | Junior secondary |
| Robina State High School | Junior secondary |
| The Southport School | Junior secondary |
| School | HAST Levels |
|---|---|
| Aberfoyle Park High School | Ignite Program |
| Adelaide Botanic High School | Junior secondary |
| Glenunga International High School | Ignite Program |
| Norwood International High School | Junior secondary |
| The Heights School | Ignite Program |
| Unley High School | Junior secondary |
| Woodville High School | Junior & middle secondary |
| School | HAST Levels |
|---|---|
| Alkira Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Al Siraat College | Junior & middle secondary |
| Aquinas College | Junior & middle secondary |
| Balwyn High School | Junior secondary |
| Berwick Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Box Hill High School | Junior secondary |
| Braybrook College | Junior, middle & senior secondary |
| Brentwood Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Dandenong High School | Junior secondary |
| Emerald Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Hoppers Crossing Secondary College | Junior & middle secondary |
| Keilor Downs College | Junior & middle secondary |
| Lara Secondary College | Junior & middle secondary |
| Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Mill Park Secondary School | Junior secondary |
| Parade College | Primary, junior & middle secondary |
| Point Cook Senior Secondary College | Senior secondary |
| Reservoir High School | Junior secondary |
| St Finbar's Primary School | Primary |
| St Helena Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Taylors Lakes Secondary College | Junior secondary |
| Trafalgar High School | Junior secondary |
| Warragul Regional College | Junior secondary |
| Wheelers Hill Secondary College | Junior secondary |
Looking for HAST past papers or HAST test past papers free PDF? Selectivetrial brings together free HAST sample questions, downloadable HAST practice papers and full ACER-format HAST practice tests for Primary, Year 7, Year 8 and beyond. Whether you are searching for HAST test year 7, HAST test year 8 or HAST year 9 past papers, our packages cover every entry level.
Parents often ask what is HAST, what is HAST test or what is HAST exam. The Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) — sometimes written as acer HAST or simply the HAST — is an ability test that identifies high-performing students for selective entry, accelerated and gifted programs. Our HAST practice tests free trial lets your child experience the real exam before exam day.
Our online HAST testing covers all four areas: Reading, HAST abstract reasoning, mathematical reasoning and written expression. Download our HAST sample question booklet for each section, then move on to full HAST test papers and timed HAST test practice. Resources include HAST test past papers free PDF Year 7 and HAST test past papers free PDF Year 9 style sample questions for genuine HAST exam preparation.
From HAST readiness and HAST exam practice to HAST tutoring on request, the HAST program at Selectivetrial is designed by qualified teachers and selective-passed tutors. Explore acer HAST practice tests, HAST practice test sets and HAST exam past papers style material — everything families need for confident, structured HAST preparation.
Build confidence with structured, ACER-format online practice and grab hold of your dream school.
