If you are planning to get admission to a selective high school for Years 8 to 11 for your child, it is necessary to ensure they’ve cleared the HAST test. The test requires dedicated and proper preparation to pass. HAST is an ability test that ACER develops to evaluate student performance and innate abilities. It’s a different test from curriculum-based ones, making it essential for students to prepare for the test adequately. Keep reading for insight into HAST tests and ways to ensure you help your child to be ready.
HAST Test Overview
HAST is an ability test used by selective high schools to identify academically gifted students for participation in accelerated learning and enhancement programs. It draws upon ACERs vast experience in high-stakes testing programs for schools, such as the Selective High School Placement Test.
HAST delivers rigorous tests in mathematical reasoning, reading comprehension, abstract reasoning, and written expression at all levels of secondary school, which also include;
- First-level entry/ junior secondary (Year 7 students who want to get admission in Year 8),
- Middle secondary ( Year 8 and 9 students who are looking for admission in Years 9 and 10), and
- Senior secondary ( Year 10 and 11 students who want to gain entry in Years 11 and 12)
Remember, the choice of test level is determined based on the student’s current year and the time of the exam rather than their age. The test is crafted by ACER test developers and is constantly revised to ensure the final test results are reliable and it’s easy to differentiate stronger from weaker students.
HAST Exam Format And Preparation
The HAST test consists of four main papers. . Therefore getting access to the HAST Practice Test QLD not only boosts your child’s confidence for the actual HAST but also helps them get familiar with the test. Having your child practice these tests allows them to cover all the essential parts of the actual test, which include;
Mathematical Reasoning
The mathematical section contains MCQs which are to be completed in 40 mins. It assesses students’ mathematical reasoning abilities. Subjects tested include measurement, time, space, logical relation as well as areas on geography, geology, physics, astronomy, etc. For adequate preparation, ensure they;
- Frequently try out practice tests Try drawing diagrams while labeling parts to avoid silly mistakes
Reading Comprehension
It’s a section that evaluates students’ abilities to interpret different types of tests such as drama, poetry, extracts, articles, fiction, etc. For most students, reading tends to be the most challenging section of the test. This section takes about 45 minutes, so you must ensure they have solid preparation. Here are some tips to get them ready –
- Reading books, poems, and articles
- Increasing their vocabulary to help them comprehend complex texts ( make use of the dictionary) but try to guess the meaning from the context.
Abstract Reasoning
In this section, students need to complete all MCQs in 30 minutes. The questions are mainly based on non-verbal reasoning. It could be tricky to prepare for this test since this is not part of the school curriculum. It requires your child to perceive ideas and recognize relationships at abstract levels. Your child needs excellent pattern recognition, hypothesis, and evidence evaluation capabilities for this test. For effective preparation;
- Try rotating your practice test papers while working out on patterns
- Some questions might have a set of facts on which you need to make an inference, extensively working out on practice test papers gives your child a deep insight into the type of questions that are asked
Written Expression
The writing expression section has two subcategories; creative and discursive tasks. Students will have 25 mins to complete this section. Questions in this section are tweaked each year, so students might be asked to write one or both creative and discursive tasks. Testing bodies will evaluate students’ responses based on organization, expression, style, content, and structure. Here are some expert practice tips that will save your child from being challenged due to time constraints;
- Since there are only 25 minutes to complete this section, encourage them to take 5 minutes to plan their response.
- Ensure their response is creative
- Let them read more storybooks for a better understanding of how authors incorporate metaphors, images, and similes in their writings
- Writing should be coherent and creative
Prepare Well Ahead Of The HAST Test
So, there you go, this is the HAST test in a nutshell. . It’s time to put effort into preparing your child to ace their HAST test and get into the school of their choice.
Conclusion
While the main aim is to ace the actual HAST test, spending more time on trial tests—the HAST Practice Test QLD helps build your child’s stamina, confidence, and proper time management. The immediate online access-providing approach gives your child an insight into the preparation after purchasing the tailor-made modules.
