What subjects are on the selective entry exam?

The ACER exam covers Reading & Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning, and Writing (typically one creative and one analytical/persuasive piece). The current format pairs knowledge areas with reasoning skills, so speed and integrated problem-solving matter as much as content knowledge.

How many students sit the selective entry exam in Victoria?

Roughly 4,000–5,000 students apply each year, competing for around 1,000 Year 9 places across the four schools: Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson Girls', Nossal and Suzanne Cory. That makes it one of the most competitive school entry processes in Australia.

Can you use a calculator in the selective entry exam?

No. The mathematics and quantitative reasoning questions are designed to be solved without a calculator, which is why mental-arithmetic speed and shortcut techniques are a core part of good preparation.

How are selective school offers decided?

Offers are based on exam performance together with the school preferences families list at application. Sitting one exam covers all four schools. Some equity and principal-discretion categories also exist within each school's intake.

How long should you prepare for the selective entry exam?

Most successful students prepare for 6–18 months. Starting in Year 7 allows time to build fundamentals before exam-specific training in Year 8. Starting later is workable with an intensive, targeted program - the key is practising on format-accurate questions under real time pressure.

The Complete Guide

The Victorian Selective Entry Exam, Explained

The short version: the Selective Entry High School (SEHS) exam is a single ACER-administered test that decides Year 9 entry into Victoria's four selective schools - Melbourne High School, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. Students sit it in Year 8, usually around June. It tests Reading & Verbal Reasoning, Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning, and Writing. Roughly 4,000–5,000 applicants compete for about 1,000 places each year. This guide is written by Impulse Education - Melbourne High alumni who sat and topped this exam.

What the Exam Tests

The current ACER format deliberately pairs content knowledge with reasoning: Mathematics is grouped with Quantitative Reasoning, Reading with Verbal Reasoning. This was a structural change aimed at rewarding integrated, rapid problem-solving over rote memorisation.

Component	What it tests	What good preparation looks like
Reading & Verbal Reasoning	Comprehension of fiction and non-fiction texts, vocabulary, inference, and logical reasoning with words	Skim-first techniques, eliminating trap answers, time-boxing each passage
Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning	Curriculum mathematics plus multi-step numerical problem-solving, patterns and logic - no calculator	Mental-arithmetic speed, recognising question archetypes, knowing when to skip
Writing (2 tasks)	Typically one creative piece and one analytical/persuasive piece, written under tight time limits	Pre-built structural frameworks, planning in the first 3 minutes, high-impact vocabulary

How Applications and Offers Work

1
Apply in Year 8
Families apply through the Victorian Department of Education early in the year, ranking the four selective schools in order of preference. One application and one exam covers all four schools.
2
Sit the ACER exam (usually ~June)
All applicants sit the same exam on the same day. There is no interview for standard entry - the exam result is the decisive factor.
3
Receive offers (usually a few months later)
Offers are made based on exam performance and the preferences you listed. Strong performers may receive an offer from their first-preference school; others may be offered a lower preference or a waitlist place.
4
Year 10 entry as a second chance
Each school also runs a smaller Year 10 intake, so students who miss out at Year 9 can prepare again and reapply the following year.

Dates and process details are set by the Victorian Department of Education and can change between cycles - always confirm the current year's timeline on the official website.

The Four Selective Schools

Melbourne High School

Boys · South Yarra · Years 9–12

Mac.Robertson Girls' High School

Girls · Melbourne (Kings Way) · Years 9–12

Nossal High School

Co-educational · Berwick · Years 9–12

Suzanne Cory High School

Co-educational · Werribee · Years 9–12

Not sure which school suits your child? Compare all four selective schools →

How to Prepare (From People Who Topped It)

Start with a diagnostic, not a textbook. Until you know exactly which components and question types your child loses marks on, extra practice just reinforces existing habits. Every Impulse Education student starts with a free diagnostic that maps strengths and gaps.

Train pacing as its own skill. Most capable students fail on time, not difficulty. Learning to triage questions - solve, skip, or flag in seconds - routinely recovers more marks than learning new content.

Practise on format-accurate material. Generic worksheets don't replicate ACER's integrated reasoning style. Mock exams should mirror the real structure, timing and difficulty so nothing on exam day feels unfamiliar.

Get individual feedback weekly. Writing in particular cannot improve without a human marking loop. Our students get their error logs and writing reviewed every week by the founders.

Selective Entry Exam FAQs

The Selective Entry High School exam is typically held around the middle of the year (recent sittings have been in June), with applications opening earlier in the year. Students sit it in Year 8 for Year 9 entry the following year. Always confirm current dates on the Victorian Department of Education's selective entry page, as they change each cycle.

Preparing for the Next Exam Cycle?

Book a free diagnostic trial and get a personalised preparation roadmap from Melbourne High alumni who topped this exam.

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