What are Victoria's selective entry high schools?
Victoria has four selective entry high schools offering places from Year 9: Melbourne High School, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. Students apply in Year 8 and sit an entrance exam run by ACER.
Key dates
For Year 9 entry in 2027:
- Applications: Monday 2 March to Friday 24 April 2026
- Exam: Saturday 20 June 2026
For 2028 entry, expect applications to open in Term 1 of 2027 and the exam around mid-year. Check the ACER Victorian Selective Entry site for confirmed dates. Late applications aren't accepted.
Exam format
The exam is paper-based, with about 2 hours and 35 minutes of testing:
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | 60 minutes |
| Reading and Verbal Reasoning | 55 minutes |
| Writing | 40 minutes |
Source: ACER, Victorian Selective Entry High Schools, exam day.
How to prepare
- 1Start in Year 7. Steady preparation across Years 7 and 8 builds real skills without burnout.
- 2Strengthen reasoning, not just content. Quantitative and verbal reasoning reward flexible thinking under time pressure.
- 3Read challenging texts. Quality fiction, feature articles and opinion pieces build the reading and vocabulary the exam tests.
- 4Write regularly by hand. The exam is on paper, so practise planning and writing within 40 minutes, by hand.
- 5Sit timed practice papers. Build up to full-length practice in the final months, in exam conditions.
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