Selective school tests by state: which test, in which year?
Independent. Not affiliated with any state or territory education department, ACER, Edutest or any school named.
Each state sets its own selective test and age. For entry in 2028, SA's IGNITE is on 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published, WA's ASET on 6 March 20272WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the NSW Selective test is in early May 2027 Expected3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
Which selective test does each state use?
Every state and territory chooses students in its own way, at its own age. Five states run selective entry tests, Darwin High School runs its own tests in the Northern Territory, and the ACT and Tasmania have no selective entry test.
Find your state below. Each state name opens its own guide, and each test opens the full explanation.
| State | Test | Run by | Year sat | Next date for entry in 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Selective High School Placement Test | NSW Department of Education 4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 6 5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | early May 2027 Expected3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected |
| New South Wales | Opportunity Class Placement Test | NSW Department of Education 4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 4 6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | early May 2027 Expected3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected, for Year 5 entry in 2028 |
| Victoria | Selective Entry High Schools exam | ACER, for the Department 7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 8 7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Applications open March 20278Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published; exam June 2027 Expected7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected |
| Victoria | SEAL and acceleration programs | Each school; University High uses Edutest 9University High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 6, after a Year 7 place 10Box Hill High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Set by each school; University High's last test was 12 September 20269University High · 14 October 2026 · Published |
| Queensland | Queensland Academies Entrance Test | Edutest11Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 5 for Year 7 11Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published; Year 9 for Year 10 | QAHS test 13 March 202712Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published, for Year 10 entry in 2028 |
| Queensland | HAST at some state high schools | Each school, using ACER's HAST 13PBC SHS · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 5 or Year 6 14Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Brisbane State High's Year 6 test: Not published14Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Not published |
| South Australia | IGNITE assessment | Marked by ACER 1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 6 1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published | Registrations open 2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published; test 20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Western Australia | ASET | WA Department of Education 2WA Education · 13 October 2026 · Published | Year 6 15WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Applications close 5 February 20272WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published; test 6 March 20272WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Western Australia | PEAC test | Your child's public school 16WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 4 16WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Set by each school 16WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Northern Territory | Darwin High School select entry tests | The school 17Darwin High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 6 for Year 7 18Darwin High · 12 October 2026 · Published; Year 9 for Year 10 | Not published17Darwin High · 12 October 2026 · Not published |
| ACT | No selective entry test 19ACT Government · 12 October 2026 · Published | — | — | — |
| Tasmania | No selective entry test 20Tas Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published | — | — | — |
"Expected" is the body's own timing, not a fixed date. "Not published" means the body hadn't set the date when we last checked.
What test comes in which school year?
It depends on your child's school year and your state. The earliest tests come in Year 4, and Victoria's come latest, in Year 8.
| Your child's year | Tests in that year |
|---|---|
| Year 4 | NSW OC test 6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published; WA PEAC test, at public schools 16WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 5 | Queensland Academies, for Year 7 at QASMT 11Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published; Brisbane State High's Year 5 test 21Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 6 | NSW Selective 5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published; WA ASET 15WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published; SA IGNITE 1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published; Darwin High SOHP 18Darwin High · 12 October 2026 · Published; testing at some ACT high schools 22Alfred Deakin High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 8 | Victoria's Selective Entry High Schools exam 7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published; Queensland Academies Year 10 applications open 12Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Year 9 | Queensland Academies Year 10 test 12Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published; Darwin High's Centre for Excellence 23Darwin High · 12 October 2026 · Published; John Monash Science School's Year 10 test 24JMSS · 12 October 2026 · Published |
Victoria tests later because its 47Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published selective entry high schools teach Years 9 to 12.
When are the next selective test dates?
WA's ASET applications for entry in 2028 opened on 13 October 20262WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published and close on 5 February 20272WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. These are the key dates for entry in 2028, in date order across the states, with most tests sat in 2027.
13 October 20262WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
WA ASET applications open
Online only, for Year 7 entry in 2028.
2 November 20261Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published
SA IGNITE registrations open
On the ACER portal. The closing date is not published1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Not published.
November 2026–February 2027 Expected3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected
NSW Selective and OC applications, expected
The Department hasn't set the exact days yet.
5 February 20272WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
WA ASET applications close
At 6 pm Perth time2WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
20 February 20271Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published
SA IGNITE assessment
For Year 6 children.
26 February 202712Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
Queensland Academies (QAHS) Year 10 applications close
For Year 10 entry in 2028.
6 March 20272WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
WA ASET for Year 6
Perth metro, Bunbury and Albany.
March 20278Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Victoria's selective entry applications open
For Year 9 entry in 2028.
13 March 202712Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
QAHS Year 10 Entrance Test
Run by Edutest.
early May 2027 Expected3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected
NSW Selective test, expected
The OC test is also in early May 2027 Expected3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
June 2027 Expected7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected
Victoria's selective entry exam, expected
Sat in Year 8.
19 June 202712Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published
QACI Year 10 Entrance Test
For Year 10 entry in 2028.
Who runs each selective test?
Two outside bodies run most interstate tests: ACER and Edutest. NSW and WA run their own through their education departments, and some schools test their own students.
ACER
Edutest
State departments
Is each test on paper or on a computer?
It varies. NSW tests on Department computers, and the ACT's Lyneham High uses Chromebooks, while Victoria, WA and SA test on paper.
| Test | How it's sat | What's in it |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Selective | On computers provided by the Department4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | 427NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published sections, including writing |
| NSW OC | On computers 4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | 328NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published sections, no writing |
| Victoria's Selective Entry exam | On paper: answers shaded in a supplied answer booklet29ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published | 2 hours and 35 minutes29ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published of working time |
| WA ASET | on paper, in pencil30WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | 430WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published tests, including writing |
| SA IGNITE | written tests; laptops not required31The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published | Reading Comprehension, Mathematical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning and Written Expression1Glenunga · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Queensland Academies | Edutest reasoning, reading and maths are multiple choice32Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published | About 311Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published hours of tests |
| WA PEAC | 5016WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published multiple-choice questions | verbal reasoning and mathematical reasoning16WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| ACT, Lyneham LEAP | on Chromebooks using the ACER platform33Lyneham High · 12 October 2026 · Published | about 2–3 hours: maths, writing, general and spatial reasoning, reading33Lyneham High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
What does each selective test cost?
NSW charges nothing to apply or sit. Most other tests have a fee, and the amounts below are each body's latest published figures.
| Test | Cost to apply or sit |
|---|---|
| NSW Selective and OC | free34NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Victoria's Selective Entry exam | free with a health care or pensioner card, and for First Nations families7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published; others can ask for a hardship reduction |
| WA ASET | Sitting interstate costs A$25025WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, paid to ACER. The programs are fully Government funded25WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| SA IGNITE | A$15031The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published last round |
| Queensland Academies, Year 7 at QASMT | A$27011Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Brisbane State High | A$42014Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| University High, Victoria | A$999University High · 12 October 2026 · Published last round |
| Darwin High | A$1018Darwin High · 12 October 2026 · Published to sit the SOHP test |
| ACT, Lyneham LEAP | no separate test, application or fee33Lyneham High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
Can my child sit another state's test from where we live?
Sometimes. WA and Victoria accept applicants living interstate, but NSW holds its tests only in NSW.
New South Wales
Western Australia
Victoria
The same rules apply to children living in Victoria, interstate or overseas7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Each test feeds its own state's schools. A family moving states applies again in the new state, at that state's age.
Are there official practice tests?
Mostly samples, not past papers. Here is what each body offers.
| Test | What the body offers |
|---|---|
| NSW Selective and OC | free resources in the Student Resource Hub27NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Victoria's Selective Entry exam | ACER's free sample questions, not necessarily as hard as the exam29ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| WA ASET | A free practice ASET in 435WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published parts |
| SA IGNITE | sample questions come with the registration letter36The Heights · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Queensland Academies | Edutest's practice tests: fewer questions, untimed, not necessarily as hard37Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Brisbane State High | None: past test papers are not available14Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| ACT, Lyneham LEAP | None: no past papers, no practice paper, no individual results33Lyneham High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Darwin High | Practice papers: Not published17Darwin High · 13 October 2026 · Not published |
Practice shows the format, not a likely result. WA's practice results do not show how a child will score35WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Do the states say coaching is needed?
No. Where the bodies say anything, they say coaching isn't needed.
NSW Department: Coaching is not necessary27NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
WA Department: it does not endorse coaching or tutoring35WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
ACER, for Victoria: there is no need to practise or revise29ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published, though samples help with the format.
Brisbane State High: past test papers are not available14Brisbane State High · 12 October 2026 · Published; the school points to current classroom learning.
Whatever your state, keep the weeks before a test calm and ordinary. Your child is more than one test.
Which states have no selective schools?
The ACT and Tasmania have no selective entry test. The ACT has no select entry schools19ACT Government · 12 October 2026 · Published, and some high schools test their own students for gifted classes.
Tasmania's Department publishes no selective entry test. 20Tas Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published It runs free online courses for gifted students, Prep to Year 1020Tas Education · 12 October 2026 · Published instead.
In the Northern Territory, Darwin High School runs select entry programs. Read about the ACT, Tasmania and Darwin High School.
How are places decided in each state?
Each state ranks children differently, and no state publishes a pass mark for its test. Some states set a minimum; NSW doesn't.
| State | How places are offered |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | On test performance and the order of your school choices38NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. No set minimum entry score39NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Victoria | 85%7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published on exam rank, up to 10%7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published for equity and up to 5%7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published at the principal's discretion |
| Western Australia | On the Total Standard Score only40WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, with at least 209.540WA Education · 12 October 2026 · Published needed to be considered |
| Queensland Academies | Test results read alongside the rest of the application11Qld Academies · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Darwin High | The entrance test, plus the Semester 1 report and Year 5 NAPLAN report18Darwin High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
None of these figures predicts a child's result, and this page makes no prediction.
Questions parents ask about selective tests in other states
Which state's selective test is the hardest?
No body publishes a comparison, and the tests differ in age, parts and format. So no one can fairly say one is harder.
Does a NSW Selective result count in another state?
No. Each test feeds its own state's schools. A child moving to Victoria, for example, sits Victoria's exam, which is taken in Year 8 and only once. 7Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Can my child sit the NSW test from interstate?
No. The NSW tests are held only in NSW4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, so your child must travel to NSW to sit. Read about the NSW Selective test.
Is the NSW OC test the same as the Selective test?
No. The OC test is sat in Year 46NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published for Year 5 places, and has no writing section. Read about OC.
Why does Victoria test so late?
Victoria's selective entry high schools take students from Year 9, so children sit the exam in Year 8. There are about 1,0007Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published Year 9 places each year.