Nossal High School: how does selective entry work?
Independent. Not affiliated with Nossal High School, the Victorian Department of Education, ACER or Edutest.
Nossal High School is a co-educational school in Berwick1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published that takes 2082Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published Year 9 students a year through Victoria's selective entry exam, sat in Year 8. Applications for Year 9 entry in 2028 open in March 20273Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
How does entry to Nossal work?
Entry depends on sitting and passing an entrance exam2Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published. Nossal is an academically selective, co-educational government high school4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published, and admission is only open to students who sat the relevant exam.
The Year 9 exam is run by ACER, for the Department1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. For later years, the school uses Edutest for Years 10 and 112Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Year 9: the main intake
2082Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published students a year, through the selective entry exam.
Years 10 and 11: vacancies only
Places are offered by the Principal, only when a vacancy arises4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Mid-year: no entry
Nossal has no mid-year entry4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Does living near Nossal help?
No. Nossal says it is zoned according to academic ability4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. Your address gives your child a place at your neighbourhood school, but entry to Nossal is set by the school's own enrolment conditions, not by address2Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published.
That cuts both ways. A family in Berwick has no head start, and a family across Melbourne can apply on equal terms. Families interstate or overseas have options to sit the exam remotely4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
When do we apply for Nossal?
In Year 8, not before. Applications are made online when your child is in Year 8, by sitting the entry exam4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published, so you can't put a name down in primary school.
Nossal says application and exam dates are announced at the end of February4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. Find your child's row:
| Your child's year now | What comes next |
|---|---|
| Year 6 | Applies in Year 8, in two years' time |
| Year 7 | Applies from March 20273Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published, for Year 9 entry in 2028 |
| Year 8 | The Year 9 round for entry in 2027 closed on 24 April 20265ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published; later entry depends on vacancies |
How are Year 9 places offered?
Offers come by email from ACER, from August4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. You list up to 36ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published schools, and your child is offered only the highest preference your child qualifies for6ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Most places, 85%1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, go on exam rank. Up to 10%1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published go under equity consideration and up to 5%1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published at the principal's discretion.
Nossal is co-educational, and the Department notes that a special measure may keep a gender balance at the co-educational schools1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Around 90%7ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published of places are filled in the first round.
What is exam day like, according to Nossal?
Hard, and that is by design. Nossal says it is common for students not to finish the whole exam4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The exam is held at several venues across Melbourne8ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published, and every child is given a venue.
Your child gets three practice examples before each multiple-choice test4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The working time is 2 hours and 35 minutes9ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Expect answers shaded in a supplied answer booklet9ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Nossal's advice to parents is not to put unnecessary pressure on your child, as it may create anxiety4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. ACER's own tips are similar: a good night's sleep, no unnecessary pressure, and staying relaxed yourself9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. However it goes, your child's worth isn't set by one exam.
Can my child join Nossal in Year 10 or 11?
Only if a place opens, and the process is different from Year 9. 1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Sit the school's entry exam
It is held at Nossal, in Term 2 or 3 of the year before4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Join the waiting list
Nossal keeps a waiting list only for Years 10 and 11 applicants4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published, after a successful exam.
Interview when a place opens
Next comes a waiting list, and an interview with the Principal if a vacancy arises4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
An offer from the Principal
Places are offered by the Principal, only when a vacancy arises4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Where is Nossal, and how do students get there?
Nossal is at 40 Sir Gustav Nossal Boulevard, Berwick VIC 38062Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published. The school is close to Berwick train station, with a bus that stops outside the front gate of Federation University4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
School runs 8.48 am to 3.20 pm, except Wednesdays, when students finish at 1.20 pm4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. Plan your commute opens the address in your own map app, so you can test the trip at school times.
What is learning at Nossal like?
Nossal describes its ethos as an adult learning environment10Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. Its students have more rights and fewer rules than they're used to10Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The trade is more responsibility, as with any adult at work10Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. Some children love that freedom straight away; others need time to grow into it.
Is Nossal a good fit for your child?
Tick what's true; nothing is saved or sent.
The trip to Berwick works, both ways, at school times.
Your child likes a co-educational school. Nossal is a co-educational school in Berwick1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Your child is ready to manage time with fewer rules. 10Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published
The early Wednesday finish suits your family. 4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published
You've booked a tour. Tours are led by the Principal and Assistant Principal, and bookings are essential4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Does Nossal charge fees?
Nossal is a government school. Parent payment contributions are set each year by the School Council4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. The exam application fee for entry in 2027 was A$1756ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published; it is free with a health care or pensioner card, and for First Nations families1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Is there a cut-off score for Nossal?
No cut-off is published, by the school or by us. Families have no access to the tests or individual scores7ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the report isn't comparable with NAPLAN.
The result needed changes each year with who sits the exam and how they rank. We don't rank schools, and VCE results describe past students, not how places are offered.
When are the next dates?
Exact dates for Year 9 entry in 2028 are not published yet. 5ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published Here is the expected order.
at the end of February4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published
Dates announced
March 20273Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Applications open
For a child in Year 7 in 2026.
June 2027 Expected1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected
The selective entry exam, expected
by email from ACER, from August4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published
Offers arrive
The calendar feed adds each published date, with reminders. See all the exam dates.
How can my child prepare?
ACER says there is no need to practise or revise9ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published, and publishes free sample questions, not necessarily as hard as the exam9ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published. Knowing the answer booklet matters as much as knowing the questions.
What's in the Victorian exam explains each part.
Which other schools could your child list?
Your child can list any of the four selective entry high schools that fit. John Monash Science School runs its own Year 10 entry.
| School | What it is | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Suzanne Cory High School | a co-educational school in Werribee1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | 225 Hoppers Lane, Werribee VIC 303011Suzanne Cory · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Melbourne High School | a boys' school in South Yarra1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Forrest Hill, South Yarra VIC 31413Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Mac.Rob | the girls' school among the four12Mac.Rob · 12 October 2026 · Published | 350–370 Kings Way, Melbourne VIC 300412Mac.Rob · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| John Monash Science School | Years 10 to 12, its own tests, unique to JMSS and changed each year13JMSS · 12 October 2026 · Published | 39 Innovation Walk, Monash University, Clayton VIC 380014JMSS · 12 October 2026 · Published |
Questions parents ask about Nossal
Is Nossal a private school?
No. Nossal is an academically selective, co-educational government high school4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Does Nossal take Year 7 students?
No. Enrolment is open to Years 9 to 12 only4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Who runs Nossal's school tours?
Tours are led by the Principal and Assistant Principal, and bookings are essential4Nossal HS · 13 October 2026 · Published. Book through the school's enrolment pages.