SEAL program in Victoria: how does entry work?
Independent. Not affiliated with the Victorian Department of Education, ACER, Edutest or any school named here.
SEAL (Select Entry Accelerated Learning) programs are accelerated classes run by individual Victorian government schools, each with its own test. There is no statewide exam, and most schools checked want a Year 7 place there first.
What is a SEAL program?
A SEAL program is an accelerated class inside an ordinary government secondary school. Children in it work faster and deeper than the usual year level, from Year 7. Victorian government schools have run programs for gifted students at authorised schools since 19801Horsham College · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The Department describes within-school programs for high-ability students enrolled at the school2Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. SEAL is run by each school in this way, not through one statewide test. A current Department list of SEAL schools is not published2Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Not published.
Faster pace
Box Hill High School's program packs four years of learning in three3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Each school sets its own test
Each school chooses its own test, fee and dates. Tests on this page come from ACER, Edutest or the school itself.
A place at the school first
Staying in
Box Hill asks for continued high academic performance3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published to stay in its program.
How does SEAL entry work?
Your child enrols for Year 7 at the school in the usual way, then sits that school's SEAL test. Keilor Downs College says this follows Department changes to how schools can test for programs like SEAL4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Year 6: apply for a Year 7 place
Use the normal Year 7 process. At Keilor Downs, SEAL applications open only after a mainstream place at the college is offered4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Register for the school's test
Each school sends its own link or form once your child has a Year 7 place there. 5University High · 12 October 2026 · Published
Sit the test
The Year 7 tests on this page are sat in Year 6, at the school. 3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published
Interview, at some schools
Box Hill holds an interview, with a parent, for shortlisted children3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
The outcome
University High tells families later in Term 45University High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Which schools run SEAL, and how do they choose?
These are schools whose own pages we checked. They are examples, not a full list, and each one sets its rules.
| School and program | Who can apply | How children are chosen | Fee, 2027 entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box Hill High School, GAPP 3Box Hill High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Children offered a Year 7 place at the school 3Box Hill High · 12 October 2026 · Published | A test of Mathematical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Abstract Reading and Written Expression3Box Hill High · 12 October 2026 · Published, then an interview | Not stated |
| Keilor Downs College, SEAL | Year 7 applicants, only after a mainstream place at the college is offered4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published | ACER HAST Test 4 (Junior Secondary)4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published | A$1104Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| University High School, Acceleration Program | Children with a confirmed Year 7 place 5University High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 7 only, chosen by Edutest aptitude tests, an expression of interest and interviews5University High · 13 October 2026 · Published | A$995University High · 12 October 2026 · Published, paid to Edutest |
| Horsham College, SEAL | Year 7 applicants who fill in its expression of interest 1Horsham College · 13 October 2026 · Published | A test of Mathematics, Writing, Reading and Language1Horsham College · 13 October 2026 · Published | Not stated |
| Mill Park Secondary College | Ask the school | It runs a SEAL program among its options6Mill Park SC · 12 October 2026 · Published | Not stated |
University High calls its class an Acceleration Program, and Box Hill calls its class GAPP. Box Hill says its program follows the SEAL guidelines3Box Hill High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Does our address matter?
It can. Box Hill offers places only to children who meet the school's zone enrolment rules3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published. Check each school's enrolment rules before you plan around its SEAL class.
When are SEAL tests held?
Each school sets its own date. The Year 7 tests below fell in August and September of Year 6. Dates for Year 7 entry in 2028 are not published5University High · 13 October 2026 · Not published.
10 August 20264Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published
Keilor Downs College, Year 7 SEAL test
For Year 7 in 2027. 4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published
7 September 20265University High · 12 October 2026 · Published
University High, Edutest registration closes
The window is short. 5University High · 12 October 2026 · Published
12 September 20265University High · 14 October 2026 · Published
University High, Edutest aptitude tests
In person at the school. Interviews come at the start of Term 45University High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
4 November 20264Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published
Keilor Downs College, Year 9 test applications close
Register and pay at the college office. 4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published
11 November 20264Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published
Keilor Downs College, Year 9 SEAL test
For Year 8 students entering Year 9 in 2027. 4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published
Box Hill's test is on a Saturday morning in August at the school, with bookings from July3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published. The calendar feed holds the published dates above, with reminders a week and a day before. Our practice is for the NSW Selective test, not SEAL tests, so this page offers dates only.
What is in a SEAL test?
It depends on the school. The tests named by schools fall into three kinds.
| Test | Used by | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ACER HAST Test 4 (Junior Secondary)4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published | Keilor Downs College, Year 7 | An ACER test; the school names it, not its parts |
| Edutest aptitude tests | University High 5University High · 13 October 2026 · Published | Edutest's tests are multiple choice7Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published; written expression can be creative, descriptive, narrative, persuasive, expository or informative7Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| The school's own test | Box Hill; Horsham | Box Hill: Mathematical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Abstract Reading and Written Expression3Box Hill High · 12 October 2026 · Published. Horsham: Mathematics, Writing, Reading and Language1Horsham College · 13 October 2026 · Published |
At Horsham, applicants also choose a General stream or a Creative and Performing Arts stream1Horsham College · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Are there SEAL past papers or practice tests?
Past SEAL papers are not published5University High · 13 October 2026 · Not published by the schools or Edutest. Edutest sells practice sets for its tests.
Edutest's practice sets cover verbal, numerical, reading and maths; no writing8Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Each set has 20 items per test, valid for 90 days9Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published.
They are untimed, shorter than the real tests, and not necessarily as hard8Edutest · 13 October 2026 · Published.
After an Edutest test, there is no access to raw scores, answer sheets or written responses9Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Box Hill gives no individual results: they are not given to parents3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
A practice set only shows the style. It can't tell you whether your child will be offered a SEAL place.
Can my child join SEAL in Year 9?
At some schools, yes. Keilor Downs College tests Year 8 students for Year 9 places on 11 November 20264Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published, using ACER HAST Test 4 (Middle Secondary)4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Box Hill may let students join at the end of Year 8, if places are available3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published. Students can be registered for an onsite test in Term 4, with offers based on academic data and teacher recommendations3Box Hill High · 14 October 2026 · Published; ask the school how. University High admits year 7 only, chosen by Edutest aptitude tests, an expression of interest and interviews5University High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Is SEAL the same as a selective entry high school?
No. A SEAL class sits inside an ordinary school from Year 7. The selective entry high schools are four separate schools for Years 9 to 12, with one exam for all four.
| SEAL program | Selective entry high school | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs entry | Each school | ACER, for the Department 10Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Starts | Year 7 (some schools also Year 9) | Year 9 10Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Test | The school's choice | One exam for 410Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published schools |
| Needs a place at the school first | Yes, at most of the schools checked 4Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published | No 10Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Fee | Set by each school, such as A$1104Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published | A$17511ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published for 2027 entry, with waivers |
A child in a SEAL class can still sit the selective entry exam in Year 8. 10Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published Read about the selective entry exam.
The Department caps offers by school. No more than 4%10Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published of students from one school (10%10Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published for schools that are Prep to Year 9 only) get standard or principal's discretion offers.
Is SEAL a good fit for my child?
It suits a child who wants more pace and challenge every day. Ask yourselves a few questions before you register.
Your child enjoys harder work and moves on quickly when a topic is clear.
Your child would like to be with classmates who work at the same pace.
You would be happy at this school even without a SEAL place.
The daily trip to the school works for your family.
Your child could keep up the work needed to stay in, such as continued high academic performance3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published.
A SEAL test is one morning in Year 6. Whatever the outcome, your child starts high school with a place they chose.
Questions parents ask about SEAL
Is there one SEAL test for every school?
No. Each school chooses its own test, from ACER, Edutest or its own staff.
Does SEAL cost anything?
The class runs inside a government school, but tests can carry a fee. Keilor Downs charged A$1104Keilor Downs College · 13 October 2026 · Published and University High's Edutest fee was A$995University High · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Will we see our child's test results?
Often not. Box Hill's results are not given to parents3Box Hill High · 13 October 2026 · Published, and Edutest gives no access to raw scores, answer sheets or written responses9Edutest · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Which schools have SEAL near us?
A current official list is not published2Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Not published. Look at your nearby government schools' websites, or ask their enrolment staff.
Who can we ask about a school's SEAL test?
The school runs it, so ask the school. We can't see or change any application.