Victorian selective schools: who sits the exam, and when?

They are 4^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} government schools for academically strong students in Years 9 to 12. They share the same exam and application, and about 1,000^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} Year 9 places come up each year.

The exam is run by ACER, for the Department^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Each school then enrols the children offered a place. Entry in later years is managed by each school^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, with only a few places.

Melbourne High states demand, not a place count, so its row shows first preferences.

1. Year 8: apply

   Applications for Year 9 entry in 2028 open in March 2027^{1Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

2. Year 8: sit the exam

   The exam is held in June each year^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

3. Year 8: offers in rounds

   Around 90%^{6ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published} of places go in the first round.

4. Year 9: start school

   If your child accepts an offer, they start the next year.

Your child sits it in Year 8, for a Year 9 place the next year. A child who has sat it before can't apply again, so each child has one try. ^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

A child who already sat the exam can't sit it again for Year 9. Later entry is run by each school.

The exam has three timed parts, answered on paper. Working time is 2 hours and 35 minutes^{8ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published}, inside a session of about four hours.

There is a 20^{8ACER · 14 October 2026 · Published}-minute break after the first test. Answers go in a booklet: answers shaded in a supplied answer booklet^{8ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

The knowledge needed is no more than the Year 8 curriculum^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The exam is meant to be hard: half the questions correct is not unusual^{8ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and many children don't finish.

Read what is in each part.

You apply online through ACER while your child is in Year 8. The fee was A$175^{9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published} last round, and applying is free with a health care or pensioner card, and for First Nations families^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

1. Create an account and fill in the details

   ACER lists 6^{9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published} steps, and the form takes about 10 to 15 minutes^{9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

2. List up to 3^{9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published} schools

   Put them in the order you truly want. Your child is offered only the highest preference your child qualifies for^{9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

3. Ask for special arrangements when you apply

   Requests to sit interstate or overseas are made when you apply, by the application close date^{9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

4. Pay or claim the waiver

   Families with a concession card, and First Nations families, pay nothing. ^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Read every step of the application.

The two tests differ in age, format and rules. Victoria selects for Year 9 on paper; NSW selects for Year 7 on computer. Only facts both sides publish are compared here.

Moving to NSW, or from it? Each state's rules apply to its own schools. Read about the NSW Selective test.

Is there a cut-off score?

No cut-off is published. Places go on exam rank within each school's places, and the order changes every year. ^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Can anyone tell us our child's chances?

No. Offers depend on who sits the exam that year and how every child ranks, and no one publishes that in advance. The report also no access to the tests or individual scores^{6ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Can my child sit the exam interstate?

Only for set reasons, with evidence, such as living and studying interstate or overseas, with evidence^{2Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. It cost an extra A$215^{9ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published} for 2027 entry. Holidays don't count. ^{2Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Can my child sit the exam twice?

No. A child must be in Year 8 and must not have sat the exam before. ^{2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

What about Year 10 entry?

The four schools manage their own later entry, with few places. John Monash Science School is a separate school for Years 10 to 12, with its own tests. Read about John Monash Science School.

What is SEAL, and is it the same?

No. SEAL programs are accelerated classes inside ordinary government schools, from Year 7, and each school runs its own test.

Read about SEAL programs.

Who can I ask about an application?

ACER answers questions at sehs@acer.org or +61 3 9007 2087^{2Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. We can't see or change any application.