When is the selective entry exam date in Victoria?
Independent. Not affiliated with the Victorian Department of Education or ACER.
When is the exam for Year 9 entry in 2028?
It is expected in June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected, because the Department holds the exam in June each year1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. ACER hasn't published the day, the close date or the offer dates. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published
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Key dates
Read the answers for each situation
Check your choices
Choose a test and one of the entry years shown for it.
For your situation
For Year 9 entry in 2027, formal offers are complete. 4ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published Still ahead for principal's discretion: interviews, 5–14 October 20264ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published, then outcomes on 15 October 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
For Year 9 entry in 2027, formal offers are complete. 4ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published Next: principal's discretion outcomes on 15 October 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
Principal's discretion outcomes for Year 9 entry in 2027 came on 15 October 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published. Next: if you have concerns, email the school's principal by 22 October 20261Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
Next for Year 9 entry in 2027: the principal replies to principal's discretion concerns by 29 October 20261Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
Next for Year 9 entry in 2027: if principal's discretion concerns remain, write to the Department's regional office by 5 November 20261Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
Next for Year 9 entry in 2027: the regional office replies to principal's discretion concerns by 3 December 20261Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. It is the round's last published date.
For your situation
Every published date for Year 9 entry in 2027 has passed. The last was the regional office's reply date, 3 December 20261Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
Dates for Year 9 entry in 2027, as published. The exam was on 20 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the last published date is 3 December 20261Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
For your situation
Dates for Year 9 entry in 2028 are not published yet. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published Applications open in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the exam is expected in June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
For your situation
Applications for Year 9 entry in 2028 open in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published. The exact days are not published yet. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published The exam is expected in June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
For your situation
The exam for Year 9 entry in 2028 is expected in June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected. The exact day is not published yet. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published
For your situation
The exam for Year 9 entry in 2028 was expected in June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected. No later dates for this round are published yet. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published
For your situation
Dates for Year 9 entry in 2028 are not published yet. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published Applications open in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the exam is expected in June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
Check your choices
Selective entry dates are shown for Year 9 entry in 2027 and 2028.
| Step | Year 9 entry in 2028 | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Published by Melbourne High School 2Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Applications close | Not published3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published | Not published |
| The exam | June 2027 Expected1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected | Expected |
| Exact days | Not published3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published | Not published |
Which round is my child in?
Children sit the exam in Year 8, for a Year 9 place the next year, and only once. 1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
| Your child's year in 2026 | Their round | What's next |
|---|---|---|
| Year 8 | Year 9 entry in 2027 | The exam is done. Principal's discretion outcomes come on 15 October 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published. |
| Year 7 | Year 9 entry in 2028 | Apply in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published. The exam follows in 2027. |
| Year 6 | Year 9 entry in 2029 | Nothing is published. The exam comes in 2028. |
What goes into the calendar feed?
Only ACER's published dates. Each one comes with a reminder a week before and a day before, and the feed needs no account. Check the entry year before adding the feed to your calendar.
Published dates go in, such as the application close and the exam day.
Expected months, like June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected, stay out until ACER sets the day.
Not-published steps stay out. They join the feed when ACER publishes them. 3ACER · 12 October 2026 · Not published
Subscribed calendars update by themselves when the feed changes.
What were the dates for Year 9 entry in 2027?
That round's exam was on 20 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published. These are every published date, in Melbourne time (the same as Sydney).
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications opened | 2 March 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Applications closed; last day for special arrangements | 24 April 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Exam arrangements sent to families | 3 June 20263ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| The exam | 20 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Last day for an illness or misadventure request | 23 June 20265ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Last day to change preferences | 26 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Exam reports and Round 1 offers | 3 August 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Round 1 reply deadline | 10 August 2026, 11:59 pm (Sydney time)4ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Round 2 offers | 13 August 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Round 3 offers | 20 August 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Formal offers complete | 24 August 2026, 11:59 pm (Sydney time)4ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Principal's discretion invitations | 3 September 2026, 10 am (Sydney time)4ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| Principal's discretion outcomes | 15 October 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
The 2028 round may not copy these days. Read how the offer rounds work.
Which deadlines can't be missed?
Four kinds of deadline were strict last round. Each one is a reason to subscribe.
The application close. Late applications were not accepted3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Special arrangements and remote sittings, asked for when you apply, by the application close date6ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
An illness or misadventure request, a few days after the exam. Last round it was 23 June 20265ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Each offer's reply deadline. Deadlines can't be extended4ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Which family cases come up most?
Year 7 now
Your child is in Year 7 in 2026.
Your round is Year 9 entry in 2028. Applications open in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the exam is expected in June 20271Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
A family holiday in June
You have a trip booked for June next year.
Keep the whole month free until ACER sets the day. Holidays aren't a reason to sit on another date. 1Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published
Year 8 now, waiting on principal's discretion
Your child was invited to apply under principal's discretion this year.
Outcomes come on 15 October 20264ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published. If you have concerns, email the principal by 22 October 20261Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Living interstate
Your family lives in Queensland, and your Year 8 child wants to apply.
The rules are the same living in Victoria, interstate or overseas1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Ask for a remote sitting when you apply, by the application close date6ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Questions parents ask about the exam date
Is the exam always on a Saturday?
Last round's exam was on a Saturday, 20 June 20263ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published. The Department only says it is held in June each year1Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, so wait for ACER's date.
Where will my child sit the exam?
ACER sets the venue by your child's home address, and it can't be changed5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. It doesn't affect results or selection. Bring a printed admission ticket (electronic versions aren't accepted)8ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published on the day.
Can my child sit on another day?
Only for a set reason with evidence, or illness. A sick child can apply to sit on a set alternative date5ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
When do the 2028 dates come out?
ACER hasn't said. Melbourne High says applications open in March 20272Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published. The feed adds the dates when they are published.
Are John Monash or SEAL dates in this feed?
No. This feed is for the selective entry exam only. John Monash Science School's dates for 2028 entry are not published9JMSS · 12 October 2026 · Not published, and each SEAL school sets its own.