What is the Victorian selective entry exam format?
Independent. Not affiliated with the Victorian Department of Education or ACER.
Victoria's selective entry exam has three paper sittings: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (601ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes), Reading and Verbal Reasoning (551ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes) and Writing (401ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes, two tasks). The exam for Year 9 entry in 2028 is expected in June 20272Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
What is in the Victorian selective entry exam?
The exam is answered on paper, in a supplied answer booklet. 1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published It is run by ACER, for the Department2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the same exam serves all 42Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published selective entry high schools.
| Sitting | Tests | Time | How your child answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | 601ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes | Shades multiple-choice answers |
| Break | None | 201ACER · 14 October 2026 · Published minutes | Rest |
| Second | Reading and Verbal Reasoning | 551ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes | Shades multiple-choice answers |
| Short break | None | 51ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published minutes | A quick pause |
| Third | Writing | 401ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes | Writes 21ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published tasks with a pen |
The bars show the minutes of each sitting and break to scale, in order.
The tests take 2 hours and 35 minutes1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published in all. With registration and breaks, the session runs about four hours.
Who can sit it: a child in Year 8, and not having sat the exam before2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. The exam is held in June each year2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
How does the exam morning run?
The morning follows a set order, so you can walk your child through it before the day. Each step below comes from ACER's exam-day page.
Learn the answer booklet
Before the first test, the supervisor goes through practice examples of how to use the answer booklets3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
There are instructions before each test, and children may ask if unsure of a task3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Questions can add a little time, so plan a loose pick-up time.
What does each test measure?
ACER describes each test in one line. Here is what each one asks your child to do, with the page that covers it.
Mathematics
Tests year-level maths knowledge and reasoning, and using maths in real-world contexts1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Quantitative Reasoning
Tests thinking and reasoning with numbers, patterns and shapes1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published, in abstract and real-world settings.
Reading
Tests finding information in texts, and linking, interpreting, reflecting on and judging their ideas1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Verbal Reasoning
Tests thinking and reasoning with words, concepts and logic1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.
How hard is the content?
Every test needs no more than the Year 8 curriculum2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. The Department says the exam looks at higher order thinking, problem-solving, reasoning, creative thinking, comprehension, interpretation and applying known concepts2Vic Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
So the exam rewards thinking hard with what your child already knows. It does not reward learning extra content ahead of school.
How is the exam marked?
Most marking details are not published. Here is what ACER does and doesn't say.
| What parents ask | What ACER says |
|---|---|
| How many questions each test has | Not published1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Not published |
| Marking, penalties for wrong answers and weighting | Not published1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Not published |
| How multiple-choice answers are read | Shaded marks, read by a scanner 1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Whether families see the papers or scores | Families get no access to the tests or individual scores4ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| How places are offered | 85%2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published of places go on rank from exam performance |
Without these details, nobody can turn a practice score into an exam result. A result only means something next to every other applicant's, because places go on rank. 2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
What should my child bring, and what isn't allowed?
Three things are required, and a short list of items must stay out of the room. Check the list with your child the night before.
Bring a printed admission ticket (electronic versions aren't accepted)3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
Bring photo ID no more than 18 months old, with a clear photograph3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
Bring two blue or black pens3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
In the room: no phones, smart watches, calculators, dictionaries, headphones, recording devices, notebooks or extra paper3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
Should my child expect to finish?
Not always, and that is normal. ACER says half the questions correct is not unusual1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published, and many children don't finish.
If a question stalls, ACER suggests your child make an informed guess and come back to it at the end if there is time1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Moving on saves time for the questions your child can do.
Say this out loud before the day. An unfinished test then feels expected, not like a failure.
Is this the same test as JMSS, SEAL or later entry?
No. The Year 9 exam is one ACER exam for the 42Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published selective entry high schools. Other Victorian programs and later entry use their own tests.
| Program | Who sets the test | Entry year |
|---|---|---|
| Selective entry high schools, Year 9 | ACER, for the Department 2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 9 |
| Those schools, Years 10 and 11 | Entry is managed by each school2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published; Nossal uses Edutest for Years 10 and 115Nossal · 12 October 2026 · Published | Years 10 and 11 |
| John Monash Science School | its own tests, unique to JMSS and changed each year6JMSS · 12 October 2026 · Published, administered by Edutest7JMSS · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 10, with a small Year 11 intake 6JMSS · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| SEAL programs | Each school's own process. At Box Hill High School: a place at the school first, then a test8Box Hill High · 12 October 2026 · Published | Year 7 9University High · 12 October 2026 · Published |
How is it different from the NSW Selective test?
The Victorian exam is sat later, in Year 8, and on paper. It also has more writing and a higher content level.
| Victoria, selective entry | NSW Selective | |
|---|---|---|
| Year sat | Year 8 2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | in Year 610NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| How it's sat | On paper, in an answer booklet 1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published | On computers provided by the Department11NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Parts | Five tests in three sittings | 412NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published sections |
| Writing | 21ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published tasks in 401ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes | 112NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published task in 3012NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published minutes |
| Calculators | Not allowed in the room 3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published | No calculator12NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Content level | no more than the Year 8 curriculum2Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 612NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
Families moving from Sydney can read about the NSW Selective test.
How can I help my child get ready?
ACER says there is no need to practise or revise1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published. It offers free sample questions, not necessarily as hard as the exam1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published, so your child knows the style before the day.
ACER says the skills the exam looks for grow over time, through a culture of learning, varied engaging material and talking freely about ideas1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Reading widely and talking about ideas at home fits that advice.
For the last week, ACER's tips are a good night's sleep, no unnecessary pressure, and staying relaxed yourself1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published. Your child is more than one exam result.
Questions parents ask about the selective entry exam
How many questions are in each test?
ACER publishes the minutes for each sitting but not the number of questions. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Not published
Is there negative marking?
ACER doesn't say whether wrong answers lose marks. 1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Not published Its advice for a hard question is to make an informed guess and come back to it at the end if there is time1ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Can my child use a calculator?
No. Calculators are on ACER's list of items not allowed in the exam room. 3ACER · 13 October 2026 · Published
Is the exam on a computer?
No. Multiple-choice answers are shaded in a supplied answer booklet, and a scanner reads them. 1ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published
When is the next exam?
For Year 9 entry in 2028, the exam is expected in June 20272Vic Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected. Melbourne High School says applications open in March 202713Melbourne High · 12 October 2026 · Published. See every date.
Can we see the exam paper or scores afterwards?
No. To keep the exam secure, families get no access to the tests or individual scores4ACER · 12 October 2026 · Published.