The Victorian selective entry exam
8 min read ยท updated 2026-10-13
Victoria's four selective entry high schools admit most of their students in Year 9 through one exam sat in Year 8, run by ACER for the Department of Education. John Monash Science School runs its own process for Year 10. Here is how both work and when to apply.
The four selective entry schools
- โ Melbourne High School (boys, South Yarra)
- โ The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (girls, Melbourne), 300 Year 9 places
- โ Nossal High School (co-educational, Berwick), 208 Year 9 places
- โ Suzanne Cory High School (co-educational, Werribee), about 200 Year 9 places
The exam
One ACER exam, sat in Year 8, covers Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (60 minutes), Reading and Verbal Reasoning (55 minutes) and Writing (40 minutes). A student can sit it only once.
About 1,000 Year 9 places are offered across the four schools each year: 85% on exam rank, up to 10% under equity consideration and up to 5% at the principal's discretion.
Dates
Last cycle (Year 9 entry in 2027) and the pattern for 2028 entry:
- โ Applications: 2 March to 24 April 2026 (expected March to April 2027 for 2028 entry)
- โ Exam: Saturday 20 June 2026 (expected June 2027)
- โ Round 1 offers: 3 August 2026 (expected August 2027)
John Monash Science School
John Monash Science School in Clayton is a specialist science school with its own entry process for Year 10. For 2027 entry, applications closed on 22 May 2026, the entry test was on Saturday 13 June 2026, shortlisted applicants were interviewed in August, and outcomes were due by 18 September 2026. The test is administered by EduTest, and the school recommends EduTest practice papers.
How to prepare in Year 8
- โ Terms 1-2: short timed sets in each section several times a week
- โ Writing: practise both creative and persuasive pieces to 40 minutes
- โ Reading: daily reading of challenging fiction and non-fiction for vocabulary and inference
- โ Monthly: a full practice exam with the real timings and breaks
FAQs
When is the Victorian selective entry exam?๏ผ
In June of Year 8. The last exam was on Saturday 20 June 2026; the 2027 date is published by ACER when applications open in March.
Who runs the Victorian selective entry exam?๏ผ
ACER, on behalf of the Victorian Department of Education.
Can my child sit the exam twice?๏ผ
No. The Year 9 selective entry exam can be sat only once.
Is John Monash Science School part of the selective exam?๏ผ
No. It runs its own Year 10 entry test, application and interview.
How many selective places are there?๏ผ
About 1,000 Year 9 places across the four schools each year.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on 2026-10-13.
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