Melbourne High School: Year 9 entry in 2028
Melbourne High School in South Yarra is a selective entry government boys' school for Years 9 to 12. Most students enter in Year 9 through the ACER selective entry exam, and about 1,500 exam candidates list it as their first preference each year.
An independent guide by EagleTeach, based on the school's published admissions pages. We are not affiliated with Melbourne High School; always confirm details with the school.
Entry points and deadlines
Applications for Year 9 entry in 2028 open in March 2027 through ACER. Students apply in Year 8 and rank their preferred selective schools.
Year 9 places are offered on results in the Year 9 entrance exam.
Melbourne High also selects at least 26 students for Year 10 through an academic assessment test and application review, and runs a small Arts and Humanities intake at Year 11 for a two-year VCE course.
Testing
Year 9 places at all four Victorian selective entry high schools come from one ACER exam sat in Year 8: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (60 minutes), Reading and Verbal Reasoning (55 minutes) and Writing (40 minutes). A student can sit the Year 9 exam 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.
Year 9 entry in 2028: timeline (last cycle: applications 2 March-24 April 2026, exam 20 June 2026, offers 3 August 2026)
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| March 2027 | Applications open for Year 9 entry in 2028 |
| Late April 2027 (expected) | Applications close |
| June 2027 (expected) | Selective entry exam (ACER) |
| August 2027 (expected) | Exam outcome reports and Round 1 offers |
How to prepare
- ✓ First-preference demand is high: aim for a strong result in all three exam parts.
- ✓ Practise the Writing section to time; 40 minutes covers planning, writing and checking.
- ✓ Quantitative Reasoning rewards spotting patterns quickly; do short timed sets several times a week in Year 8.
- ✓ If Year 9 entry does not work out, look at the Year 10 intake rather than a second Year 9 attempt, which is not allowed.
Need help with the tests? one-to-one selective entry tutoring in Melbourne or selective exam preparation.
Common questions
When do most students join Melbourne High School?＋
In Year 9, through the selective entry exam sat in Year 8.
Can my son join Melbourne High in Year 10?＋
Yes, in small numbers: the school selects at least 26 Year 10 students through an assessment test and application review.
When is the Melbourne High entrance exam for 2028 entry?＋
Expected in June 2027, after applications open in March 2027. The last exam was held on Saturday 20 June 2026.
Can my child sit the selective entry exam twice?＋
No. A student can sit the Year 9 selective entry exam only once, so Year 8 is the one attempt.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 2026-10-06.