Understand all four ACER test components, timing, question types, eligibility, and what to expect on test day. Prepare with confidence for Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal, and Suzanne Cory.
The Victorian Selective Entry High School (SEHS) exam consists of four ACER-developed test components — Reading Reasoning, Mathematical Reasoning, General Ability (Verbal), and General Ability (Quantitative) — followed by a Writing task. Total duration is approximately 2 hours plus breaks, with the next exam scheduled for Saturday, 20 June 2026 for Year 9 entry in 2027. Entry is into four prestigious government selective schools: Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson Girls', Nossal High, and Suzanne Cory.
A specialist environment for academically high-achieving students in Years 9 to 12. Approximately 1,000 places are available each year across these four prestigious government schools.
The Victorian Selective Entry High Schools (SEHS) program offers outstanding educational opportunities for high-achieving students from Year 9 through to Year 12. Entry is fiercely competitive, with students applying in Year 8 to sit the centralised selection examination.
From 2023 onward, the test has been written and administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) — replacing the previous Edutest format. ACER's involvement brings decades of high-stakes assessment expertise and aligns the selection process with Australia's most rigorous testing standards.
The required knowledge in any section will not exceed the Year 8 curriculum. This is an aptitude test, not an achievement test — it assesses higher-order thinking, problem-solving, reasoning, comprehension, interpretation, and the ability to apply known concepts to unfamiliar situations.
The SEHS exam has four ACER-designed reasoning components plus a writing task. Each tests different higher-order skills. Here's exactly what to expect.
Assesses the ability to interpret a diverse range of texts — applying life and academic knowledge to tasks based on the information provided.
Multiple-choice. Tests problem-solving and mathematical fluency. Calculators are not permitted. Students apply concepts to unfamiliar contexts.
Multiple-choice with four options. Assesses students' ability to learn through higher-order thinking and problem-solving in language-based reasoning.
Tests numerical patterns, sequences, and abstract logical problem-solving. The most distinct section — relying on innate analytical aptitude rather than learned content.
Tests written expression with a creative or persuasive prompt. Marked manually by experienced assessors against theme appropriateness, structure & creativity, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary.
Here's what to expect from arrival to completion. Timings are indicative — your assigned exam centre will provide the official schedule.
Students arrive at their assigned exam venue, present ID, and settle in. Allow extra time for travel and registration formalities.
35 minutes. Diverse range of texts assessing inference, comprehension, and critical interpretation.
30 minutes. Multiple-choice. Applied problem-solving with no calculator permitted.
10–15 minutes. Bathroom, water, snack. Brief reset before the General Ability sections.
30 minutes. Multiple-choice. Vocabulary, analogies, and language-based reasoning.
30 minutes. Number sequences, abstract patterns, and spatial reasoning.
10–15 minutes before the final writing component.
~40 minutes. One extended response — creative or persuasive depending on the prompt.
Students are collected by parents or guardians. Results are released later in the year, typically September–October.
Sourced directly from the official Victorian Department of Education. The process is centralised through ACER for Year 9 entry.
Candidates must be in their second year of secondary schooling (Year 8), have not previously sat the Year 9 entry exam, and meet citizenship/visa requirements.
An application fee applies — but waivers and reductions are available for families experiencing financial barriers or holding eligible concession cards.
Approximately 1,000 Year 9 places are offered across the four SEHS schools each year. Places are awarded through three distinct categories.
For Year 9 entry in 2027. Mark these dates in your calendar — late applications cannot be accepted.
Now that you understand the test structure, train with 32 exam-style tests, 1,440 questions, and writing review by experienced selective tutors — all built around the new ACER format.
Dive deeper with our complete preparation resource library — from timeline planning to score interpretation, every step covered.
A complete 12-month preparation timeline broken into focused milestones, weekly study plans, and proven test-taking strategies.
Access 1,440+ ACER-aligned practice questions across all four reasoning components plus writing — the largest VIC-specific question bank.
In-depth profiles of all four Victorian selective schools — Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal, and Suzanne Cory.
What to bring, what to expect, and how to perform at your best. A complete walkthrough of exam-day logistics.
Decode your child's percentile rank, score interpretation, equity considerations, and what the numbers mean for school offers.
60+ detailed answers to every question about eligibility, application, exam logistics, scoring, and preparation strategies.
Common queries about the Victorian SEHS exam format, eligibility, and preparation.
The Victoria Selective Entry High School (SEHS) exam is a centralised competitive entrance test administered by ACER for Year 8 students seeking entry into Year 9 at one of Victoria's four government selective schools — Melbourne High School, Mac.Robertson Girls' High, Nossal High, and Suzanne Cory High School. It assesses higher-order thinking rather than curriculum content.
The exam consists of four ACER-developed reasoning components plus a writing task:
Reading — Reasoning: 50 questions in 35 minutes.
Mathematical Reasoning: 60 questions in 30 minutes.
General Ability — Verbal: 60 questions in 30 minutes.
General Ability — Quantitative: 50 questions in 30 minutes.
Writing: 40 minutes.
Candidates must be in Year 8 (their second year of secondary schooling) and must not have previously sat the Year 9 entry exam. Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens residing in Australia, and holders of eligible visas may apply. Students from government, non-government, interstate, overseas, and registered home-school programs can all apply, provided they meet citizenship/visa requirements by the time offers are made.
No. Calculators are not permitted in the Mathematical Reasoning component. The test is designed to assess problem-solving and numerical reasoning ability, not computational speed. All questions can be solved using mental arithmetic and clear logical steps.
The writing task is marked manually by experienced assessors and evaluated on four criteria:
1. Appropriateness to the theme.
2. Structure and creativity.
3. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary.
4. Sophistication of language and idea development.
Selectivetrial's Plus packages include personalised writing review by experienced selective tutors, with detailed feedback returned within 3–5 working days.
Selectivetrial offers a complete 32 exam-style test pack (1,440 questions) built around the new ACER format. Practice covers all four reasoning components and writing assessment under timed conditions. Students get unlimited attempts, detailed performance analytics, complete solution reviews, and access to one-on-one personalised tutoring on request. A free trial is available before subscribing to a full package.
Ideally, 6 to 12 months before the scheduled June test date. This timeline allows gradual skill development in complex areas like abstract reasoning, quantitative pattern recognition, and structured writing without causing academic burnout. Beginning earlier (12+ months) gives students room for diagnostic practice tests followed by targeted weak-area training.
While both assess academic ability, the Victorian SEHS exam follows the ACER format with four reasoning sections plus writing, and is for Year 9 entry. The NSW Selective Test uses a different question structure and is for Year 7 entry. The scoring methodologies and selection policies also differ between the two states. Selectivetrial provides state-specific practice tests tailored to each format.
Selectivetrial offers a free trial of the Victorian Selective practice tests with no card details required. Students can try sample questions across all four ACER reasoning sections and writing prompts before committing to a full subscription. Start your free trial to experience the exam interface and question difficulty.
