If your child is in Year 7 or 8, you have probably heard about Victoria's selective entry high schools.
The information is scattered across government websites, ACER pages, and tutoring company blogs. This guide puts everything in one place.
What Are Selective Entry High Schools?
Victoria has 4 government schools that are free to attend and only accept students who pass a competitive entrance exam.
The teaching moves faster, expectations are higher, and every student is high-achieving.
Melbourne High School
Boys · South Yarra
Mac.Robertson Girls' High
Girls · Melbourne
Nossal High School
Co-ed · Berwick
Suzanne Cory High School
Co-ed · Werribee
All four take students Year 9 to Year 12. Your child applies in Year 8. No zone restrictions, anyone in Victoria can attend.
Who Can Apply?
Year 8
Must be in Year 8 at time of exam
VIC
Eligible for Victorian govt school
None
No minimum grades required
Key Dates for 2026
Put these in your calendar. Late applications are almost never accepted.
2 Mar 2026
Applications open
24 Apr 2026
Applications close
20 Jun 2026
Exam day
3 Aug 2026
First round offers
Aug–Oct 2026
Offers process
The process takes ~7 months from application to offer. No response = declined.
How to Apply
Create an account on the ACER Selective Entry website
Fill in your child's details and school preferences (in order)
Pay the application fee
Submit before the deadline
Your child gets a candidate number after applying. Keep it safe, it is used for all exam communication.
Want help preparing your child?
Our Selective PREP program is taught by alumni from Suzanne Cory and Melbourne High. We know the exam because we sat it ourselves.
Learn About Selective PREPWhat's on the Exam?
~3 hours. Tests how your child thinks, not what they have memorised. Knowledge stays within the Year 8 curriculum, but questions are much harder than school tests.
ACER groups related skills into 3 combined sections:
Reading & Verbal Reasoning
- Comprehension + reasoning in one section
- Fiction, non-fiction, informational passages
- Must switch between question styles quickly
Maths & Quantitative Reasoning
- Beyond basic calculation
- Charts, patterns, logical conclusions
- Reasoning through unfamiliar problems
Writing (2 Pieces)
- Two separate writing tasks
- Persuasive, creative, or reflective
- Assessed on ideas, structure, expression
What Makes This Exam Hard?
30–40 sec/question
No time to second-guess
Combined Sections
Can't skip weak areas
Ranked, Not Scored
Compared to all students
Most students will not finish every section. That is by design. The exam separates students who can perform under extreme time pressure.
How Are Places Offered?
Standard Merit (85%)
Based purely on exam performance
Equity Consideration (10%)
Health Care Card, Pension Card, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Principal's Discretion (5%)
Factors like school preference, gender balance, siblings
How Competitive Is It?
15,000
Apply
~5,500
Sit the Exam
~1,100
Get an Offer
1 in 5
Acceptance Rate
Melbourne High and Mac.Robertson are the most competitive. Nossal and Suzanne Cory are slightly less competitive but still very selective.
How to Prepare Your Child
ACER says no prep is needed. The reality: the format is unfamiliar, the time pressure is extreme, and unprepared students are at a disadvantage, not because they are not smart, but because they have not practised the specific skills tested.
Start Early
6–12 months before exam day. Even 2–3 months of targeted prep makes a real difference.
Learn the Format
The biggest shock is the format itself. Make sure your child has seen sample questions first.
Practise Timed
Relaxed practice builds knowledge. Timed practice builds exam readiness. You need both.
Reasoning > Memorisation
The exam tests thinking, not recall. Focus on problem-solving and logical reasoning skills.
Read Widely
Books, articles, newspapers. Regular reading builds comprehension and vocabulary naturally.
Get Writing Feedback
Writing is where students lose marks without realising. Expert feedback is the highest-impact prep.
After the Exam
Exam outcome reports
Sent to parents in weeks following the exam. Shows performance, not whether they got in.
First round offers
Monday 3 August 2026 via email. You get a deadline to accept or decline.
Subsequent rounds
August through October. Declined places are offered to the next student.
No response = declined
If you miss the deadline, the offer is automatically treated as a decline.
Try Sample Exam Questions
Get a taste of what the Selective Entry Exam looks like. Try 3 questions from each subject.
For which value of a, will the following expression be simplified down to 6x − 23? 4(3x − 2) − a(2x + 5)
FAQ
Can my child apply for more than one school?
Yes. You list up to 4 schools in order of preference. One exam, offers based on rank + preferences.
What if my child is sick on exam day?
Apply for an alternative date. Upload evidence (e.g. medical certificate) to the portal by 23 June 2026.
Are there past papers?
No official past papers. ACER provides sample questions. Preparation providers create practice materials that mirror the format.
Does my child's school report matter?
No. Entry is based solely on exam performance. School grades, references, and activities are not assessed.
Should a top student still prepare?
Yes. The exam tests reasoning under time pressure, skills that go beyond a typical school curriculum. Even strong students benefit.
How much does it cost to apply?
Fees vary. Some exemptions are available for families with eligible concession cards. Check the ACER website.
Quick Summary
- Your child needs to be in Year 8 to apply
- Applications: 2 March – 24 April 2026
- Exam: Saturday 20 June 2026 (~3 hours)
- 3 sections: Reading & Verbal, Maths & Quant, 2x Writing
- ~15,000 apply, ~1,100 get in (1 in 5 who sit)
- Offers from August. No school grades considered.
The exam is challenging. But with the right preparation, your child walks in confident and ready.
Give Your Child the Best Preparation
Our Selective PREP program is run by alumni from Suzanne Cory and Melbourne High. Tutors who sat the exam themselves and know what it takes.
Written by EduVerse Education
Our Selective PREP tutors are alumni of Suzanne Cory High School and Melbourne High School.
Learn about our Selective PREP programRelated Guides
How the ACER Selective Entry Exam Actually Works: A Section-by-Section Breakdown
Coming SoonWhen Should Your Child Start Preparing for Selective School? A Realistic Timeline
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