Understanding the Victorian selective entry exam structure helps families make sensible preparation decisions. Start with the right admissions pathway, the current test schedule and an accurate distinction between the year a student sits the exam and the year they join their chosen selective school.
This guide covers the central Year 9 Selective Entry High Schools pathway. It explains the published format, then offers practical ways to organise preparation without turning every afternoon into an examination.
Information checked: 15 October 2026. The exam for Year 9 entry in 2027 took place on 20 June 2026. Families planning for a test in 2027 and entry in 2028 should check the next cycle’s announcements rather than reuse that date. See the Victorian Department of Education’s SEHS information.
Which schools does the SEHS pathway cover?
The four schools are Melbourne High School, The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. The Department’s page also explains eligibility and selection. Applicants must be in Year 8, have not previously sat the Year 9 entrance exam, and meet the applicable citizenship or visa conditions. Read the full official criteria before applying, particularly where a family’s circumstances require clarification.
Make a separate school-choice checklist alongside the exam plan. Include the commute, subjects, extracurricular interests and the student’s reasons for wanting to attend. A child should be able to describe what appeals to them beyond a school’s reputation. Visit each school’s own website for programme information and opportunities to learn more.
What is the current exam format?
According to ACER’s published exam-day schedule, the sequence is:
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning: 60 minutes
- Break: 20 minutes
- Reading and Verbal Reasoning: 55 minutes
- Short break: 5 minutes
- Writing: 40 minutes
Working time totals 2 hours and 35 minutes; registration, instructions and breaks bring the overall session to approximately four hours. The combined blocks matter when choosing practice resources. A worksheet labelled “numerical reasoning” may still be useful, but its label alone does not establish that its timing matches the current Victorian exam.
ACER’s preparation page confirms that writing contains two tasks. It does not provide question counts or a per-task writing allocation in its current format summary. Avoid building a rigid pacing formula around figures from older guides. Use the instructions supplied for the relevant exam cycle.
How should families use this information?
Turn the format into a skills map. Create five headings in a notebook: mathematical knowledge, quantitative reasoning, reading, verbal reasoning and writing. Under each, record one strength and one specific improvement target. “Read the question more carefully” is too broad. “Check whether a percentage refers to the original price or the discounted price” creates a clear next step.
Begin with short, low-pressure activities. Ask the student to explain how they reached an answer before introducing a timer. An explanation can reveal whether a correct answer came from sound reasoning, an accidental shortcut or a guess. Once a method is reliable, practise applying it efficiently.
For writing, keep both tasks visible in the preparation plan. A student who spends every session polishing one favourite style may be less comfortable responding flexibly to new instructions. Practise interpreting a prompt, deciding what belongs in the response and finishing a coherent piece.
How much preparation is necessary?
ACER says revision is not necessary and offers official samples for familiarisation, while warning that their difficulty may differ from the exam. Paid tutoring is optional. If your family chooses additional practice, use it to address identified learning needs rather than treating a growing pile of completed papers as the goal.
A useful weekly review takes ten minutes. Ask: What became easier? Which mistake happened twice? What should we practise next? Keep the answers brief. If a child understands fractions but repeatedly misreads units, another broad fractions worksheet may be less useful than a small set of unit-conversion problems followed by discussion.
Protect schoolwork, recreation and family time. Set the week’s sessions in advance and allow them to move when school commitments increase. A realistic plan should still work during an ordinary busy week, not only during a holiday with an empty calendar.
Plan the practical details early
The current ACER exam-day checklist requires identification, a printed admission ticket and two blue or black pens. Calculators and smart watches are prohibited. Check the latest instructions again when your child receives their admission information.
Keep application administration separate from study. A parent or carer can maintain a short list covering deadlines, access arrangements where relevant, travel and documents. The student can concentrate on learning while still understanding what will happen on the day. Leave room in the travel plan for an unfamiliar entrance or unexpected traffic.
Choose support with useful questions
When considering a preparation programme, ask how it checks the current format, diagnoses individual gaps and gives feedback on writing. Ask what a student does after getting a question wrong. Look for explanations and opportunities to retry, along with a workload that fits the child’s existing commitments.
Explore Loav’s selective entry preparation programme to consider whether its support suits your family. You can also enquire about a trial class and discuss your child’s current priorities. Preparation should produce clearer thinking and more confident routines; no programme can guarantee an offer.
