Selective Entry High Schools
Victorian Selective Entry High Schools Test
Year 9 entry exam for Victoria's selective government high schools, usually sat in Year 8.
The Victorian Selective Entry High Schools Test is used for entry into Victoria's four selective government high schools: Melbourne High School, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. Year 8 students sit one combined test, administered by ACER, for Year 9 placement. Competition is strong, with significantly more applicants than available places each year.
Who sits this test: Students currently in Year 8 who plan to enter Year 9 at one of the four Victorian selective high schools.
What's tested
| Section | Questions | Time | Format | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning | 40 | 60 min | Multiple choice | 40% |
| Reading and Verbal Reasoning | 45 | 55 min | Multiple choice | 40% |
| Writing | 2 | 40 min | Written response | 20% |
| Total | 87 questions | 155 min | 100% |
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning are assessed together. Reading and Verbal Reasoning are assessed together.
- Writing consists of two tasks.
- The required knowledge in any section must not exceed Year 8 curriculum expectations.
- Exact question counts and formats may change. Always confirm against the official ACER information booklet before the test.
Key dates
- Applications openEarly March (Year 8)
- Applications closeLate April
- Test sittingLate June (Year 8)
- Placement offers releasedAugust to October (Year 8)
Dates vary slightly each year. Always confirm application and testing dates through the official Victorian Selective Entry High Schools process.
Check official dates and application guidanceFree Victorian Selective Entry High Schools Test practice
3 original iClass practice examples. Try each one, then reveal the worked explanation or the writing guidance. No account needed. These illustrative examples are not official past papers or a full timed mock test.
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning practice
A school surveyed 200 students about transport to school.
| Transport | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Walk | 20% |
| Bicycle | 15% |
| Bus | 40% |
| Car | 25% |
If 18 students who currently travel by car switch to bus travel, what percentage of students would travel by bus?
- A.44%
- B.46%
- C.49%
- D.50%
Original bus students:
200 × 40% = 80
New bus students:
80 + 18 = 98
Percentage:
98 ÷ 200 × 100 = 49%
Reading and Verbal Reasoning practice
Some urban planners argue cities should prioritise public transport investment over expanding roads. They claim wider roads temporarily reduce congestion but often encourage more driving, eventually recreating the original problem. Critics argue road expansion remains necessary because public transport cannot meet all travel needs.
Which statement best summarises the disagreement?
- A.Whether cities should remove roads entirely.
- B.Whether reducing congestion requires different transport priorities.
- C.Whether public transport is cheaper than roads.
- D.Whether urban populations are increasing too quickly.
The disagreement centres on how congestion should best be addressed.
Writing practice
Task 1 — Creative Writing (20 minutes)
Write a piece of imaginative writing inspired by:
"The lights switched off exactly when the announcement began."
Task 2 — Persuasive Writing (20 minutes)
Some schools are considering limiting student access to mobile phones during the school day.
Should schools introduce stricter phone restrictions?
Write a response explaining your position.
Markers assess each task independently against ACER's writing rubric. Strong responses commit to one clear position or narrative, develop it with concrete detail, and finish — an unfinished argument loses more marks than a slightly less ambitious complete one.
How it's scored
ACER scales each section and combines them into a single composite score. Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning and Reading & Verbal Reasoning are each weighted 40%; Writing (two tasks) contributes 20%. Required knowledge does not exceed Year 8 curriculum expectations.
- There is no published pass mark; selection is competitive each year and ranks against the full applicant pool.
- Offers are made to the four schools by composite-score rank and family preference order.
- Score reports include section breakdowns so families understand the relative contributions to the total.
What good preparation looks like
Victorian selective preparation can be especially demanding because students are tested against Year 8 curriculum expectations, with strong competition for limited places.
Foundation — 9 to 12 months out
Solidify Year 7–8 mathematics (algebra, ratio, geometry, simple probability) and build a regular writing habit. Strong reading habits can create a meaningful advantage that is difficult to build at the last minute.
ACER-style practice — 4 to 6 months out
Move to ACER-style item banks under timed conditions. Quantitative Reasoning often shows up as graph interpretation and data inference, not pure arithmetic — calibrate to that style. For writing, practise both a creative and an argumentative task in a single sitting.
Full simulation — last 6 to 8 weeks
At least three full mock tests, including the back-to-back writing tasks. Mark writing against ACER's rubric (ideas, structure, language, conventions) and rewrite weak responses rather than just scoring them.
Ready to build a personalised preparation plan?
Start Your Child’s Study PlanCommon questions
Students normally sit the test once while in Year 8 for Year 9 entry. The Victorian Selective Entry High Schools process is designed as a Year 9 entry pathway.
No. Calculators are not permitted. Students should build confidence with mental arithmetic, estimation and working through quantitative reasoning problems without calculator support.
No. Entry remains competitive and required scores can vary depending on school demand, applicant preferences and cohort performance each year.
Placement offers consider both ranking and school preference order. Students who narrowly miss one school may still receive an offer for another preferred selective school depending on overall ranking and availability.
Many families begin structured preparation 9–12 months before testing. Building reading comprehension, writing fluency and quantitative reasoning skills takes time.
The test assesses strong academic performance and reasoning skills within Year 8 curriculum expectations. Competition for places means students often benefit from targeted preparation and timed practice.
Ready to build a plan around this exam?
iClass turns this exam profile into a goal-driven study plan tailored to your child's current skill level and target school. We track every practice session and surface evidence-based progress for parents.
Schools that use this test
Browse profiles, entry score history and preparation guidance for every one of the Victorian selective entry high schools that select students with this test.
View all Victorian selective entry high schools →Practice papers for this test
This guide covers the format, dates and scoring. For full-length papers with worked solutions, browse the Victorian Selective Entry High Schools Test book range.
Victorian selective practice books →