Key dates for 2028 entry
For students in Year 8 during 2027. Dates marked expected follow the previous cycles and are replaced the day the Department confirms them.
| Applications open | March 2027 expected Source: ACER · not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Applications close | April 2027 expected Source: ACER · not yet verified |
| Exam day | June 2027 expected The 2027-entry test was held on Saturday 20 June 2026. Source: ACER · not yet verified |
| First-round offers | August 2027 expected Source: ACER · not yet verified |
The four schools
Victoria has four selective entry high schools. All take students from Year 9, and one exam ranks every applicant for all four. You list up to three schools in order of preference when you apply, and an offer is for one school only.
- The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Melbourne. Girls.
- Melbourne High School, South Yarra. Boys.
- Nossal High School, Berwick. Co-educational.
- Suzanne Cory High School, Werribee. Co-educational.
Results and places
| School | Median ATAR | ATAR 90+ | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School | Not published | Not published | – |
| Melbourne High School | 95.45 | 71.9% | 2024 |
| Nossal High School | Not published | Not published | – |
| Suzanne Cory High School | Not published | Not published | – |
The Department publishes about 1,000 Year 9 places across the four schools but not a per-school split. ATAR figures link to the school’s own published results; “Not published” means we have not found an official, dated figure.
How places are allocated
The entrance exam is run by ACER for the Department. It has three parts: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (60 minutes), Reading and Verbal Reasoning (55 minutes) and Writing (40 minutes, two tasks). With breaks and registration the day runs about four hours. Students sit it once, in Year 8.
Places at each school are offered in three groups:
- 85% on exam rank alone.
- Up to 10% equity places, for students whose parent or guardian holds a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
- Up to 5% at the principal’s discretion, by invitation after the exam.
No more than 4% of students from any one source school (the school your child attends in Year 8) can receive merit or principal-discretion offers, so part of the competition is within your child’s own school. For Prep to Year 9 schools the cap is 10%. Equity offers are not capped.
Sources: Department of Education, ACER exam format
How competitive it is
About 1,000 Year 9 places are offered each year. Around 90% of places go in the first round of offers; later rounds and reserve-list offers can continue until the end of Term 4, as families decline places.
The Department does not publish applicant totals. We will add them only from an official source.
Preparing for the exam
Most families start in Term 4 of Year 7 or Term 1 of Year 8. A sensible sequence:
- Diagnose. Work through ACER’s free sample questions to see where your child stands in each part.
- Practise by section. Timed papers weekly. Writing is handwritten in an answer booklet, so practise with a pen.
- Apply between March and April through the ACER portal, ranking up to three schools. The fee is $175, waived for Health Care Card and Pensioner Concession Card holders and First Nations families.
- Full-length mocks in the final six weeks to build stamina for a four-hour day.
Free official sample questions (ACER)
We do not host past papers. This page currently carries no partner links; if that changes, they will be marked.
Common questions
When is the Victorian selective entry exam in 2027?
Expected in June 2027, on a Saturday. The 2027-entry exam was held on Saturday 20 June 2026. This page is updated the day the Department confirms the date.
Can my child sit the exam more than once?
No. Students who have previously sat the exam for Year 9 entry are not eligible to apply again. Entry to Years 10 to 12 is handled directly by each school, with its own test.
How much does it cost to apply?
$175, paid online when you apply. It is free for families with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and for First Nations families, and can be reduced for financial hardship.
Can an offer be transferred to another selective school?
No. An offer is for one school only, so the order you rank the schools matters. Preferences can be changed in the portal until a cut-off shortly after the exam.
What is in the exam results report?
Parents can download a report on their child’s performance from the ACER portal on the day first-round offers are released. ACER says results are not directly comparable to other tests such as NAPLAN.
Selective entry or a private school scholarship?
Many families try both. Private school scholarship tests for Year 7 entry run in February to May of Year 6, two years before the selective exam.
Parent discussion: 2028 entry
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Updated 19 October 2026