Victorian Selective Entry High School Exam: A Parent's Guide

Victoria's selective entry high schools are some of the most sought-after government schools in Australia. Each year thousands of Year 8 students sit the selective entry exam for a limited number of Year 9 places. If your child is considering this pathway, understanding how the exam works is the first step to preparing calmly and effectively.

Which schools are selective entry?

The established Victorian selective entry high schools are:

• Melbourne High School (South Yarra)
• The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (Melbourne)
• Nossal High School (Berwick)
• Suzanne Cory High School (Werribee)

The Victorian Government has been expanding the selective entry program, so check the Department of Education's website for the current list of participating schools and their entry requirements before you apply.

For families in Melbourne's south-east (Berwick, Clyde North, Officer, Beaconsfield and Narre Warren), Nossal High School is right on the doorstep, which is one reason our Berwick learning centre sees so much interest in selective entry preparation.

How the selective entry exam works

Students apply and sit the exam in Year 8, for entry into Year 9. The exam typically assesses five areas:

Area	What it looks like
Verbal reasoning	Word relationships, analogies, vocabulary in context and logical deduction
Quantitative reasoning	Number patterns, problem solving and data interpretation
Reading comprehension	Close reading of fiction, non-fiction and poetry with inference questions
Mathematics	Problem solving that goes beyond routine school exercises
Writing	Usually a creative piece and a persuasive or analytical piece under time pressure

The reasoning sections surprise many families because they aren't taught as a school subject. Our guide to General Ability and reasoning tests explains these question types in detail.

When should preparation start?

For most students, the start of Year 7 is the sweet spot. That leaves 12 to 18 months to:

1. Build reasoning skills gradually. Verbal and numerical reasoning improve with regular, varied practice rather than cramming.
2. Develop writing under time pressure. Planning and writing a strong piece in 20–30 minutes is a skill on its own.
3. Extend maths beyond the classroom. Selective maths rewards flexible thinking. Our Year 7 Maths and Year 8 Maths programs extend students beyond routine school exercises.
4. Practise full exams later. Timed, full-length practice is most useful in the final three to four months.

Students in Years 5 and 6 can lay strong foundations through wide reading, strong number sense and General Ability work, without exam pressure.

A sample weekly plan for a Year 7 student

• Two reasoning sessions (30 minutes each): alternate verbal and quantitative question sets, then review every mistake.
• One writing session (45 minutes): plan and write one piece, then revise it using feedback.
• One maths extension session (45 minutes): multi-step problems that require explaining the method.
• Daily reading (20 minutes): quality fiction and non-fiction to build vocabulary and inference.

That's about three hours a week, which is sustainable alongside school, sport and family time.

Looking after wellbeing

Selective entry is competitive, and most applicants won't receive an offer. It's important that students see preparation as valuable in itself. The reasoning, writing and problem-solving skills they build will serve them in Year 9 and beyond, wherever they go to school. Celebrate effort and progress, keep weekends free, and remind your child that a selective school is one great option among many.

How MeritVy helps

Our VIC Selective Entry preparation program combines reasoning, mathematics, reading and writing in small classes (maximum 10 students), with regular practice tests and individual feedback. Every student starts with a FREE academic assessment so we can build a plan around their strengths and gaps.

Many families also prepare for ACER scholarship exams or EDUTEST at the same time, as the skills overlap significantly.

Ready to talk about a plan? Visit our Berwick centre or book a FREE assessment.