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Victorian Selective Entry High Schools

Year 9 admission process 2025

Victoria's Selective Entry High Schools provide an excellent education for academically high-achieving students in Years 9-12.

Students in their second year of secondary schooling (Year 8) can apply for a place by sitting the entrance exam.

This website contains information related to Year 9 entry. Entry to Years 10 to 12 is handled directly by the schools.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) administers the centralised selection process on behalf of the Department of Education.

The information on this website is supplied by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). As providers of the exam, ACER will support parents/carers and candidates throughout the selective entry process. Please contact us if you have any queries.

Participating schools

There are four Victorian government schools participating in the Selective Entry High Schools program.

Important dates 2024

Applications open

Monday 5 February 2024 10am

Advice sent to parents/carers on exam arrangements

Thursday 30 May 2024

Last day to change preferences 

Friday 21 June 2024

Offers process

July - October 2024

Applications close

Friday 3 May 2024 11:59pm

Selective Entry High School exam

Saturday 15 June 2024

Exam outcome reports sent to parents/carers

16 August 2024

Quick reference

Who needs to sit the exam?

Candidates for Year 9 entry into Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, Melbourne High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School are required to sit the selective entry exam.

The entry process for Years 10-12 is managed by the individual schools.

How do I sit the exam?

The exam is hosted in selected venues across Melbourne. Special arrangements can be made for interstate or international candidates.

Full information on the exam

Fees

There is a fee of $170 payable at the time of application.

Applications are free for low-income or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.

Full information on payment

ACER and the Victorian Department of Education

ACER is an independent, not-for-profit organisation and one of the world's leading providers of educational expertise, products and services.

ACER is responsible for the secure and fair delivery of the Victorian Selective Entry High School exam. ACER brings their years of experience successfully delivering high-stakes assessments to this partnership with the Victorian Department of Education.

ACER logo

Equity and fairness

Equity consideration helps ensure that all students have access to the same educational opportunities.

Your child may be eligible for equity consideration category if:

  • as their parent, you have either a Commonwealth Health Care Card or a Pension Card and qualify for income support benefits
  • they identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Eligibility for the equity consideration category is verified at the application stage.

Is my child eligible? 

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Victoria and pay respect to the ongoing living cultures of First Peoples.

The torres strait islander flag The aboriginal flag