Victoria SEHS · FAQ
SEHS FAQ: applications, test format and school choice
Frequently asked questions about the Victorian Selective Entry High School (SEHS) entrance exam — how the five ACER components work, application dates, school caps, results and how to choose between Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal and Suzanne Cory.
By Braintree Editorial, Braintree Coaching Australia editorial team
Reviewed by Braintree Academic Panel on
Last updated
Quick Answer
The most common questions are about the test format, eligibility, how long to prepare, what scores each school typically requires, and how the 4% and 10% school caps affect offers. The Victorian SEHS entrance exam has five ACER components — Reading, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Writing — sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry. Selection is competitive ranking with school preferences, not a fixed pass mark.
- Components5 ACER sections
- Entry yearYear 9
- DeliveryPaper-based
- SelectionCompetitive ranking
Read the full Victoria Selective Entry High Schools (SEHS) preparation guide.
These are the questions Victorian families most often ask Braintree Coaching Australia about the Victorian Selective Entry High School (SEHS) entrance exam. For the full picture, start with our Victoria SEHS preparation hub, which links to every guide below.
The answers above cover the test format, eligibility, preparation, school caps, results and test day. To go deeper on any topic, read our SEHS exam format guide, the SEHS preparation strategies, and the SEHS practice resources. For the sitting itself and what follows, see the SEHS test-day guide and the SEHS results guide. The Victorian Department of Education publishes the authoritative SEHS entry information at education.vic.gov.au; confirm dates and fees there each year.
At a glance
Key facts.
- Schools
- Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal, Suzanne Cory
- Test administrator
- ACER (since 2023)
- Sitting year
- Year 8 for Year 9 entry
- School caps
- 4% per secondary school; 10% for Prep–Year 9 schools
- Results
- Late July or early August
FAQ
Common questions, plainly answered.
33 questions our faculty fields most often about this exam.
General
The Selective Entry High School (SEHS) test is a standardised exam administered by ACER for entry into Victoria's four selective high schools: Melbourne High School, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. The test assesses students in five areas: Reading, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Writing.
The SEHS test is typically held in mid-June each year. Students take the test in Year 8 for Year 9 entry. Registration usually opens in February and closes in early May. Exact dates vary annually, so check the Victorian Department of Education website for specific dates.
The SEHS test runs for approximately 2.5 hours (150 minutes) of actual testing time, plus breaks. Each of the five components (Reading, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, Writing) is 30 minutes long.
No, calculators are not permitted in the SEHS test. Students must perform all mathematical calculations mentally or on the provided working paper.
The SEHS test is paper-based. Students answer on traditional paper test booklets using pencils and pens. There is no computer or typing component.
Eligibility
Students in Year 8 (or equivalent) who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or hold eligible visas can sit the SEHS test. Students must be enrolled in a Victorian school at the time of application. Home-schooled students and interstate students may also be eligible under certain conditions.
Students can sit the SEHS test while living interstate, but they must be planning to relocate to Victoria and enrol in a Victorian school if offered a place. Proof of Victorian residency may be required during the application process.
There is no cost to sit the SEHS test itself. However, if your child is offered a place and accepts, there will be school fees. Melbourne High and Mac.Robertson have minimal fees as government schools ($30–$120 annually), while Nossal and Suzanne Cory have similar fee structures.
Yes, students can attempt the SEHS test annually. If unsuccessful in Year 8, they can reapply for Year 10 entry by sitting the test again in Year 9. However, Year 9 entry is the most common, with significantly fewer Year 10 positions available.
Preparation
Most successful students prepare for 9–12 months before the SEHS test. High-performing students may need 6–8 months, while comprehensive preparation (12–18 months) benefits students starting early or needing significant skill development. Consistent daily practice of 45–60 minutes is more effective than last-minute cramming.
Most students find Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning the most challenging sections, as they test skills not directly taught in regular school curriculum. These sections require pattern recognition, vocabulary knowledge, and abstract thinking that must be developed through targeted practice.
ACER provides limited sample questions on their website, but there are no official full-length SEHS practice tests publicly available. Braintree Coaching offers ACER-style practice materials with full-length mock tests designed to match the SEHS test format.
Yes, parents can significantly help by establishing a consistent 45–60 minute daily study routine, encouraging 30+ minutes of daily reading above grade level, building vocabulary with 15–20 new words weekly, providing emotional support without pressure, and using quality practice resources aligned with the ACER format.
Test components
SEHS Reading Comprehension includes main idea identification, inference and interpretation, vocabulary in context, author's purpose and tone, and supporting details. Passages are typically 300–500 words from various genres with four to six questions each.
SEHS Mathematics covers number operations, fractions/decimals/percentages, algebra and equations, geometry and measurement, data interpretation, and problem-solving. Questions go beyond Year 8 curriculum, testing logical thinking and multi-step problem-solving without a calculator.
Verbal Reasoning tests vocabulary knowledge and word relationships through analogies, synonyms and antonyms, sentence completion, word classification, and verbal logic puzzles. Success requires a strong vocabulary and understanding of word relationship patterns.
Quantitative Reasoning assesses numerical pattern recognition and logical problem-solving through number sequences, pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, logical deduction, and abstract problem-solving. These questions test thinking skills rather than mathematical knowledge alone.
SEHS Writing prompts include creative narrative, persuasive/argumentative, descriptive, or opinion pieces. Students have 30 minutes to plan, write, and edit a well-structured response. Strong responses demonstrate creative thinking, varied sentence structure, proper grammar and punctuation, and organised structure with clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
Schools
Melbourne High School typically requires scores in the 96th–99th percentile range due to very high competition. This means students need to perform in the top 1–4% of all SEHS test takers. Strong performance across all five components is essential.
Nossal High School (90th–95th percentile) and Suzanne Cory High School (88th–93rd percentile) typically have slightly lower entry scores than Melbourne High or Mac.Robertson, but they are still highly competitive. These schools are co-educational and located in outer Melbourne suburbs, which may affect application numbers.
Admission caps
The 4% cap rule means that a maximum of 4% of students from any single secondary or senior secondary school may be accepted into a selective entry school. For example, if your school has 200 Year 8 students, only 8 students maximum (4% of 200) can receive offers. This cap applies to standard offers and principal discretion seats.
The 10% cap rule applies to schools offering Prep to Year 9. No more than 10% of prospective students from these schools may be accepted into selective entry high schools. For example, a Prep–Year 9 school with 150 Year 8 students can have up to 15 students receive offers (10% of 150).
The 4% and 10% caps exist to ensure fair representation from multiple schools across Victoria. These caps prevent any single school from dominating the enrolments in a given year at Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal, or Suzanne Cory. Your child competes not only against all Victorian students, but specifically against students from their own school cohort.
No, the 4% and 10% caps do not apply to equity and consideration students. Equity offers are reserved for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students or those whose parents have a pensioner or healthcare card. Fee-paying international students are subject to different caps than domestic students.
Results
SEHS test results are typically released in late July or early August, approximately 6–7 weeks after the test date. Parents receive results via email and mail, including component scores, percentile rankings, and information about the preference submission process.
SEHS offers are based on test scores and percentile rankings, school preferences submitted by families (in order), and available places at each school. Students with higher scores receive priority for their first-preference school. If not selected, they are considered for their second preference, and so on.
There is no formal appeal process for SEHS selection decisions based on test scores. However, students can reapply for Year 10 entry by sitting the SEHS test again in Year 9. Additional preparation during the year can significantly improve second-attempt results.
Generally, students need 96th–99th percentile for Melbourne High or Mac.Robertson, 90th–95th percentile for Nossal, and 88th–93rd percentile for Suzanne Cory. However, these are unofficial estimates and actual cutoffs vary annually based on the applicant pool and available places.
Test day
Students must bring a test admission ticket, two forms of ID (student ID plus birth certificate or passport), 2–3 sharpened HB pencils, 2 blue or black pens, eraser and pencil sharpener, a clear water bottle (label removed), and an analog watch (no smartwatches). See our complete test-day checklist for details.
No, parents cannot stay in the test venue during the SEHS exam. Parents should drop off students at the designated time and return for pickup approximately 2.5–3 hours later. Students will be supervised by test administrators throughout.
If your child is genuinely unwell on SEHS test day, contact the test administrator immediately. In some cases, special consideration or alternative testing arrangements may be possible, but this is not guaranteed. Prevention through good health habits leading up to the test is important.
Resources
Yes, Braintree Coaching offers SEHS preparation including the SEHS Super Pack with ACER-style questions, full-length mock tests, detailed answer explanations, progress tracking, and access until exam date. Component-specific packs are also available for targeted practice.
Yes, Braintree offers free resources including a 20-question SEHS sample test (all five components), an essential vocabulary list, and ACER-style writing prompts with rubrics. Download these from our SEHS practice resources page to get started.
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