SEHS test day: what to bring and what to expect
A chronological test-day guide for the Victorian Selective Entry High School (SEHS) entrance exam — what to bring, what to expect at the test centre, how to pace each paper-based section, and what parents can do before and after the sitting for 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
Arrive early at the designated test centre with your admission ticket, two forms of identification, sharpened HB pencils, blue or black pens, and a clear water bottle. The SEHS exam is paper-based — calculators, phones and smartwatches are not permitted. Five ACER components run 30 minutes each with short breaks between papers. Pace each section at roughly one question a minute, skip and return to hard items rather than losing time, and use any break to reset before the next paper.
- BringAdmission ticket and ID
- DeliveryPaper-based booklets
- Not allowedCalculators and devices
- Pacing~1 minute per question
Read the full Victoria Selective Entry High Schools (SEHS) preparation guide.
Test day is where months of preparation meet a single sitting, and the steadiest results come from children who know exactly what to expect before they walk in. Braintree Coaching Australia prepares students for the Victorian Selective Entry High School (SEHS) entrance exam, and this guide walks through the day itself as part of our Victoria SEHS preparation programme for Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. If you have not yet read how the paper is structured, start with our SEHS exam format guide.
What should we do in the days before the test?
In the final days before the SEHS test, stop introducing new material and shift to light review — short vocabulary, mental-maths and pattern work — so your child arrives confident rather than overloaded. Confirm the test centre, date and arrival time from the official application details, and plan the journey to allow for traffic or public-transport delays. Prioritise sleep across the whole week, not just the night before, and lay out the admission ticket and identification the evening prior so the morning is calm.
What should my child bring on test day?
Pack the night before and check each item against three lists. Must bring: test admission ticket or confirmation, two forms of ID (student ID plus birth certificate or passport), two to three sharpened HB pencils, two blue or black pens, eraser and pencil sharpener, a clear water bottle with the label removed, and an analog watch (no smartwatches). Optional: a light snack for breaks (no loud wrappers), tissues, small hand sanitiser, or quiet reading material for before the test begins. Cannot bring: mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, any electronic device, notes or study materials, food with loud wrappers, or large bags (only clear plastic bags if the centre requires one).
What happens at the test centre?
Arrive about 30 minutes early so your child has time to sign in, find the exam room and use the bathroom without rushing. After check-in and storing any devices, candidates are seated for the paper-based assessment. The five ACER components — Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Writing — are each individually timed at 30 minutes, with short breaks between papers. Including check-in and breaks, plan for a commitment of roughly two and a half to three hours. Parents cannot remain in the test venue during the sitting.
How should my child pace each section?
With 30 minutes per component and roughly 30 questions in the multiple-choice papers, a steady rhythm of around one question a minute keeps your child on track without rushing. Encourage them to skip a difficult question and return to it rather than losing time, and to trust a first instinct when choosing between two close options. In Mathematics, remind them there is no calculator, so multi-step problems are worked by hand on the provided paper. For Writing, planning for a couple of minutes, writing to a clear structure, and saving a minute to proofread produces a stronger response than writing straight away.
How can my child manage stress during the exam?
Deep breathing before the test and during breaks — breathe in for four counts, hold for four, breathe out for four — reduces anxiety and sharpens focus. Positive self-talk ("I am prepared", "I will do my best") counters negative thoughts without adding pressure. During breaks, brief stretching or a short walk releases physical tension. If concentration drifts mid-section, a five-second pause and one deep breath before re-reading the question often restores focus better than rushing ahead.
What should parents do — and avoid — on test day?
Stay calm and positive rather than showing your own anxiety. Provide a familiar, nutritious breakfast — not new foods on test morning. Arrive early with a time buffer so a traffic delay does not cause panic. Use encouraging language and avoid reminding your child of consequences if results are disappointing. Plan a relaxing post-test activity and hold off on discussing performance until your child is ready.
What happens after the test?
Once the sitting is over, results are typically released six to seven weeks later, in late July or early August, by email and mail. The outcome includes component scores and a percentile rank against the sitting cohort. For how to read those results and what the selection timeline looks like, read our SEHS results guide. The Victorian Department of Education publishes the authoritative SEHS entry information at education.vic.gov.au; confirm test-centre and date details there for the year your child applies.
Related Victoria SEHS resources
Last updated: 2026-06-08. Reviewed by the Braintree Coaching Academic Team.
Key facts.
- Test format
- Paper-based, sat at a designated test centre
- Bring
- Admission ticket, two forms of ID, pencils, pens, clear water bottle
- Not permitted
- Calculators, phones, smartwatches and study materials
- Section pacing
- 30 minutes each; about one question per minute
- Results
- Late July or early August (6–7 weeks after sitting)
Ready to plan your child’s next step?
Sit a free timed mock test to see where your child stands, or return to the full guide for context on the exam, dates, and practice packs.