Here is the short version. The Victorian selective entry test is a centralised exam run by ACER, the Australian Council for Educational Research, which took over from EduTest in 2023. Students sit it in Year 8, on a single Saturday in June, for entry into Year 9 at one of the four selective schools. It tests reading and verbal reasoning, mathematics and numerical reasoning, and writing. It measures ability, not curriculum recall, and entry is by competitive ranking.
If you are looking into Victorian selective entry, the test itself raises a lot of questions: who runs it, what it covers, and when it happens. Here are clear answers.
Below is how the exam and process work. To estimate a result, use our Victorian selective calculator.
Key takeaways
- The exam is run by ACER, which took over from EduTest in 2023.
- Students sit it in Year 8, for entry in Year 9.
- It is held on a single Saturday, usually in June.
- It tests reading and verbal reasoning, maths and numerical reasoning, and writing.
- It measures ability, not curriculum recall.
- Entry is by competitive ranking, with no published cut-offs.
Who runs the test
The exam is run by ACER, the Australian Council for Educational Research, for the Victorian Department of Education. ACER took over from EduTest in 2023. So the test changed in style, not just in who runs it.
ACER designs the test to measure ability and thinking. It rewards real reasoning, not memorised facts. The content does not go beyond Year 8 level.
What the test covers
The exam has several timed sections. They cover reading and verbal reasoning, maths and numerical reasoning, and writing, with one persuasive task and one creative task.
The reasoning sections test how a child thinks, not just what they know. A child who is good at sums but weak at problem solving can find this part hard. Writing is marked on ideas, structure, and use of language.
When and where it happens
Students sit the exam in Year 8, for entry into Year 9 the next year. It is held on one Saturday, usually in June, at test centres across Victoria. It runs about two hours plus breaks.
Applications usually open in early March and close in late April. The Department confirms exact dates in late February, so check the official site for the current year.
Want to estimate a result from practice scores?
Try the Victorian selective calculator →How students are selected
Entry is by competitive ranking. Students rank all four schools in order. They are placed at the highest one where their result is strong enough. There is no published pass mark.
Most places go on exam results. There is also an equity category for some students, and the schools fill a small share at their own discretion. For how the schools compare, see our Victorian selective schools guide.
The ranked-preference system is worth understanding, because it shapes how you should list the schools. You sit one exam, and your single result is used to place you at the highest-preference school where your score is competitive. That means listing the schools in your genuine order of preference is the right strategy: there is no penalty for putting the most competitive school first, because if you miss it you are simply considered for your next choice with the same result. What you should not do is leave a school off your list because you assume you will not get in, since that only removes a chance you might have had. The equity category exists so that students who have faced disadvantage are considered fairly against the same standard, and a small number of discretionary places let schools account for individual circumstances, but the large majority of offers come straight from the exam ranking. Because there is no published pass mark and the cohort changes each year, the sensible approach is to prepare well, sit the one exam, and preference all the schools you would genuinely attend in true order, so your result is used to its fullest.
Results and offers
Results come out later in the year, usually in late August. First-round offers follow in early September. Successful students start Year 9 the next January.
Because entry is a ranking, a near miss is common and not a failure. Many strong students apply, and only a limited number of places exist. For preparation, see our preparation guide.
Common questions
How does the Victorian selective entry test work?
It is a centralised exam run by ACER, sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry. It tests reading and verbal reasoning, maths and numerical reasoning, and writing, and entry is by competitive ranking across the four selective schools.
What does the Victorian selective test assess?
It assesses ability and higher-order thinking, not curriculum recall. The sections cover reading and verbal reasoning, mathematics and numerical reasoning, and writing, with a persuasive and a creative task. Content does not go beyond Year 8 level.
When do students apply for the Victorian selective exam?
Applications typically open in early March and close in late April, for an exam in June. Students sit it in Year 8 for entry into Year 9 the following year. Confirm exact dates with the Department.
Who administers the Victorian selective test?
ACER, the Australian Council for Educational Research, administers it on behalf of the Victorian Department of Education. ACER took over from EduTest in 2023, so older descriptions of an EduTest format are out of date.
How are applicants ranked and placed?
Students rank all four schools in preference order. They are placed at the highest-ranked school where their result is competitive. Most places go on exam results, with an equity category and a small discretionary share.
When are Victorian selective results released?
Results are usually released in late August, with first-round offers in early September. Successful students begin Year 9 the following January at their allocated school.
Estimate a Victorian selective result
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Open the Victorian selective calculator →Related guides
This guide is general information for parents, not formal advice. The Victorian Department of Education and ACER set the rules, and details like dates and the selection categories can change. There are no published cut-off scores, so always confirm current details on the official Victorian selective entry pages. Reviewed by the ATARCalculators Editorial Team.