NSW vs Victoria selective schools: format, timing and prep differences for 2027 entry
A side-by-side parent guide to NSW Selective High Schools and Victorian Selective Entry High Schools (SEHS) for 2027 entry — who runs each test, what each paper measures, when sittings fall, and how Braintree tutor difficulty notes from timed mocks differ between the two systems.
By Braintree Editorial, Exam preparation editors, Braintree Coaching Australia
Reviewed by Braintree Academic Panel on
Last updated
Quick Answer
NSW Selective uses a single computer-based placement test in May 2026 for 2027 entry — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and a 30-minute typed Writing task administered by the NSW Department of Education. Victoria's SEHS entrance exam is a paper-based ACER assessment in June of Year 8 for Year 9 entry, with five components including Abstract Reasoning and a handwritten Written Expression task. The states use different year levels, delivery modes and scoring systems; prep must match the state your child is applying in.
- NSW sitting (2027 entry)1–2 May 2026 · computer
- VIC SEHS sittingJune Year 8 · paper
- NSW components4 (incl. typed Writing)
- VIC components5 (ACER SEHS)
Which test does each state use?
NSW Selective High Schools and Victorian Selective Entry High Schools (SEHS) are separate systems run by different bodies on different timelines.
| Topic | NSW Selective | Victorian SEHS |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | NSW Department of Education | Victorian Department of Education (ACER-delivered exam) |
| Entry point | Year 6 → Year 7 | Year 8 → Year 9 |
| Delivery | Computer-based at NSW test centres | Paper-based test booklet |
| Components | Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, Writing (typed) | Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, Written Expression, Science Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning (confirm current ACER SEHS structure on acer.org) |
| Typical sitting | May (2027 entry: 1–2 May 2026) | June of Year 8 |
| Schools | NSW selective and partially selective high schools | Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson Girls', Nossal, Suzanne Cory |
Sources: NSW placement test; Victorian SEHS; ACER SEHS.
What do Braintree mock reviews show about difficulty?
Braintree tutor difficulty notes from timed NSW Selective mocks (selective-difficulty-notes) show a consistent pattern: Reading and Thinking Skills punish slow inference and misread stems; Mathematical Reasoning slips come from multi-step pace collapse; Writing loses marks when keyboard fluency stalls below roughly 30–35 words per minute on the 30-minute typed task.
Victorian SEHS mocks surface a different profile: paper pacing across five back-to-back sections, handwritten expression under time pressure, and Abstract Reasoning pattern recognition that does not appear on the NSW four-component test. Neither state is "easier" in the abstract — the skills under pressure differ.
How should preparation differ by state?
NSW families should pair official PDF practice with screen-based mocks, typed Writing tasks and the NSW Selective format guide. Start with Selective past papers only after you know which PDFs are official Department materials.
Victorian families should run paper-format SEHS mocks, build handwriting stamina for Written Expression, and read the Victoria SEHS exam format guide. The Victoria SEHS schools guide compares campuses.
Cross-state families (for example, a move from Sydney to Melbourne) must reset the prep plan to the destination state's year level and delivery mode — not continue NSW screen drills for a Victorian paper exam.
Where do 2028 entry dates stand?
No separate 2028 NSW Selective or 2028 SEHS format changes have been published at verification time (3 July 2026). Treat the current computer-based NSW test and ACER SEHS paper format as the reference until each department announces updates. Flag 2028 application windows as pending in your calendar until the December refresh against official sources.
What should we read next?
Key facts.
- NSW test administrator
- NSW Department of Education
- VIC test administrator
- ACER (Victorian Department of Education)
- NSW entry point
- Year 6 → Year 7 selective high school
- VIC SEHS entry point
- Year 8 → Year 9 selective high school
- NSW delivery (current cycle)
- Computer-based at NSW test centres
- VIC delivery (current cycle)
- Paper-based test booklet
Data sources and references.
- NSW Department of Education — Selective placement test
NSW Department of Education
NSW Selective format, practice materials and key dates
- Victorian Department of Education — Selective Entry High Schools
Victorian Department of Education
SEHS eligibility, timeline and school list
- ACER — Selective Entry High Schools Examination
Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
SEHS component structure since ACER administration from 2023
Common questions, plainly answered.
4 questions Australian parents ask most often about this topic.
Exam preparation guides.
Related guides for parents.
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