Selective schools Melbourne — SEHS guide

What are the key dates for 2027 SEHS entry?

The 2027 SEHS key dates are the official ACER application, exam and offer milestones for Year 9 entry to Victoria's four selective entry high schools. Each date below applies to the cycle ending with the Saturday 20 June 2026 exam and is sourced from the ACER Victorian SEHS apply, exam-day and results-and-selection pages.

Source: ACER — Victorian Selective Entry High Schools apply; exam day details on ACER exam day; outcome report and offer dates on ACER results and selection. Confirm any updates before you lock in a practice schedule.

When will 2028 SEHS application dates be published?

The 2028 SEHS entry cycle is the Year 9 intake that follows the 2027 cohort at Victoria's four selective entry high schools. The Victorian Department of Education and ACER have not yet published key dates for the 2028 SEHS entry cycle. We will update this section when the official ACER key-dates page and Victorian Government SEHS page release the next cycle's timeline. Until then, treat any third-party 2028 dates as predictions only. Cross-check published milestones on our exam calendar when the next cycle is announced.

What are the four selective schools in Melbourne?

The four selective schools in Melbourne are Melbourne High School, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School, the four Victorian government selective entry high schools (SEHS) that are free to attend once enrolled and share the same ACER entrance exam. The table below compares location, gender intake and campus notes so you can list preferences in genuine order.

What mistake patterns show up most often on SEHS mock tests?

From Braintree Coaching Australia tutor marking records (sehs-mistake-bank), the most common SEHS mock-test mistakes are timing errors in Quantitative Reasoning and Writing, skipped post-mock reviews, and uneven practice across the five test areas. These patterns recur when timed SEHS mocks are reviewed question by question and are the errors tutors flag first because they cost marks broadly, not through one isolated knowledge gap.

How do I compare selective schools in Melbourne and apply for 2027 SEHS entry?

Comparing and applying for Victoria's selective entry high schools is a three-step process: compare the four campuses, submit an ACER application within the official window, then build a prep runway before the June sitting. Use this numbered checklist to work through each step in order.

1. Compare the four campuses on location, gender and program fit. Use the comparison table below to see how Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal and Suzanne Cory differ on campus, intake and academic profile. Visit open days where possible and nominate only schools your family would genuinely accept.
2. Apply during the official ACER registration window. Submit the online SEHS application between Monday 2 March 2026 and Friday 24 April 2026 for Year 9 entry in 2027. Pay the $175 application fee at submission unless you qualify under the equity consideration category published on the ACER apply page.
3. Build a prep runway before the June sitting and set preferences. Schedule timed SEHS mocks across all five skill areas, log mistake patterns by type, and confirm your school preference list before Friday 26 June 2026, the last day to change preferences after the exam.

What do parents ask about selective schools in Melbourne?

The most common questions from Victorian parents cover SEHS eligibility, exam dates, the 4% admission cap and how to choose between the four campuses.

What are the selective schools in Melbourne?

Victoria has four government selective entry high schools (SEHS): Melbourne High School (boys, South Yarra), Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (girls, Melbourne CBD), Nossal High School (co-educational, Berwick) and Suzanne Cory High School (co-educational, Werribee). All four enrol students in Year 9 through the same ACER-administered entrance examination.

When is the SEHS exam for 2027 entry?

The Victorian Selective Entry High Schools entrance exam for Year 9 entry in 2027 was held on Saturday 20 June 2026. Applications for that cycle opened Monday 2 March 2026 and closed Friday 24 April 2026. Confirm any updates on the ACER Victorian SEHS apply page before you lock in a practice schedule.

What is the 4% admission cap rule for SEHS?

No more than 4% of students from any one secondary or senior secondary school (10% for P–9 schools) may receive a standard or principal-discretion offer to a Victorian selective entry high school. The cap applies statewide across all four SEHS campuses, not per campus. Equity-category offers are not subject to this cap and follow separate allocation rules published by the Victorian Department of Education each year.

How do I choose between the four Melbourne SEHS campuses?

There is no single best campus — the right choice depends on your child's interests, daily commute and whether a single-sex or co-educational environment suits them. Melbourne High and Mac.Robertson historically draw the most competitive cohorts; Nossal and Suzanne Cory offer co-educational settings in outer Melbourne. List schools in genuine preference order on the application.

How competitive is SEHS entry?

SEHS entry is competitive: around 1,000 places are available across all four schools each year. SEHS uses competitive ranking, not a fixed pass mark, so balanced performance across all five skill areas, assessed over three timed test papers, matters more than excelling in one area alone.

Has Victoria published 2028 SEHS application dates yet?

No. The Victorian Department of Education and ACER have not yet published key dates for the 2028 SEHS entry cycle. Treat any third-party 2028 dates as predictions only until the official ACER key-dates page and Victorian Government SEHS page release the next cycle's timeline.

What should parents know about Suzanne Cory High School for 2027 entry?

Suzanne Cory High School is a co-educational SEHS campus in Werribee (west Melbourne), established 2011, with an IB Diploma option. The school has not published a year-tagged VCE study-score band we can cite. It shares the same ACER entrance exam as the other three SEHS schools. Compare location, daily commute and program fit before you list preferences.

How competitive is Mac.Robertson Girls' High School entry?

Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (Melbourne CBD) draws one of the most competitive SEHS cohorts alongside Melbourne High. Entry is via the same ACER exam (three timed papers assessing five skill areas); selection is statewide ranking with the 4% feeder-school cap. Visit open days where possible and list genuine preferences rather than prestige order alone.

Where can I find more Victoria SEHS resources?

These Victoria SEHS resources cover exam format, preparation strategies, practice materials and frequently asked questions in more depth.

• Victoria SEHS preparation hub
• SEHS exam format guide
• SEHS preparation strategies
• SEHS practice resources
• SEHS frequently asked questions
• WA gifted and talented program guide: compare interstate pathways
• Victorian Government — Selective Entry High Schools