Where to study

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work certification and licensesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

Australia · Entry test

Selective schools application dates and steps

You apply online before the test, when your child is in Year 5 or early Year 6 in New South Wales (NSW), or in Year 8 in Victoria. A NSW selective schools application for Year 7 entry in 2028 goes through the Department of Education’s application website, and Victorian families apply through the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Both states list up to three schools in order of preference and turn away late applications.

  • Up to 3Schools you can list, in NSW or Victoria
  • No late entriesApplications in either state
  • 5 November 2026NSW opening date; closes 15 February 2027
Go to the NSW application website

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

How do you make a selective schools application in NSW?

  1. Register on the application website with your own details as the parent or carer, not your child’s.
  2. Verify your email address. Check your junk folder if the email doesn’t arrive.
  3. Log in.
  4. Complete every section. Saving your application doesn’t submit it.
  5. Select submit, then check you’ve received the confirmation email and a dashboard message.

After you submit, you can still log in to update details, upload documents, send messages and change school choices until the cut-off date.

NSW key dates for Year 7 entry in 2028

DateActivity
5 November 2026Applications open
15 February 2027Applications close; last day to ask for adjustments
13 or 14 May 2027Selective High School Placement Test (one day)
11 June 2027Make-up test, after an approved illness or misadventure request
25 June 2027Last day to change school choices

The department’s timeline expects outcomes in Term 3 2027 and the reserve decision date in Term 4 2027, both to be confirmed, and says dates can change.

Choosing your schools

  • NSW: list 1 to 3 selective high schools. Victoria: list 1 to 3 selective entry high schools.
  • Put the school you want most first. In both states your child is offered only the highest choice they qualify for.
  • In NSW, if you decline an offer you can’t then get one from a lower choice. Listing a school first gives no advantage there.
  • Only list schools you’d accept. Victorian offers can’t be transferred to another school, and ACER asks you to think about travel distance.
The NSW schools and their places →The four Victorian schools →

Applying in Victoria

The Australian Council for Educational Research runs the Victorian selective schools application in its online portal. To apply you need:

  • your child’s Victorian Student Number, if they have one
  • a debit or credit card for the fee
  • your and your child’s Centrelink Customer Reference Numbers, if you apply for equity consideration

For Year 9 entry in 2027, applications ran from 2 March to 24 April 2026, the exam was on Saturday 20 June 2026 and preferences could be changed until 26 June 2026. ACER hadn’t published dates for Year 9 entry in 2028 by late October 2026.

Victorian fees and who can apply →ACER: Victorian application portal ↗
Sources: NSW Department of Education · ACER and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewStudy optionsNSW testNSW schoolsVictoria testResultsPractice testsPreparation

Offers and entry

Reserve listsEntry scoresYear 8 entry