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Australia · Entry test

The selective school test in Year 8, and entry after Year 7

It depends on the state. In Victoria, Year 8 is when students sit the one selective school test, the Selective Entry High Schools exam, for a place from Year 9. In New South Wales (NSW), the placement test is for Year 7 entry only, and each selective high school runs its own entry for Years 8 to 11, sometimes with its own test.

  • Year 9Victoria’s main selective entry year
  • Each schoolSets its own NSW Years 8 to 11 entry
  • 17 June 2026NSW Years 8 to 11 applications, 2027 entry
Where to study

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

Is there a selective school test in Year 8 in Victoria?

Students apply in Year 8 and sit the exam in June, run by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Places in Years 10 and 11 are few, and the schools handle them directly, not through ACER.

Who can apply, the exam and fees →

NSW selective school entry in Years 8 to 11

  • Each school manages its own vacancies, assessments and placement decisions. Some have no vacancies in some years.
  • Apply the year before: for Year 8, apply while your child is in Year 7.
  • Some schools hold a test; others look at school reports. The school tells you if there’s a test and whether it charges a fee.
  • Fill in a separate form for each school, listing schools in the same order of preference, with a birth certificate, citizenship or passport.
  • Offers may come by letter or phone. A phone offer must be accepted or declined within 24 hours.
  • Reserve lists apply only for that school year and may close after Term 2.

Students in the NSW equity groups may get extra consideration if their results are similar to others’. If your child has a disability and needs adjustments, contact the school early.

NSW Years 8 to 11 dates for 2027 entry

DateActivity
17 June 2026Applications open
24 July 2026Applications close
July to August 2026Schools advise of assessments
August to September 2026Assessments held, if any
September to October 2026Outcomes released
Late January 2027Successful students start

Those were the department’s dates for entry in 2027. Outcomes come from the schools, in the same year applications close.

Can a selective student change schools?

Not automatically. A NSW selective high school student who wants another selective school applies through the Years 8 to 11 process, like any other applicant.

NSW Department of Education: Years 8 to 11 applications ↗
Sources: NSW Department of Education · Victorian Government · ACER and 1 more. Checked October 2026.

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

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