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Victorian Selective Entry · Parent Guide

The Selective Entry exam, explained for parents.

Everything your family needs to know about the entrance test for Melbourne High, Mac.Rob, Nossal and Suzanne Cory — five skill areas, a 12-week roadmap, and the habits that top scorers share.

Start 30-day free trial Explore the 5 exam sections See the 12-week plan
Three test areas
Maths & Quantitative · Reading & Verbal · Writing
Knowledge ceiling
Nothing beyond Year 8 curriculum
Writing tasks
Two separate pieces, both marked
Format
Multiple-choice reasoning + written responses
What the test measures

Five skill areas, one clear overview

The Victorian Selective Entry exam tests across five distinct areas. Here's what each one actually involves — and the core skills your child needs.

1

Mathematics

Applying Year 6–8 maths to unfamiliar, worded contexts.

Students translate a real-world situation into maths, choose a strategy and solve it cleanly. Questions reward clear thinking and flexibility rather than memorised procedures.

Core skills tested
  • Fractions, decimals and percentage conversions
  • Percentage of a quantity and simple financial reasoning
  • Ratios, equivalent ratios and best-buy comparisons
  • Setting up algebra from words and solving equations
  • Angles, triangle and quadrilateral facts, transversals
  • Perimeter, area and volume in real contexts
  • Circle work: circumference, area, semicircles and quarter-circles
  • Order of operations under time pressure
Read full guide
2

Quantitative Reasoning

Patterns, number logic and spatial transformations.

Less about computation and more about recognising a rule, working backwards from conditions and seeing how shapes or numbers relate. Great students stay calm on abstract setups and keep moving.

Core skills tested
  • Number sequences and rule detection
  • Working backwards from given conditions
  • Part-whole numerical logic with fractions and ratios
  • Visual and spatial transformation of shapes or dot patterns
  • Abstract relationships between numbers and quantities
  • Reading tables, sample spaces and simple Venn diagrams
Read full guide
3

Reading

Reading for meaning, inference and viewpoint — not trivia.

Short texts test whether a student can retrieve information, infer the unstated, spot the main idea, compare viewpoints and notice loaded vocabulary. Recall of literary facts is not the goal.

Core skills tested
  • Retrieve explicit information under time pressure
  • Infer ideas that are implied but not stated
  • Identify the central idea of a passage
  • Compare two viewpoints or writers' positions
  • Detect assumptions behind an argument
  • Evaluate claims and evidence
  • Understand vocabulary in context and recognise tone
Read full guide
4

Verbal Reasoning

Thinking in words — analogies, logic and precision.

Students work with meaning relationships, classify words by category, draw "must be true" conclusions from stated conditions and choose vocabulary with fine-grained precision.

Core skills tested
  • Analogies and semantic relationships
  • Odd-one-out classification by meaning
  • Synonym and antonym nuance
  • Must-be-true logic from given conditions
  • Consequence and assumption reasoning
  • Vocabulary precision under exam timing
Read full guide
5

Writing

Two tasks · planning, structure and precise language.

Markers reward clear task response, well-organised ideas, precise vocabulary and controlled sentences. Students should be comfortable planning fast, drafting tightly and editing on the fly.

Core skills tested
  • Respond directly and fully to the task
  • Generate and develop relevant ideas quickly
  • Organise paragraphs and transitions coherently
  • Use precise, varied vocabulary
  • Maintain accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling
  • Practise narrative, persuasive and discussion forms
Read full guide
Where to focus first

Top 10 priority topics

These are the highest-impact topics across all exam sections. Master these first for the biggest confidence gain.

#1
Fraction–decimal–percentage conversions Mathematics
#2
Percentage of a quantity Mathematics
#3
Ratio and equivalent ratio Mathematics
#4
Unit-price and best-buy reasoning Mathematics
#5
Setting up algebra from words Mathematics
#6
Solving one- and two-step equations Mathematics
#7
Circle circumference and area Mathematics
#8
Non-routine perimeter problems with π Mathematics
#9
Number sequences and rule detection Quantitative
#10
Working backwards from conditions Quantitative
See all 20 topics →
12-week prep plan

A clear week-by-week roadmap

From baseline diagnostic to two full mock exams. Each week has a single focus, a concrete goal, and builds on the last.

W1

Diagnostic week

Baseline each section

A full-length baseline test across all areas and a starter error log organised by topic.

W2

Fractions, decimals, percentages

Fluent conversions

Automatic conversions between forms and confident percentage-of-quantity word problems.

W3

Ratio and rates

Ratio, best buys, unit rates

Solve ratio problems without guesswork; compare unit prices quickly.

W4

Algebra from words

Expressions and equations

Turn worded situations into expressions and solve one- and two-step equations cleanly.

W5

Geometry core

Angles, area, perimeter, volume

Triangle and quadrilateral angle facts, transversals and measurement in real contexts.

W6

Circle geometry

Circumference, area, part-circles

Circle reasoning with π, including semicircles, quarter-circles and compound shapes.

W7

Quantitative patterns

Sequences, rules, visual transforms

Spot the rule fast, work backwards and handle dot-pattern and shape transformations.

W8

Verbal reasoning

Analogies, logic, vocabulary

Comfortable with analogies, odd-one-out, must-be-true logic and fine vocabulary choice.

W9

Reading reasoning

Main idea, inference, viewpoint

Read short passages for implication, tone, assumption and competing viewpoints.

W10

Writing intensives

Two timed pieces a week

Plan, draft and edit under time; improve paragraph structure and precise vocabulary.

W11

Mixed timed sets

Combined blocks under pressure

Full Maths/QR and Reading/Verbal blocks back-to-back with pacing discipline.

W12

Mock exam week

Two rehearsals + targeted review

Two full mock exams, pattern-based error review, no new topics introduced.

Open full roadmap →
Weekly rhythm

What a strong prep week looks like

3× Maths sessions
2× Reading and verbal reasoning sessions
2× Timed writing tasks
1× Mixed full-timed drill
Daily 10–15 min error-log review
Full rhythm guide
Exam-day habits

10 habits top scorers share

  • Translates worded situations into maths fast and accurately
  • Handles fraction, percent and ratio questions almost automatically
  • Recognises sequence rules and hidden relationships quickly
  • Stays calm on abstract quantitative and verbal logic items
  • Reads short texts for implication, not just surface meaning
  • Notices loaded words, assumptions and viewpoint shifts
  • Plans writing before drafting, even under time pressure
  • Keeps writing coherent and tightly structured
  • Knows when to skip, guess intelligently and move on
  • Reviews mistakes by pattern, not just by answer
Read more
Deep-dive guides

Five focused guides — one click each

Tap any card to open a dedicated page on that part of the exam. No long scroll, no clutter.

◈

Exam sections

What the test actually measures

Five distinct skill areas — maths, quantitative reasoning, reading, verbal reasoning and writing — explained one by one.

Open guide →
★

Top 20 topics

Where to focus first

The 20 highest-priority topics across maths, reasoning, reading, verbal and writing — colour-coded by section.

Open guide →
▦

12-week roadmap

Week-by-week prep plan

A clear 12-week study plan from baseline diagnostic to two full mock exams in the final week.

Open guide →
↻

Weekly rhythm & habits

What strong students do every week

The weekly session pattern that works in the lead-up, plus ten exam-day habits of top scorers.

Open guide →
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Parent FAQ

Quick answers

Common questions parents ask about the Victorian Selective Entry exam and how to prepare for it.

Open guide →
Parent FAQ

Quick answers about Selective Entry preparation

Useful answers for families comparing Victorian Selective Entry exam preparation options.

How hard is the Victorian Selective exam, really?

The exam is designed to challenge. Many strong students do not finish every question. The goal is not 100% — it is accurate, confident work on as many questions as possible in the time given.

Does it cover anything beyond Year 8?

No. The official guidance is that required knowledge does not exceed Year 8 curriculum. The challenge is how that Year 6–8 content is applied to unfamiliar, worded and abstract situations.

Which schools use this exam?

Victoria's four academically selective schools: Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson Girls' High, Nossal High and Suzanne Cory High. Entry is typically for Year 9 starting the following year.

When should we start preparing?

A focused 12-week plan works well for students already strong in Year 6–8 maths and reading. Families wanting a gentler run-up often start 6–9 months out with lighter weekly practice.

Ready to start

Turn the guide into real practice

Pi Leo Academy members get access to Selective-style quantitative and verbal reasoning drills, mock tests, worked solutions and a parent progress portal from $7.90 / month or $79 / year.

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