Victorian selective entry exam format: sections, timing and breaks
In 2026 the exam had three parts: Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (60 minutes), Reading and Verbal Reasoning (55 minutes) and Writing (40 minutes), 155 minutes of task time in a day of about four hours.
Last checked against the official sources.
In 2026 the exam was one sitting, on a Saturday. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning was 60 minutes, then a 20 minute break, Reading and Verbal Reasoning 55 minutes, then a 5 minute break, then Writing 40 minutes. That is 155 minutes of task time in about four hours. ACER has not published the format for the next exam.
The three parts
This is the 2026 format. ACER has not published the format for the next exam, so check its preparation page before you rely on it.
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (60 minutes)
- ACER describes this as year-level mathematical knowledge and reasoning, including real-world contexts, plus thinking with numbers, patterns and shapes.
- Reading and Verbal Reasoning (55 minutes)
- Reading covers finding, interpreting and evaluating information and ideas. Verbal reasoning is thinking with words, concepts and logic.
- Writing (40 minutes)
- ACER describes a two-task format and says the writing should convey ideas in precise language, organised coherently.
ACER's page does not give the number of questions in each part, so we have not listed one.
Breaks and the day
There is a 20 minute break between the first two parts and a 5 minute break before Writing. The whole administration takes about four hours.
Candidates are given a venue based on home address about two weeks beforehand. ACER says venue allocation is not negotiable and does not affect results or selection.
What to bring
For 2026, ACER required photo identification, a printed admission ticket and two blue or black pens. Phones, smart watches, calculators, translation devices or dictionaries, headphones, recording devices and notebooks or extra paper are not allowed, and ACER says unpermitted items are confiscated. The admission ticket is sent about a week before the exam, through the portal and by email. Check the current exam-day page, as requirements can change.
What this means for you
ACER says there is no need for your child to practise or revise, and that the exam is designed to challenge candidates. ACER also asks parents not to put unnecessary pressure on children, and says it is not unusual for candidates to answer only about half the questions correctly or not to finish, so there is no need to panic. If you would like your child to be comfortable with the style and format of the questions, ACER's samples are the place to start. They are short and carry no timing guidance, and there is no Writing sample. Think of it as familiarisation, not drilling.
ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business. Nothing here is official or endorsed by ACER or the Department.
A calm morning matters more than last-minute cramming. Plan travel to the venue, pack snacks and make sure the admission ticket is printed.
Checked against ACER's exam format and exam-day pages on 7 October 2026.