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Victorian selective entry FAQ: scores, preparation and NSW differences

Plain answers to common parent questions: how this differs from NSW selective, whether you will see scores, what ACER says about practice, and how to prepare without coaching.

Last checked against the official sources.

Victorian selective entry is a separate system from NSW. Parents get an outcome report, and ACER does not allow access to individual scores. ACER says there is no need to practise or revise, so the best preparation is familiarity with the format and a calm exam day.

Is this the same as NSW selective?

No. The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is a different test with different rules. If you are in NSW, see our NSW Selective guide. In Victoria, there are four schools and one ACER exam for Year 9 entry.

Will we see scores?

ACER says access to the tests or individual scores after the exam is not permitted. The portal provides a report outlining each candidate's performance, available from 3 August in 2026, the same day as Round 1 offers. ACER says results are not necessarily directly comparable to any other test (for example NAPLAN). ACER's public pages do not describe what the outcome report shows, so be cautious of anyone claiming to know where your child sits.

What does ACER say about practice?

ACER's words: "There is no need for your child to practice or revise for the exam." It also says the exam is designed to challenge candidates. Sample questions are provided for familiarity, with a caveat that they may not reflect the difficulty. See sample questions.

Preparing without coaching

You do not need a program. Helpful, low-key habits include:

  • reading widely and talking about what your child read;
  • noticing numbers, patterns and shapes in everyday life;
  • a relaxed look at the official samples so the format is not a surprise;
  • sleep, breakfast and an unhurried trip to the venue.
Exam tip

If your child is anxious, keep the focus on effort and curiosity. The exam is one route into four schools, not a measure of your child.

A disclosure

ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business. We still point you to the free official material first.

Checked against official pages on 7 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How is Victorian selective entry different from NSW selective high schools?
Victoria has four schools, one exam run by ACER for Year 9 entry, and offers in rounds with equity and principal discretion categories. NSW has its own Selective High School Placement Test and many schools. They are separate systems, so do not mix up rules. See our NSW Selective guide for NSW.
Will we see our child's score?
No. ACER states that access to the tests or individual scores after the exam is not permitted. Parents receive an exam outcome report in the portal from 3 August (in 2026), ACER says results are not necessarily directly comparable to any other test, and its public pages do not describe what the report shows.
Does my child need to practise?
ACER says there is no need for your child to practise or revise for the exam. It provides sample questions for familiarity, and notes they are not necessarily reflective of the difficulty.
How can we prepare without coaching?
Keep things low pressure. Read together, talk through everyday maths and reasoning, have a quiet go at ACER's sample questions for familiarity, and plan the exam day logistics.
Does ExamExplained run a tutoring business?
ExamExplained is run alongside a tutoring business. This guide follows official sources, makes no promises about outcomes and does not require any purchase.

Sources