What year is the Victorian selective entry exam?
Students sit the exam in Year 8 to apply for Year 9 entry to a selective entry high school in Victoria. It is administered by ACER for the Department of Education.
Year 9 Selective School Test in Victoria: Free Sample Paper PDF
The Year 9 selective school test in Victoria is the selective entry exam run by ACER for the Department of Education. It is sat in Year 8 by students applying for Year 9 entry to a selective entry high school. This page explains the format, what official practice material exists, and gives you a free sample paper with answers to try today.
About the Year 9 selective entry test in Victoria
The Victorian selective entry exam is administered by ACER for the Department of Education. Students in Year 8 sit the exam to apply for a place in Year 9 at a selective entry high school. Dates, fees and application steps are set each year, so check the ACER selective entry website before you plan.
Coaching providers commonly describe five components: Reading, Mathematics, Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Writing. Per-section timings are reported inconsistently across sources, so we do not quote them here. Confirm the current structure and timings with ACER.
Free Year 9 selective sample paper (PDF) with answers
Our free sample paper is a short taster covering all five areas: a reading passage, mathematics, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning and a writing task. It has 17 multiple-choice questions, full worked answers and a self-marking guide for the writing.
It is original practice material written by PracticeExamPro. It is not an official paper and does not contain real exam questions. Use it to see which areas feel comfortable and which need work before you move on to longer timed papers.
- Print it, set a timer and work without a calculator.
- Mark it only after you finish, then read every explanation, including for questions you got right.
- Note which of the five areas lost the most marks and start your study plan there.
Victorian selective test papers and PDFs: what is available
We could not find an official release of full past Victorian selective entry papers. ACER publishes exam format information and sample questions on its selective entry website, and these are the closest official equivalents.
Be cautious of any site that claims to sell "past papers" from the real exam. Practice papers from providers, including ours, are written to match the style of the test, not copied from it. Sample questions and our PDF bundles together give you enough variety to build stamina and speed.
How to prepare in Year 8
- Start 6 to 12 months before the exam. Early on, build reading range and maths fluency rather than sitting full papers.
- Practise verbal and quantitative reasoning with unfamiliar problems, not just revising school topics.
- Write a timed piece every week or two, then edit it for structure and word choice.
- In the final 6 to 8 weeks, sit full timed papers in one session to build stamina, and review every mistake.
What about NSW Year 9 selective entry?
NSW selective entry is mainly at Year 7, based on the Selective High School Placement Test sat in Year 6. Places in later years are limited and vary by school and year. The NSW Department of Education advises families to contact individual selective schools about vacancies and entry requirements, and some schools set their own process. If you are in NSW, read our selective practice tests and test papers pages, and check directly with the schools you are interested in.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find Year 9 selective school test papers in PDF for Victoria?
We could not find a release of full past papers. ACER publishes format information and sample questions, and you can download our free original sample paper with answers. Always confirm the current format with ACER.
Is the free sample paper a real exam?
No. It is original practice material written by PracticeExamPro in the style of the five commonly reported test areas. It is not affiliated with ACER or the Department of Education.
Does NSW have a Year 9 selective test?
NSW selective entry is mainly at Year 7. Some selective schools may offer limited places in later years, and the NSW Department of Education advises contacting those schools directly about their requirements.