Selective schools are government schools that offer places on academic merit, usually through a test. They are free to attend, like any government school, and they are popular, so there are far more applicants than places.
New South Wales
New South Wales has the most selective schools in Australia: fully selective high schools, partially selective high schools (with a selective stream alongside local enrolments) and agricultural high schools. For Year 7 entry, families apply while their child is in Year 5, and students sit the Selective High School Placement Test in Year 5, around May, for a place in Year 7 the following year. Applications usually open late in the year before the test and close early in the year of the test.
Entry into Years 8 to 11 is handled by each selective school directly. NSW also runs opportunity classes for Years 5 and 6 in some primary schools, with their own application and test. The NSW Department of Education (opens in a new tab) publishes the current dates and test format. You can see schools in New South Wales on Schools Near Me.
Victoria
Victoria's selective entry high schools take students from Year 9: Melbourne High School, The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. Students sit the entry exam in Year 8. Victoria also runs academic programs in many government schools, known as Select Entry Accelerated Learning (SEAL). Check the Victorian Government's selective entry page (opens in a new tab) for the current schools and dates.
Other states and territories
Western Australia's Perth Modern School is fully selective, and many WA government schools run gifted and talented programs with their own entry tests. Queensland has Queensland Academies for senior students, and South Australia and other states run special-interest and selective programs within government schools. Check your state education department for the current options.
Should your child sit the test?
Many Catholic and independent schools offer academic scholarships with their own tests. Our school pages show every option near you.
- Ask whether your child would enjoy a fast pace with other highly able students, or would be happier near the top of a mixed class.
- Look at the journey: selective schools draw from a wide area.
- Keep a strong second choice. Most applicants are not offered a place, and that says little about how they will do at secondary school.
- Watch the dates. In New South Wales the application closes in Year 5, long before most families start thinking about high school.
Common questions
- When is the NSW selective test sat?
- Students sit the Selective High School Placement Test in Year 5, usually around May, for entry to Year 7 the following year. Applications open in the previous November or so and close early in the year of the test. Check the NSW Department of Education for the exact dates each year.
- Do selective schools charge fees?
- No. Selective schools are government schools, so they do not charge fees to Australian citizens and permanent residents. Like other government schools, they may ask for a voluntary contribution and charge for some activities.
- Can my child sit the test again if they miss out?
- In New South Wales, students can apply again for entry in later years, which each selective school manages itself. In Victoria the selective entry exam is for Year 9 entry only. Rules differ, so check with your state education department.
- Is coaching needed for selective tests?
- No. Education departments design the tests to assess reasoning and ability rather than coached knowledge, and many successful students do no coaching. Some familiarity with the question formats, from the department's sample questions, helps children feel calm on the day.
Sources
We check guides against official sources. Rules can change, and some details vary by area, so check with the source before you act.
Last updated 1 November 2026.