What Are the Selective Entry High Schools?
Victoria has four government selective entry high schools (SEHS). These schools select students based on academic merit through a competitive entrance exam administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Entry is at Year 9 level, and students sit the exam during Year 8.
The four schools share the same entrance exam. Students sit one test and rank their preferred schools in order on the application form. Offers are made from highest-scoring candidates downward, with each student placed at their highest available preference.
Together the four schools offer approximately 870 Year 9 places each year. Thousands of families apply, making the exam one of the most competitive academic assessments in Australian secondary education.
Melbourne High School
Melbourne High School
Government selective entry school for boys
Melbourne High School is one of Australia's most prestigious government schools. Located on Forrest Hill in South Yarra overlooking the Botanical Gardens, it has a distinguished history stretching back over a century. The school consistently produces among the top VCE results in the state.
The school is known for its strong academic culture, extensive co-curricular programme and active alumni network. Students benefit from specialist subject teachers, advanced mathematics and science programmes, music, debating and a wide range of sporting teams.
Melbourne High attracts students from across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. Families in the eastern and south-eastern suburbs often preference Melbourne High first, though students travel from all directions. The school is well served by public transport with South Yarra station nearby.
Academic Performance
Melbourne High consistently ranks among the top government schools in Victoria for VCE results. A significant proportion of students achieve ATARs above 90, and the school regularly produces students with perfect study scores. The academic environment is competitive but supportive, with strong peer motivation.
Mac.Robertson Girls' High School
Mac.Robertson Girls' High School
Government selective entry school for girls
Mac.Robertson Girls' High School - commonly known as Mac.Rob - is the premier government selective school for girls in Victoria. Located in Albert Park near the CBD, the school has built a reputation for academic excellence and strong community values over nine decades.
Mac.Rob is known for its STEM programmes, language offerings, performing arts and social justice initiatives. The school encourages leadership and independent thinking. Students develop strong study habits in a culture that values both academic achievement and personal growth.
The school draws students from all over Melbourne and beyond. Its central location near Southern Cross Station and tram routes makes it accessible from most parts of the city. Many families in the inner suburbs and western suburbs preference Mac.Rob first.
Academic Performance
Mac.Robertson consistently produces among the highest VCE results of any school in Victoria - government or private. The school's median study scores and ATAR averages place it at or near the top of state rankings year after year. The environment is academically intense but collaborative.
Nossal High School
Nossal High School
Government selective entry school, co-educational
Nossal High School is a co-educational selective entry school located in Berwick in Melbourne's south-east. Named after Nobel Prize-winning Australian immunologist Sir Gustav Nossal, the school opened in 2010 and has quickly established itself as an academic leader.
Nossal is particularly strong in STEM subjects, reflecting its namesake's scientific legacy. The school has modern facilities, strong technology integration and an emphasis on research-based learning. Being co-educational, it offers a mixed-gender learning environment that some families prefer.
The school primarily serves families in the south-eastern and Gippsland corridors, though students attend from across Melbourne. Its location near Berwick train station provides public transport access, and the Casey-Cardinia growth corridor means strong local demand.
Academic Performance
Despite being the second-newest selective school, Nossal has rapidly climbed the VCE results tables. The school produces a high proportion of students with ATARs above 90 and has developed a strong academic culture in its relatively short history. Results have improved steadily each year since opening.
Suzanne Cory High School
Suzanne Cory High School
Government selective entry school, co-educational
Suzanne Cory High School is a co-educational selective entry school in Werribee, Melbourne's west. Named after distinguished Australian molecular biologist Professor Suzanne Cory AC, the school opened in 2011 and serves families in the western suburbs and beyond.
The school emphasises scientific inquiry, critical thinking and academic rigour. Suzanne Cory benefits from purpose-built modern facilities and a growing reputation for excellence. The co-educational environment and western location fill a gap that the inner-city schools do not serve.
Suzanne Cory draws students from the Wyndham, Brimbank, Melton and western regional areas. It is accessible via Werribee train station and local bus routes. The school has become the preferred choice for many families in Melbourne's fast-growing west.
Academic Performance
Suzanne Cory has shown consistent improvement in VCE results since opening. The school produces strong ATAR outcomes and is building the kind of sustained academic culture that the established selective schools have developed over decades. As its reputation grows, competition for places continues to increase.
How to Choose Between the Four Schools
All four schools offer an outstanding academic environment. The choice often comes down to practical and personal factors rather than academic quality alone.
Key Factors to Consider
- Location and commute - the daily travel time matters enormously over four years. A shorter commute means more time for study, sleep and co-curricular activities. Consider both public transport routes and drive time
- Single-sex vs co-educational - Melbourne High (boys) and Mac.Rob (girls) are single-sex. Nossal and Suzanne Cory are co-educational. Some students thrive in single-sex environments, others prefer co-ed. Neither is objectively better
- School culture - attend open days if possible. Each school has a distinct feel. Melbourne High has a long tradition and established alumni network. Mac.Rob emphasises leadership and social awareness. Nossal and Suzanne Cory are newer with modern facilities and a contemporary approach
- Specialist programmes - if your child has a strong interest in a particular field (music, languages, STEM), check which school offers the strongest programme in that area
- Peer group - some students prefer the gravitas of a 100-year-old school; others prefer the energy of a newer school still building its identity
Quick Comparison
| School | Location | Type | Places | Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne High | South Yarra | Boys | ~225 | 1905 |
| Mac.Robertson | Albert Park | Girls | ~225 | 1934 |
| Nossal | Berwick | Co-ed | ~210 | 2010 |
| Suzanne Cory | Werribee | Co-ed | ~210 | 2011 |
The Application and Exam Process
All four schools use the same application and exam process, managed by ACER. Applications typically open in February, and the exam is held in June. The process works as follows:
- Register with ACER - complete the online application on the ACER selective entry website. Pay the application fee. List school preferences in order
- Sit the exam - the exam is held at multiple test centres across Victoria. It covers three sections over approximately 3 hours. See our exam format guide for the full breakdown
- Results and offers - ACER releases results in August or September. Offers are made based on total score and school preferences. First-round offers go out, followed by second-round offers as places become available
- Accept or decline - families have a set period to accept or decline the offer. Declined places are offered to the next eligible students
Start preparing early. The FREE SK Diagnostic Test shows where your child stands across all exam sections, helping you build a targeted preparation plan months before the exam.
Preparing for Any of the Four Schools
Since all four schools share the same exam, the preparation strategy is identical regardless of which school your child preferences. A strong all-round performance across Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning, and Writing gives the best chance at any of the four schools.
The ACE Method - Assess, Climb, Excel - provides a structured path from diagnostic to exam day. Start with the free diagnostic, build skills with Section Prep modules and Skill Builders, then simulate real exam conditions with SK Mock Tests. For writing, the SK Writing Lab provides instant rubric-based feedback on both persuasive and narrative essays.
For a detailed preparation timeline, read our complete preparation strategy guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Selective Entry Schools
There are four government selective entry high schools in Victoria: Melbourne High School (boys only, South Yarra), Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (girls only, Albert Park), Nossal High School (co-educational, Berwick) and Suzanne Cory High School (co-educational, Werribee).
Yes. All four schools share the same ACER-administered exam. Students sit one test and list their school preferences in order. Offers are made based on total score and preference ranking.
Approximately 870 places total each year - roughly 225 at Melbourne High, 225 at Mac.Robertson, 210 at Nossal and 210 at Suzanne Cory. Thousands of families apply each year.
Yes. Students list their preferred schools in order on their application. ACER processes offers from highest-scoring candidates downward, placing each student at their highest available preference.
Melbourne High and Mac.Robertson have historically produced the highest median VCE study scores and the most students with ATAR above 90. However, Nossal and Suzanne Cory also produce outstanding results and have been improving steadily since opening in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Yes. Any Victorian student in the eligible year level can apply, regardless of postcode. ACER runs the exam at multiple test centres around the state, including regional locations.