How SEHS Exam Scores Are Calculated
The Victorian Selective Entry High School exam is scored by ACER using a process called scaling. Understanding how this works helps parents set realistic expectations and guide their child's preparation.
Raw Scores vs Scaled Scores
Each section of the exam produces a raw score - the number of questions answered correctly (for multiple choice) or the marker's assessment (for writing). However, raw scores are not directly comparable between sections because each section has a different number of questions and a different difficulty level.
ACER converts raw scores into scaled scores using statistical methods. Scaling adjusts for difficulty differences between sections and ensures that a given scaled score means the same thing regardless of which section it comes from. This is the same approach used in VCE scaling and university entrance calculations.
The Composite Score
The scaled scores from all three sections are combined into a single composite score. This composite score is what determines your child's ranking among all candidates. ACER does not publish the exact weighting formula, but all three sections contribute meaningfully to the total.
What This Means for Preparation
Because all sections contribute to the composite score, a balanced preparation approach is more effective than over-investing in one area. A student who scores well across all three sections will outrank a student who excels in one section but underperforms in another. Start with the FREE SK Diagnostic Test to identify which sections need the most attention.
Understanding Score Levels and What They Mean
ACER does not publish fixed score bands or cut-off scores for the SEHS exam. However, based on publicly available information and the mechanics of the selection process, here is what parents should understand.
The Selection Pool
Approximately 4,000 students sit the SEHS exam each year. Roughly 870 places are available across the four selective schools. This means roughly the top 20 to 22 percent of all candidates receive an offer. However, the actual competitive threshold is higher because not all offers are accepted and some students score well above the minimum needed.
Estimated Competitive Ranges
| Performance Level | Approximate Percentile | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Very strong | Top 5% | Very likely to receive a first-round offer at preferred school |
| Strong | Top 5-10% | Likely to receive a first or second-round offer |
| Competitive | Top 10-20% | May receive a later-round offer depending on preferences and availability |
| Below threshold | Below top 20% | Unlikely to receive an offer in the current year |
Why Cut-off Scores Change Each Year
The minimum score needed for an offer depends entirely on how all candidates perform in that particular year. If the candidate pool is stronger, the cut-off rises. If fewer students apply, it may drop. This is why preparation should focus on maximising your child's individual performance rather than chasing a specific number.
How School Preferences Affect Offers
When students register for the SEHS exam, they list their preferred schools in order. The offer process works like this:
- All candidates are ranked by composite score from highest to lowest
- Starting with the highest-scoring candidate, ACER checks their first-preference school. If a place is available, they receive an offer there
- If first preference is full, ACER checks the second preference, then third, then fourth
- This continues down the ranking until all places are filled
When Results Are Released
The SEHS exam is typically held in June each year. Results follow a general timeline:
- June - exam is held (check ACER for the exact date)
- August to September - results are released to families. ACER sends results directly via the contact information provided during registration
- September - first-round offers are issued. Families have approximately two weeks to accept or decline
- October to November - second-round and subsequent offers are made as places become available from declined offers
- November to December - final offers and enrolment processes for the following school year
What You Receive
ACER provides families with their child's individual results, including section-level information. The exact format varies by year. You will not receive detailed question-by-question feedback or your child's rank among all candidates.
What to Do After Results
If Your Child Receives an Offer
- Review the offer carefully - check which school has made the offer and the acceptance deadline
- Visit the school - if you have not already, attend any orientation or information sessions offered
- Accept or decline within the deadline - do not let the acceptance period lapse. If you decline, the place goes to another student
- Prepare for the transition - Year 9 at a selective school is academically intense from day one. The summer break is a good time to maintain study habits
If Your Child Does Not Receive an Offer
This is a difficult moment for families, but it is important to keep perspective.
- Wait for later rounds - some students receive second-round or third-round offers weeks after the initial results. Do not give up immediately
- Consider trying again - students in the correct year level may be eligible to sit the exam the following year. Use this year's experience to prepare more effectively
- Recognise the achievement - preparing for and sitting the SEHS exam develops discipline, study habits and academic skills that benefit students regardless of the outcome
- Explore alternatives - Victoria has many excellent government and private schools. A selective entry school is not the only path to academic success
Results Verification
If you believe there may have been an administrative error with your child's results (such as an incorrectly scanned answer sheet), ACER offers a verification process. This is not a re-marking - it is a check for clerical or processing errors. Contact ACER within the specified timeframe noted in your results communication.
How SK Edge Prep Scores Compare
The scores you see on SK Edge Prep tools are designed to give you a useful indication of performance, but they are not identical to ACER's scoring system.
- The FREE SK Diagnostic Test provides a percentage score across each section and identifies strengths and weaknesses. This is a directional guide, not a prediction of your SEHS exam score
- SK Mock Tests are scored on the same percentage basis and provide section-by-section breakdowns. Improvement across mock tests is a strong positive signal
- The SK Writing Lab uses a rubric-based scoring system with bands (Superior, High, Proficient, Average, Foundation) that align with the criteria ACER markers assess. Consistent scoring in the High or Superior bands indicates strong writing readiness
Building Towards a Competitive Score
The ACE Method - Assess, Climb, Excel - provides a structured path to maximising your child's score.
- Assess - take the FREE SK Diagnostic Test to establish a baseline across all three exam sections
- Climb - use Section Prep modules and Skill Builders to address the weakest areas first. The biggest score gains come from improving weak sections, not polishing strong ones
- Excel - simulate real conditions with SK Mock Tests. Build writing confidence with the SK Writing Lab. The SK Study Buddy creates a personalised study plan based on your child's progress
For a detailed preparation timeline by year level, read our complete preparation strategy guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About SEHS Scores
ACER calculates a scaled composite score across all three sections of the exam. Raw scores from each section are converted to a common scale using statistical methods that account for difficulty differences between sections. The scaled scores are then combined into a total score used for ranking.
There is no fixed cut-off score because it changes each year depending on the candidate pool. Historically, students in the top 5 to 10 percent of all test-takers typically receive an offer from one of the four selective schools. Roughly 870 places are available from approximately 4,000 candidates each year.
Results are typically released in August or September, roughly two to three months after the June exam. ACER sends results directly to families via the contact details provided during registration.
ACER offers a results verification process where papers can be re-checked for administrative errors (such as incorrectly scanned answers). This is not a re-marking. Contact ACER directly within the specified timeframe if you believe there has been an administrative error.
Yes. The writing section (Section 3) contributes to the overall composite score alongside Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (Section 1) and Reading Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning (Section 2). All three sections matter.
Not receiving a first-round offer does not necessarily mean no offer will come. Second-round and subsequent offers are made as other students decline places. If no offer comes, families can consider preparing for the exam the following year or exploring other educational pathways.