Selective Entry Schools

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Sitting the Entrance Examination

We recommend that your child goes through the practice tests with their teacher/s prior to sitting the entrance examination. This is the best preparation they can have for going through the experience of actually sitting the entrance exam.

This page also outlines:

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About the entrance examination

The entrance examination comprises six tests in total, covering both ability and achievement tests. The examination takes approximately three hours to complete.

The entrance examination is designed to test and challenge students so your child will probably find the examination quite demanding.

Each multiple-choice test is 30 minutes in length; the two writing tests are 15 minutes each, and students do not get any additional reading time. Normally, a short 15 minute break is taken after the completion of the numerical reasoning test.

Additional reading time is usually introduced into exams when students are required to provide an essay type response or where they have the choice to answer one question from a list, in which case the extra reading time allows them to decide which question they will answer. Therefore, with regard to multiple-choice tests, extra reading time is not necessary. However, prior to commencing each test the administrator will go through three practice examples with the group to ensure they have an understanding of what to expect.

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Preparation tips

The following tips should help you and your child prepare for the actual entrance examination:

  • ensure your child has a good night’s sleep
  • unnecessary pressure to perform may create anxiety in your child and affect their examination results
  • try and stay as relaxed as possible as this will help your child to relax as well
  • remember that the entrance examination is quite demanding and it is designed to discriminate student performance at the top end
  • it is very important that you and your child have realistic expectations of their examination performance prior to sitting the tests.

It is not unusual for students to only answer half the questions correctly; neither is it unusual for student to not finish the tests. Remember, these tests are designed to discriminate high ability and high achieving students.

In addition, the entrance tests are designed in such a way that not all students may finish all the questions, so you and your child should not panic if this is the case.

Once all tests have been scored, the Department will provide you with a parent report that goes into a lot more detail about your child's score in comparison to the normal population.

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What students need to bring to the examination

An information package will be sent to all applicants in the week before the entrance examination. Student identification numbers, transport and venue information will be included in this information package.

Your child should bring the following items to the examination:

  • the exam ID number supplied by the Department. You will receive this ID about one week before the test day
  • photo ID
  • two 2B or 4B pencils, a sharpener and an eraser. A blue or black biro is optional for the writing tasks
  • snack and drink for the break.

Nothing else is required.

You child is not allowed to bring the following items to the examination:

  • mobile phones
  • pencil cases
  • rulers
  • scrap paper
  • calculators
  • dictionaries
  • bags.

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What to expect on the examination day

Should your child happen to undergo a family crisis, illness or injury which would prevent them from undertaking the entrance examination you must contact their school before the commencement of the examination. In the case of illness or injury, a doctor’s certificate must be produced in support of the applicant. Arrangements may be made for an alternative test date.

On the examination day itself, we suggest your child:

  • arrive at the designated time as specified by the school
  • go to the toilet before the testing starts
  • listen carefully to instructions
  • ensure that they use a 2B or 4B pencil for the multi-choice test papers
  • colour in the answer circles fully and dark enough for the scanning process
  • do not write in the test booklets
  • use the back of the answer sheets for any working out they need to do
  • read test questions as they are written: don’t make assumptions based on prior knowledge
  • all the information needed to answer the test questions are provided in the question itself
  • answer as many questions as possible in the allocated time
  • try not to leave any blank answers
  • as they do not lose marks for incorrect answers: always choose an answer that they think fits best
  • always check that they are answering the right question with the corresponding number on the answer sheet: make sure that they do not go out of sequence
  • any form of cheating will necessitate the student being asked to leave the test venue and they will not have their results scored.