Selective Entry High Schools

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Sitting the Entrance Examination

The 2012 entrance examination for the 2013 school year will be held on Saturday 16 June 2012.

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 for going through the experience of actually sitting the entrance examination.

For the test, see: Practice tests

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; therefore your child may find the examination 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 what 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.

Illness or Misadventure

If some problem, such as illness, an accident or other misadventure stops your child from taking the examination on the 18 June 2011 you should complete the Illness/Misadventure Form. 

See: Year 9 Selective Entry High School Illness/Misadventure Form (Word - 41Kb)

The completed form should be returned to the Selective Entry Unit by no later than 22 June 2012.

Special consideration

If your child's examination performance may have been affected by illness, injury or personal trauma on the day of the examination you should complete the Special Consideration Form. 

See: Year 9 Selective Entry High Schools Special Consideration Form (Word - 68Kb)

The completed form should be returned to the Selective Entry Unit by no later than 22 June 2012.

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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 determine student performance levels 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 students to not finish the tests. Remember, these tests are designed to determine 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 about your child's score in comparison to the normal population.

The examination is a secure examination and access to the specific results or individual scores are not made available.

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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
  • a 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

On the examination day itself, we suggest your child:

  • arrive at the designated time as specified
  • 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 can be found within the question itself
  • answer as many questions as possible in the allocated time
  • try not to leave any blank answers
  • as students do not lose marks for incorrect answers: always choose an answer that 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.

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Remote sitting

Students unable to sit the examination because they are studying and living interstate or overseas should contact the Selective Entry Unit. Please note the remote sitting service incurs additional fees.