Updated September 27, 2026

Victorian Selective Year 10 Edutest Exam Guide (2028 Entry) | Format & Papers

Practice tests for Melbourne High, MacRob, Nossal and Suzanne Cory are here.

Year 10 Edutest exam for Melbourne High, Mac.Rob, Nossal and Suzanne Cory: format, written expression, and how to apply for 2028 entry. Not the Year 9 ACER paper.

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Selective High School Exam Guide

This is the Victorian selective exam guide for 2028 entry: the Year 10 Edutest paper for Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School, Nossal and Suzanne Cory. The Year 9 ACER Selective Entry exam is a separate test. Students in Year 9 now, applying for Year 10 entry, sit Edutest: Mathematics, Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Written Expression. School pages cover the campus; this page covers the exam.

Sit a free diagnostic in the Year 10 Edutest format, then practise the five papers on Big Brain. Start practice at learn.bigbrain.au/join.


Key Exam Information

Entry Points

  • Year 10 Entry: Exam usually held in May to June, depending on the school

Application Process

  1. 1. Exam registration (apply via Edutest)
  2. 2. Entrance Exam (administered by Edutest)
  3. 3. Interview (depends on the school)
    • Written application

Exam Structure Overview

Year 10 Entry (Current Year 9 Students)

The entrance exam consists of five distinct tests:

AssessmentFormatQuestionsDuration
MathematicsMultiple Choice6030 min
Numerical ReasoningMultiple Choice5030 min
Verbal ReasoningMultiple Choice6030 min
Reading ComprehensionMultiple Choice5030 min
Written ExpressionWritten2 tasks15 min each

Timed Edutest-style practice for the Victorian Year 10 selective papers. Same start as every other exam on this site. Start practice at learn.bigbrain.au/join.


Types of Exams

  • Tests of Ability: measure your potential
  • Tests of Achievement: assess your performance

Detailed Test Breakdowns

Mathematics

Multiple Choice | 60 Q | 30 min | Test of Achievement

The Mathematics test assesses year-level maths, plus some harder questions that check how you apply concepts beyond the standard curriculum. Expect Year 6-10 curriculum content.

Topics Covered:

  • Basics
  • Algebra
  • Surds
  • Indices
  • Equations
  • Linear
  • Non-linear Relationships
  • Pythagoras Theorem
  • Trigonometry
  • Geometry
  • Probability
  • Statistics
  • Financial Math
  • Rates & Proportion
  • Measurement
  • Kinematics
  • Sequences and Series
  • Logarithms

Numerical Reasoning

Multiple Choice | 50 Q | 30 min | Test of Ability

Numerical Reasoning tests how you reason with numbers. It rewards problem-solving over memorised knowledge.

Key Components:

  • Number Patterns
    • Series
    • Sequences
    • Matrices
    • Shapes
    • Boxes
    • Tables
  • Worded Problems
    • Time
    • Motion
    • Financial Math
    • Measurement
    • Statistics
    • Probability

Verbal Reasoning

Multiple Choice | 60 Q | 30 min | Test of Ability

This test assesses how you reason with words and language: vocabulary, word relationships, coding, classification and deduction.

Key Question Types:

  • Synonyms
  • Antonyms
  • Four words alike
  • Box words alike
  • Foreign language
  • Two statements
  • Analogies
  • Information Deduction
  • Syllogisms
  • Anagrams
  • Rebus
  • Word Pyramids

Reading Comprehension

Multiple Choice | 50 Q | 30 min | Test of Achievement

The Reading Comprehension test assesses how you read and interpret written passages, and how you correct, complete and punctuate sentences.

Key Question Types:

  • Implied Word
  • Sentence Correction
  • Truth Statement
  • Word Replacement
  • Sentence Transformation
  • Proverb Inferencing
  • Extracts:
    • Expository
    • Descriptions
    • Narratives
    • Persuasive
    • Articles
    • Editorials
    • Memoir
    • Poetry

Written Expression

Written | 2 tasks | 15 min each, no planning or reading time | Test of Achievement

Students write two pieces, 15 minutes each, with no separate planning or reading time. They do not choose the genre; the exam sets it, most often one of the following:


Creative Text

Students write an original imaginative piece in response to a visual or written prompt, usually as a short story.


Persuasive Text

The exam names a topic, and students take a stance on it in a persuasive essay.


Where to practise

This page covers the exam: papers, timings and application. The drills sit on each school's hub, one page per school, all built on the same five Edutest papers.


Preparation Checklist

General Preparation


Week Before Exam


Day of Exam


FAQs

Q: How does the Victorian Selective Entry High Schools exam differ from other selective school exams?
A: The exam tests reasoning and general ability more than specific curriculum content.


Q: How much time should I spend preparing?
A: Successful candidates often start 3-6 months before the exam, with several hours a week of timed practice and concept review. Start on Melbourne High Practice Tests, MacRob Practice Tests, Nossal Practice Tests or Suzanne Cory Practice Tests rather than a generic pack.


Q: What's the most challenging part of the exam?
A: Many students struggle with the time limits, particularly in sections with 50 or 60 questions. Regular timed practice builds speed and accuracy.


For the shared Edutest format (practice tests, reasoning patterns, writing timing) see the Edutest exam guide. Official registration is via Edutest. Each school also publishes its own entry notes; start from the school page on this site. Tutoring and class prices are JT Education, not this page.

Note: Exam formats and content may vary year to year. This guide describes practice in the published exam format. It is not a set of past papers, and it is not official marking. For current information, refer to official school and Edutest communications.

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