How Long Before Selective School Results Come Out?

How long before selective school results come out? About six weeks in Victoria and three to four months in NSW. In the most recent cycle (exams in 2026, for entry in 2027), VIC results came out on 3 August, six weeks after the June exam, and NSW selective outcomes on 19 August, about 15 weeks after the May test. Exact dates are published each cycle by ACER (Victoria) and the NSW Department of Education; the 2027 dates are not announced yet, so use the pattern below and check the official pages.

Victoria (ACER selective entry)

Students in Year 8 sit the VIC selective entry exam in June. Performance reports and Round 1 offers are released in early August through the ACER application portal.

• 2026 exam (Year 9 entry 2027): Saturday 20 June 2026.
• Performance reports and Round 1 offers: Monday 3 August 2026, 10:00 am Melbourne time.
• Round 2 offers followed on 13 August and Round 3 on 20 August 2026.

Source: ACER results and selection. How to log in: how to check selective school results.

NSW Selective High School (Year 7 entry)

Year 6 students sit the Selective High School Placement Test in early May. Placement outcomes are released in Term 3, in the most recent cycle in mid–late August.

• 2026 test (entry 2027): 1 or 2 May 2026, with a make-up test on 22 May.
• Outcomes released: 19 August 2026 (Department key dates).
• The appeal window is short (the 2026 deadline was 26 August, about five business days after outcomes — see can you appeal a placement result?).

Source: NSW selective outcomes.

NSW Opportunity Class (Year 5 entry)

Year 4 students sit the OC Placement Test in the same May window as selective (8 or 9 May in 2026). OC outcomes come a few weeks after the selective outcomes — for entry in 2027 they were released on 9 September 2026, about four months after the test.

What you receive (and what you do not)

• NSW: an offer, reserve or unsuccessful outcome plus a performance report that places the student in a band (top 10%, next 15%, next 25% or lowest 50% of candidates) — not raw scores, percentages correct or placement ranks.
• VIC: a performance report in the portal plus offer rounds; ACER does not give access to the tests or individual scores after the exam.

While you wait

1. Watch the official portal and the email you registered — check spam.
2. Keep a local-school enrolment backup ready.
3. If you are preparing a younger sibling, keep practice matched to their exam: first-time families prep guide.

Bottom line: expect six weeks (VIC) to three or four months (NSW), not days. Bookmark the official key dates page for your state each year rather than relying on rumours.