How to Get Into Melbourne High School
Parents searching how to get into Melbourne High School usually want a straight answer. Your son sits the statewide ACER selective entry exam in Year 8, lists Melbourne High as a preference, and places for Year 9 are offered mainly by exam rank. There is no local zone, interview or school report in the standard pathway. Melbourne High is Victoria’s academically selective government school for boys, in South Yarra.
This post is the focused Melbourne High pathway. For the full four-school Melbourne system (Mac.Rob, Nossal, Suzanne Cory), use the complete Melbourne selective schools guide. For a culture and results comparison with Mac.Robertson Girls’, see Melbourne High vs Mac.Robertson.
The short answer
- He must be in Year 8 when he sits the exam, for Year 9 entry the following year, and must not have sat the exam before (it is a one-attempt exam).
- Apply online through the ACER Victorian Selective Entry High Schools portal during the annual window (in 2026 it ran from 2 March to 24 April). The fee in 2026 was $175, free for concession card holders and First Nations families.
- Sit the ACER exam in June (the next one is expected around June 2027, for Year 9 entry in 2028). The exact date is published on the ACER site each year.
- List Melbourne High as a preference. ACER allows up to three preferences; boys can also list Nossal and Suzanne Cory (Mac.Rob is girls-only).
- Results reports and first-round offers are released through the same portal in August (3 August in 2026) — see how to check selective school results.
Eligibility and preferences
Melbourne High is boys-only. Your son must meet the Victorian eligibility rules for selective entry (year level and citizenship or visa requirements are published on vic.gov.au). About 85% of places are offered on exam rank, up to 10% through an equity category (exam performance plus financial or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status) and up to 5% at principal discretion.
You can list up to three schools, in order, and preferences are locked shortly after the exam (26 June in 2026), so decide them early. Location and commute matter: a long daily trip can erase academic gains, so weigh Melbourne High against Nossal (Berwick) or Suzanne Cory (Werribee) if travel is unrealistic.
What the exam covers
The VIC selective entry exam is the same for all four schools. ACER allows about four hours on the day (including registration and breaks); the exam tasks take 2 hours 35 minutes, all multiple choice except Writing:
- Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning — 60 minutes
- Reading and Verbal Reasoning — 55 minutes
- Writing — 40 minutes (two tasks)
Full structure: VIC selective entry exam format. Calculators are not allowed — see calculator rules for selective tests.
How competitive is Melbourne High?
Competition is strong. Thousands of Year 8 students apply for approximately 1,000 Year 9 places across the four schools. There is no published “pass mark” — ranking against the cohort drives offers. Treat tutoring-centre cutoff claims as marketing, not official data. ACER also does not release the tests or individual question scores after the exam.
A realistic prep timeline (for June exams)
Many families start steady prep 6–12 months before the June sitting — late Year 7 or early Year 8. A final-weeks cram rarely builds the reasoning depth ACER tests. For weekly hours and pacing, see how long to study for the selective entry exam and the 12-month VIC study plan.
Practice that matches the pathway
Official ACER sample questions show format, not volume. EduSpark's VIC library covers the multiple-choice skill areas with timed papers and an explanation for every answer, plus full-length mocks in the new three-part format in the Complete Bundle. There is 1 free paper per subject. EduSpark does not mark writing, so the Writing part needs separate timed practice.
Next steps
- Confirm eligibility and open dates on the ACER / Victorian Department sites for your entry year.
- Read the Melbourne selective schools guide so preferences are informed, not reputation-only.
- Baseline with official samples, then timed mocks. Review every mistake the same day.
The pathway is clear: eligibility → ACER exam → preference order → offer. Focus prep on the exam you will actually sit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get into Melbourne High School?▾
Boys sit the statewide ACER Victorian selective entry exam in Year 8 for Year 9 entry. Apply through the ACER portal, list Melbourne High among up to three preferences, and receive an offer if ranked highly enough. About 85% of places are offered on exam rank, with up to 10% through an equity category and up to 5% at principal's discretion. There is no interview or school-report pathway for standard entry.
When is the Melbourne High / VIC selective exam?▾
The exam is held in June each year. Confirm the exact date on the ACER Victorian Selective Entry High Schools website for your entry cycle.
Is Melbourne High the same exam as other VIC selective schools?▾
Yes. Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson Girls', Nossal and Suzanne Cory all use the same ACER exam. Offers depend on rank, preferences (up to three) and available places.
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Try 1 free timed VIC selective entry paper per subject
Exam-style timing, instant marking, and topic weakness tags. No credit card. Official ACER samples first — then structured practice. Practice helps; school places aren't guaranteed.
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