How Much Does the Melbourne High School Entrance Exam Cost?

How much does the Melbourne High School entrance exam cost? Melbourne High does not run a separate paid “school-only” exam. Year 9 entry uses the statewide Victorian Selective Entry High Schools (SEHS) process administered by ACER. You pay the ACER application fee when you submit — the same fee whether Melbourne High is preference 1 or you also list Nossal / Suzanne Cory.

Official fee (verify each cycle)

On the live ACER apply page for the 2027 entry cycle, ACER stated: an application fee of $175 is payable at the time of application (online payment). Always re-check the figure before you budget:

• ACER Victorian SEHS — Apply
• vic.gov.au — Selective entry high schools
• Melbourne High enrolment overview: mhs.vic.edu.au/enrol

Waivers and reductions

Per ACER / Vic.gov wording for recent cycles:

• Applications are free for families with a valid health care card or pensioner concession card, and for First Nations families.
• Families who do not meet those criteria but face financial barriers can apply for a fee reduction based on financial hardship through the portal process.
• If eligibility for a waiver/reduction cannot be confirmed, the full application fee is required.

Other money rules parents miss

• Withdrawal / admin: ACER has retained an administration amount (published as $52 for the 2027 cycle wording) on certain withdrawals or failed eligibility verification — read the apply page for the exact rule that applies when you submit.
• Remote sitting: if approved to sit interstate or overseas, ACER lists an additional remote sitting fee (published as $215 on top of the application fee for that cycle) plus any invigilator costs you pay directly.
• Listing Melbourne High does not add a second government exam fee per school preference inside this ACER process.

Not the same as EduTest school fees

Private scholarship / entrance sittings via EduTest are priced per school and are separate from Melbourne High’s ACER pathway — EduTest / OC / NSW fees overview.

Budget prep, not just the sitting fee

Tutoring can dwarf $175 — tutoring cost ranges. Pathway: how to get into Melbourne High. EduSpark: 1 free paper per subject — free practice papers, pricing.