Free · Timed · 25 minutes · Years 6–8

Free Selective Entry Practice Test — 30 Questions, 25 Minutes, Instant Results

A free, timed sample of the kind of multiple-choice questions the Victorian Selective Entry exam asks: 30 questions across maths reasoning and reading and language, drawn from our Year 6, 7 and 8 banks at the stretch and challenge tiers, 25 minutes on the clock, marked instantly with a section breakdown. Part of RHZ Tutoring's 3,261 free practice questions. No sign-up.

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⏱ 25-minute countdown, auto-marked📊 Section breakdown: maths reasoning · reading & language📚 3,261 free practice questions

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The practice test: 30 questions in 25 minutes

Two sections. Press Start the timer, answer every question you can, and press Mark my test before the clock runs out, or it will be marked automatically. Set 28961 · New set of questions →

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Section 1: Maths reasoning (15 questions)

Question 1
Maths reasoning · Pythagoras

A square has a diagonal of 10 cm. What is the side length of the square, correct to one decimal place?

Question 2
Maths reasoning · Area, volume & angles

A square has an area of 81 cm². A rectangle has the same area as the square. The rectangle is 3 cm wide. What is the perimeter of the rectangle?

Question 3
Maths reasoning · Algebraic expressions

A student claims: 'If I double every term in the expression 3x + 5, I get 6x + 10, which is always equal to 2(3x + 5).' A second student claims: 'If I substitute x = 3 into both expressions and get the same answer, they must be equal for ALL values of x.' Which statement is correct?

Question 4
Maths reasoning · Algebraic thinking

If 3 × ☐ − 5 = ☐ + 7, and both boxes represent the same unknown number, what is the value of the unknown number?

Question 5
Maths reasoning · Pythagoras

Three squares are drawn on the sides of a triangle. The two smaller squares have areas of 20 cm² and 45 cm². A student claims the triangle is right-angled because 20 + 45 = 65. Is the student correct, and why?

Question 6
Maths reasoning · Statistics & probability

A data set has five values: 2, 5, 8, 11, and an unknown value k. The mean of all five values is 8 and the median is 8. A student claims: 'There is only one possible value of k that satisfies both conditions at the same time.' Is the student correct?

Question 7
Maths reasoning · Percentages

A sports store is having a sale. A basketball originally costs $85. The price is increased by 20%, then later reduced by 20%. What is the final price of the basketball?

Question 8
Maths reasoning · Area & volume

Two cylinders, P and Q, have the same volume. Cylinder P has radius 6 cm and height 4 cm. Cylinder Q has radius 3 cm. Using π ≈ 3.14, what is the height of cylinder Q?

Question 9
Maths reasoning · Integers

The difference between two integers is 14. One integer is −5. The other integer could be which of the following? (There may be more than one possibility — choose the option that lists ALL possible values.)

Question 10
Maths reasoning · Integers

Liam says: 'The product of two negative integers is always less than either of the two integers.' Is Liam correct?

Question 11
Maths reasoning · Pythagoras

Two flag poles stand on flat ground. One is 8 m tall and the other is 3 m tall. They are 12 m apart (measured along the ground). A wire runs straight from the top of the taller pole to the top of the shorter pole. How long is the wire, correct to one decimal place?

Question 12
Maths reasoning · Percentages & rates

A gym membership costs $600 per year. The gym increases the price by 10% at the start of Year 2, then increases the Year 2 price by a further 10% at the start of Year 3. A member claims the total increase over the two years is exactly 20% of the original price. A second member claims the Year 3 price equals the Year 1 price multiplied by 1.21. Which statement is correct?

Question 13
Maths reasoning · Fractions, decimals & percentages

After a 25% increase, a pair of shoes costs $90. What was the original price?

Question 14
Maths reasoning · Equations

The solution to the equation 4(x + 3) = 2x + 18 is worked out below. Which step contains the FIRST error? Step 1: 4x + 12 = 2x + 18 Step 2: 4x − 2x = 18 − 12 Step 3: 2x = 6 Step 4: x = 4

Question 15
Maths reasoning · Geometry

Two parallel lines are cut by a transversal. At the first parallel line, an angle of (5x − 8)° is formed. At the second parallel line, the alternate interior angle is (3x + 22)°. A student concludes that x = 15 and both angles are 67°. A second student says x = 15 is right but the angles are 82° each. Which statement is correct?

Section 2: Reading & language (15 questions)

Question 16
Reading & language · Text response & analysis

Read: "The Prime Minister's office released a statement saying the new policy would 'benefit all Australians.' Community groups called the policy 'a disaster for ordinary families.' A small survey of 50 people found 60% opposed it." Which technique most strongly reveals potential bias in how this report is written, and what does it suggest?

Question 17
Reading & language · Comprehension

Read this passage. "In the 1850s, thousands of people travelled to Victoria to search for gold. Many came from China, walking hundreds of kilometres from ports in South Australia to avoid a tax imposed at Victorian ports. The routes they walked became known as the Chinese immigration trails. Some communities along these routes grew rapidly; others were left behind as the gold rush moved on." Which inference is best supported by the passage?

Question 18
Reading & language · Persuasive & creative writing

A student writes this paragraph in a persuasive essay about fast fashion: 'Fast fashion is destroying the planet. Young people especially need to stop buying cheap clothes. We all know this is true, and anyone who shops at fast fashion stores is just being selfish.' A teacher comments: 'Your evidence is missing and your appeal to your audience is likely to backfire.' Which revision strategy best addresses BOTH problems the teacher has identified?

Question 19
Reading & language · Persuasive & creative writing

A student wants to persuade readers that school uniforms should be abolished. She writes: 'Uniforms crush creativity and make students miserable.' Which revision would make this argument MOST persuasive, and why?

Question 20
Reading & language · Speaking & listening

During a student debate, Aisha uses a calm, measured tone even while making very strong claims. Her opponent uses an increasingly urgent, passionate tone as the debate continues. Which analysis of their vocal choices is most accurate?

Question 21
Reading & language · Comprehension

Read this passage. "Marine scientists have documented a sharp decline in kelp forests along the southern Australian coastline. Kelp forests provide habitat for hundreds of species and help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Rising sea temperatures, linked to climate change, have been identified as the primary cause. Some scientists believe the decline may be irreversible within decades if warming continues at the current rate." Which statement is best supported by the passage?

Question 22
Reading & language · Text response & analysis

A student writes this topic sentence for a paragraph in a text response essay: 'In the novel, there are many examples of courage.' Why is this topic sentence weak for a text analysis essay?

Question 23
Reading & language · Vocabulary & grammar

A student writes the following sentence in a persuasive essay: 'Every person in this country, whether young or old, rich or poor, urban or rural, deserves clean water.' Her teacher says the series of paired contrasts does more than add detail — it performs a specific rhetorical and grammatical function. Which explanation BEST identifies both the grammatical feature and its persuasive effect?

Question 24
Reading & language · Text response & analysis

Read: "The government's plan will create 10 000 new jobs — a historic achievement. Critics, however, claim the plan ignores environmental costs and relies on projections that experts call 'overly optimistic'." A student says the text is balanced because it includes both the government's view and the critics' view. What does the student overlook?

Question 25
Reading & language · Persuasive & creative writing

A student writes this opening for a persuasive speech about homework: 'Every night, across Australia, millions of students sit down to homework that teaches them one thing: to be exhausted.' Which combination of techniques is used here, and why is it effective as a speech opening?

Question 26
Reading & language · Writing & grammar

A student wants to write a persuasive sentence that uses a concession to make the argument STRONGER. They write: 'Some people believe social media is harmful, but it can also connect communities and support mental health.' A classmate says the sentence is weak because admitting the other side makes the argument less convincing. Who is correct, and why?

Question 27
Reading & language · Writing & grammar

A student writes: 'Running quickly to catch the bus, her bag fell off her shoulder.' A classmate says the sentence is wrong because of the opening phrase. The student argues it is fine because 'running' clearly refers to a person. Who is correct, and why?

Question 28
Reading & language · Text response & analysis

Read: "Jess always sat at the back of the bus. Today she chose the front seat. She looked out the window the whole way and did not put her headphones in." The author does not directly state how Jess is feeling. What technique is being used, and what can you infer from it?

Question 29
Reading & language · Reading & comprehension

A novel uses third-person narration throughout. In the final chapter, for one paragraph only, the narration switches to first person: 'I had known all along it would end this way. I just hadn't let myself say it.' Then it switches back to third person. What is the most likely effect of this sudden shift?

Question 30
Reading & language · Writing & grammar

Read this sentence: 'Exhausted after the long journey, the hotel finally came into view.' What grammatical problem does this sentence contain?

Your result

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Maths reasoning0 / 15
Reading & language0 / 15
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What this Selective Entry practice test contains

Thirty multiple-choice questions in two timed sections. Section 1, Maths reasoning, has fifteen questions drawn from our Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8 maths banks: number and algebra, ratio and rates, measurement, geometry, statistics and probability, with the stretch and challenge tiers preferred so most items sit above the year level a Year 7 or 8 student is used to. Section 2, Reading & language, has fifteen questions from the same three years of our English banks: comprehension of short literary and informative passages, inference, vocabulary in context, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Every set is seeded, so the link you are on shows the same questions each time and a new seed gives a fresh set. The clock is 25 minutes for the lot, which is deliberately tight: roughly fifty seconds a question, which is close to the pace of the real Selective Entry papers.

The answer key is not in the page. When you press Mark my test, or when the timer reaches zero, the browser asks our server for the key for this exact set, marks every question, shows the correct answer and an explanation with the year level of each item, and breaks the score down by section and by topic. Unanswered questions count as wrong, as they do in the real exam, so it is worth answering everything before the time runs out.

About the Victorian Selective Entry exam

Victoria has four selective-entry high schools: Melbourne High School (boys), Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (girls), Nossal High School in Berwick (co-educational) and Suzanne Cory High School in Werribee (co-educational). Entry is by a single competitive examination sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry, usually in June, with a smaller number of places sometimes offered for later year levels. Students nominate their preferred schools on one application, and places are offered on the basis of exam results, with a proportion of places set aside under equity provisions. Suzanne Cory, in Werribee, draws heavily from Melbourne's west and is the school most families we work with are aiming for.

For students in Year 8 in 2027, school communications give the exam date as 20 June 2027, with applications typically opening early in the year and closing well before the exam. Dates, fees, eligibility rules and the exact test format are set by the Department of Education and can change from year to year, so confirm every detail on the VSEHS website before you plan around it. What has been consistent is the shape of the test: reading comprehension, mathematics, verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning and two short writing tasks (one creative, one persuasive or analytical), all under strict time limits and pitched above the Year 8 curriculum. The reasoning sections are the ones school programs rarely teach, and the writing tasks are marked for ideas, structure and control of language in a very short time, which is why students who are strong in class can still struggle on the day.

The multiple-choice sections of the real exam reward three things: secure knowledge a year or so ahead of the classroom, the habit of reading a question exactly, and pace. This practice test checks the first and the third. It does not check writing, and it does not include the pattern-based verbal and numerical reasoning puzzles, both of which need their own practice.

ACER and Edutest scholarship tests

Independent and Catholic schools in Melbourne offer academic scholarships through external testing agencies rather than their own papers. The two you will meet most often are ACER and Edutest, and they feel quite different. ACER's Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) is run at set levels: Level 1 for Year 7 entry (sat in Year 6), Level 2 for Year 9 entry and Level 3 for Year 11 entry. The papers are long and demanding: two written expression tasks, a humanities paper of reading comprehension and interpretation that includes poems, cartoons, tables and extracts, and a mathematics paper that leans on reasoning rather than recall. ACER tests are usually held on a single day in February or March, and one sitting can be used for several participating schools.

Edutest papers are shorter and broken into five sections, typically of about thirty minutes each: verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics and written expression. Most sections are multiple choice and the pace is brisk. Schools using Edutest often run the test on their own campus at their own date, so a family may sit two or three across a season. Because the sections are short, a student who loses a minute panicking on a hard question pays for it immediately, which is why timed practice matters so much for Edutest in particular.

This practice test is closer to the multiple-choice mathematics and reading sections of both formats than to the reasoning puzzles or the writing. If your child is preparing for a Year 7 scholarship, treat the Year 7 and Year 8 items here as the stretch they are; a Year 6 student who handles them comfortably is well placed.

A preparation timeline

  1. Twelve to nine months out (for Selective Entry 2027: Term 3 and 4 of Year 7). Diagnose first. Sit this test and the free Skills Check, and find out whether the gaps are knowledge (Year 8 maths not yet met), technique (never seen a reasoning question) or speed. Close the maths gaps with the Year 7 and Year 8 topic quizzes and start reading widely: non-fiction, opinion pieces and short fiction, not just novels.
  2. Nine to six months out (Term 1 of Year 8). Learn the question types. Work through each section of the exam separately with short timed sets, and begin a weekly timed writing task with feedback. Confirm the application window on the VSEHS website and lodge the application early.
  3. Six to three months out (Term 1 to 2). Full-length practice papers under exam conditions every fortnight, marked and reviewed by section. The review is where the marks come from: every error goes into a list and gets re-attempted a week later.
  4. The last eight weeks. Taper. One full paper a week, timed sets on the weakest section between them, and writing practice to a fixed plan. In the final week, sleep, a light set each day and nothing new.

For a Year 6 scholarship, compress the same sequence into the second half of Year 5 and the first term of Year 6, because ACER and most Edutest sittings fall between February and May of Year 6.

How to read your result

We do not report percentiles, because a thirty-question free sample cannot be normed against the real candidate pool and any percentile we invented would mislead you. What we can say is this. Selective-entry and scholarship tests are competitive, and the students who win places are typically answering above-level questions quickly and accurately. A score of 80% or more here, inside the time limit, suggests your child is ready for full-length timed practice papers and should move to those. A score between 50% and 80% usually means the content is mostly there and the work is in the hardest third of the questions and the clock; look at which section is weaker and drill it with timed sets. A score of 50% or less means the Year 6 and Year 7 foundations need attention before exam-style practice will pay off, which is common and fixable: start with the Year 6 and Year 7 topic quizzes, secure the weakest topics and come back to this test in a term.

Watch the time as well as the score. A high score with the clock expired is a pace problem; a low score with minutes to spare is a content problem. They need different fixes, and the results panel shows both.

What to do next

1. Free Skills Check

Fifteen minutes, every Year 7 topic at every tier including stretch and challenge, with a same-day topic-by-topic report and a tutor call to walk through it. It is the diagnostic we use to start every selective and scholarship program.

Start the free Skills Check →

2. Selective Entry 2027 program

Two sessions a week, maths and English with reasoning drills, a full timed practice test every fortnight, at our Truganina centre or online. First session free.

Selective Entry 2027 → Selective entry and scholarship tutoring →

3. Printable practice packs

Full-length selective and scholarship practice papers with worked answers, so a student can practise on paper under the clock the way the real test is sat.

Browse selective and scholarship packs →

Questions? Call 03 9509 3293 or book a free consultation. RHZ Tutoring, 17/47 Apex Drive, Truganina VIC 3029.

Frequently asked questions

When is the 2027 Victorian Selective Entry exam?

School communications give the date as 20 June 2027 for Year 8 students seeking Year 9 entry in 2028. Dates and application windows can move, so confirm on the Victorian Selective Entry High Schools (VSEHS) website before planning around it.

Which schools does the Selective Entry exam cover?

Melbourne High School (boys, South Yarra), Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (girls, Melbourne), Nossal High School (co-educational, Berwick) and Suzanne Cory High School (co-educational, Werribee). Students sit one exam and list the schools in order of preference.

Is this practice test the same as the real exam?

No. It is a 30-question, 25-minute multiple-choice sample drawn from our Year 6, 7 and 8 maths and English banks at the stretch and challenge tiers. The real Selective Entry exam runs for several hours with reasoning sections and two writing tasks. Use this page to check readiness and pace, not to predict a result.

What score should my child be getting?

There is no official pass mark and we do not publish percentiles for a free sample. As a rule of thumb, 80% or more here suggests a student is ready for full-length timed practice; 50% or less suggests starting with the Year 6 and Year 7 topic quizzes to secure the foundations first.

Does the timer matter?

Yes. Both selective-entry and scholarship tests are speed tests as much as knowledge tests, and most students lose more marks to the clock than to the content. If the score is good but the time ran out, practise timed sets; if there was time to spare but the score was low, work on the content.

What is the difference between ACER and Edutest scholarship tests?

Both are used by independent schools for Year 7 entry (sat in Year 6) and some for Year 9 or Year 11 entry. ACER's Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program has longer papers in written expression, humanities (reading and interpretation) and mathematics. Edutest papers are shorter and include five sections: verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics and written expression. Check which test each school uses.

Is this free, and is anything collected?

It is free and there is no sign-up. Marking happens on our server and only an anonymous score event is recorded. The free Skills Check, which produces a full report, asks for a parent email so we can send it.

Build the foundations first

If the result points to a content gap, these free topic quizzes cover the ground the test draws on:

All 3,261 free practice questions, Prep to Year 12 →