Selective schools come up in a lot of playground conversations, often with more worry than facts. Each state does things differently: some have whole selective schools, some have selective classes inside ordinary schools, and the ACT has none at all. Here is a calm, state-by-state guide to selective schools in Australia, how children get in, and some questions to help you decide whether applying is right for your family.
What is a selective school?
A selective school is a government school that chooses its students by an entrance test, rather than by where they live. The NSW Department of Education describes its selective high schools as being “for high potential and gifted students in Years 7 to 12”, and explains that students “sit a placement test and qualify for a place based on their results.”
You’ll also hear a few related terms:
- Fully selective schools take every student through the test.
- Partially selective schools (NSW) have selective classes alongside ordinary local classes in the same school.
- Opportunity classes (NSW) are selective classes for Years 5 and 6 inside some public primary schools.
- Selective entry high schools is Victoria’s name for its four schools that take students from Year 9.
- Select entry programs, such as SEAL in some Victorian schools or Ignite in South Australia, are accelerated or gifted programs run inside a school, with their own entry test.
These are all government schools and programs. Private school scholarship tests are a separate thing and aren’t covered here.
Selective schools by state
Here’s the big picture. Each state’s official page, linked at the end, has the details.
| State or territory | What’s on offer | When children sit the test |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 17 fully selective, 27 partially selective and 4 agricultural selective high schools, plus Aurora College online classes. Also 89 opportunity classes for Years 5 and 6. | Year 6 for Year 7 entry; Year 4 for opportunity classes |
| Victoria | 4 selective entry high schools for Years 9 to 12, a few specialist schools with their own entry, and SEAL programs in some schools | Year 8 for Year 9 entry |
| Western Australia | Perth Modern School, “Western Australia’s only fully selective school”, plus Gifted and Talented programs in other high schools | Year 6, through the ASET |
| Queensland | The Queensland Academies, which are “academic selective entry schools”: one from Year 7 and two from Year 10 | The year before entry |
| South Australia | The Ignite program for gifted students at Glenunga, Aberfoyle Park and The Heights | The year before Year 7 |
| ACT | “The ACT does not have select entry schools” | Not applicable |
| Tasmania and NT | We couldn’t find an academically selective government high school listed in either | Not applicable |
Last checked 17 October 2026. Numbers of schools and places can change each year, so confirm them on your state’s official page.
A closer look, state by state
New South Wales has the most selective places. For Year 7 entry in 2027 there were 4,338 places in selective high schools, plus 90 Aurora College places for rural and remote students, who join online classes from their local high school. Children sit the selective test in Year 6, on computers, and the opportunity class (OC) test in Year 4, for 1,840 Year 5 places. Our guides to the NSW selective school test and the OC test go through each one.
Victoria has four selective entry high schools for Years 9 to 12: Melbourne High School, The Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, Nossal High School and Suzanne Cory High School. About 1,000 Year 9 places are offered each year, through a paper exam sat in Year 8. Some government schools also run SEAL programs from Year 7, each with its own test. See our guide to Victoria’s selective entry high schools and SEAL.
Western Australia chooses students for Perth Modern School and its Gifted and Talented programs through the Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET), sat in Year 6. The Department says entry “is based purely on performance in the assessment tasks and there is no placement advantage to students who live in a school’s local catchment.” Our guide to Perth Modern and the ASET has the dates for the 2028 intake.
Queensland has three Queensland Academies. The Science Mathematics and Technology campus runs Years 7 to 12, and the Creative Industries and Health Sciences campuses take students from Year 10. Selection also uses school reports, NAPLAN results and an engagement activity.
South Australia runs Ignite, “a special interest program funded by the Department of Education, designed to support the learning needs of identified gifted and talented students”, at three government high schools. Students sit the ACER Ignite Assessment the year before they start Year 7.
The ACT says plainly that it “does not have select entry schools or schools only for high-achieving students.” Instead, every public school has a Gifted and Talented Liaison Officer. Tasmania supports gifted students within its government schools and doesn’t list any academically selective high school, and we couldn’t find one in the Northern Territory.
Equity places
Several states hold some places so that children from all backgrounds have a fair chance:
- NSW holds up to 20% of places at each selective high school and opportunity class under its Equity Placement Model: 10% for students from low socio-educational advantage areas, 5% for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, 2.5% for rural and remote students and 2.5% for students with disability. There’s no separate application.
- Victoria offers up to 10% of places through equity consideration, for families with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students, and the application fee is waived for these families.
- Western Australia places students on test results alone, without a catchment advantage.
How many children get a place?
Fewer than apply. The NSW Department says that “only about one in eight students are successful in gaining a place in an opportunity class and a quarter of students are successful in gaining a selective high school place”. It’s worth saying this out loud at home, before the test, so that a “no” doesn’t feel like a failure. Most children who sit these tests go on to a different school, so it helps to have a plan you’re all happy with either way.
Is a selective school right for my child?
A selective school can be a great fit for a child who loves learning, enjoys a fast pace and wants to be around others who share that. It isn’t the only path to a great education, and it isn’t right for every bright child. A few questions can help:
- Does your child want to go? A child who is keen will cope with the test far better than one who is doing it for the grown-ups.
- What about travel? Selective schools draw from a wide area. Picture the trip each morning, for six years.
- Friends and interests. Sport, music and old friends matter too.
- What does the local school offer? Ask about extension programs. Victoria says every government school has “access to a high-ability practice leader”.
- How will a “no” feel? Plan for both outcomes. A calm “we’ll try, and either way you’ll have a great school” takes the pressure off.
Where to start
Work out which year your child would sit the test in your state, then find the application window, which usually opens months before the test. Closing dates are strict: NSW says “No late applications will be accepted.” Bookmark your state’s official page and check it each term.
For younger children, the best foundation for any later test is simply a good start at school: reading every day, talking about numbers, and plenty of play.
Questions parents ask
What is a selective school in Australia?
A government school, or a class within one, that chooses students by an entrance test rather than by where they live. In NSW, selective high schools are “for high potential and gifted students in Years 7 to 12”.
Which states have selective schools?
NSW, Victoria and Western Australia have academically selective government high schools, and Queensland has the Queensland Academies. South Australia runs the Ignite program in three schools. The ACT has no select entry schools, and we couldn’t find one in Tasmania or the NT.
What year do children sit the selective school test?
It depends on the state. In NSW it’s Year 6 for Year 7 entry, and Year 4 for opportunity classes. In Victoria it’s Year 8 for Year 9 entry. In WA it’s Year 6.
How many students get into a selective school?
The NSW Department says about a quarter of students who apply get a selective high school place, and about one in eight get an opportunity class place. Victoria offers about 1,000 Year 9 places each year.
Are selective schools free?
They are government schools. In NSW there are no fees to apply, sit the test or enrol, except boarding at agricultural high schools. Victoria charges a $175 application fee for its exam, which is waived for concession card holders and First Nations families.
Does my child need coaching to get into a selective school?
The NSW Department says coaching “is not necessary”, and WA doesn’t endorse it. A small amount of preparation, such as trying the free official practice tests, is enough to know what to expect.
Sources
- Selective high schools, NSW Department of Education
- Opportunity classes, NSW Department of Education
- Fair access, NSW Department of Education
- Outcomes, NSW Department of Education
- Selective entry high schools, Victorian Government
- Supporting high ability learners, Victorian Government
- Gifted and Talented, Department of Education Western Australia
- Year 7 enrolments, Queensland Academies
- High schools with special interest or specialist programs, Department for Education South Australia
- Gifted and talented students, ACT Government
- Support for gifted and highly able students, Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania
