Victorian Teens Face Tougher Exam for Elite Schools

Victorian teenagers are gearing up for a significantly more competitive entrance exam to secure places in the state's select-entry government high schools. This year, more than 6400 students applied for the exam, a notable increase from 2025, vying for a combined total of 1000 Year 9 places across four prestigious institutions.

The Education Department has introduced changes to the exam format, consolidating previous sections into three core areas: mathematics and quantitative reasoning, reading and verbal reasoning, and writing. This overhaul aims to enhance the exam's fairness, validity, and reliability, with assurances that no student will be disadvantaged by the modifications, as the assessment standards remain unchanged.

Many students are dedicating extensive time, often over a year, to prepare for the exam, frequently with the assistance of private tutors. This trend highlights the escalating pressure and competition. Tutors like Devang Krishna and Sophia Ao observe a marked increase in preparation intensity compared to a decade ago, with some students undergoing multi-year tutoring programs.

These tutors often focus on reinforcing fundamental skills that may not have been fully developed in mainstream schooling, such as fractions or persuasive writing. They also note that the recent exam revisions, particularly in mathematics, emphasize logical reasoning aligned with the curriculum, aiming to assess innate aptitude rather than advanced, pre-learned material. This shift is intended to create a more level playing field for talented and hardworking students.