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How to study for Selective Guide
Backstory: I got into Suzanne Cory for year 10. I didn’t get an interview getting direct entry (I didn’t know it was even a thing). I started studying at the end of November 2023 to June 17th 2024. I had roughly six months to prepare for Selective. I thought my chances of getting in were less than 5%. I asked everybody I knew for their tips on getting into Selective. When it was approaching June, I was bored to death from doing practice tests. I forced myself to continue doing practice tests. I got the John Monash Science School interview and entered Suzanne Cory directly. I went to two tuitions: Atlas One Education (which did Acer) and EduKingdom (which did Edutest). Atlas One Education greatly improved my writing and provided me with more confidance. I did practice tests on my selective test exam folder as homework. I got four superiors and one above average.
Do lots of practice tests. They are the most beneficial way of practising. They mimic exam conditions, reducing anxiety about the exam. Additionally, the questions on practice tests are similar to the ones in selective. Doing many practice tests is like doing the entry test multiple times. Take tests from different people. Mix up the practice tests to increase the chance you get questions similar to the ones on select entry. Reading comprehension, keep doing the tests. Eventually, you will get better at processing words at faster rates. Set up a timer for your practice tests to mimic exam conditions. Most of the tests are 30 minutes long so set up 30-minute timers.
Create a routine. A study routine is vital to get into Suzanne or JMSS or whatever. Motivation is weak and cannot be counted on. If I studied the days I felt like studying, I would get half my studying done. Create a study routine from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. Afterwards, take a 10 to 40-minute break doing nothing. DO NOT SCROLL ON YOUR PHONE DURING THE BREAK. You will overload the brain with dopamine, and it will not allow your brain to recover. Going out for a walk is a good break for the brain. Study in silence - no music. Make sure you have no distractions, and you are in an isolated place. Ps, I used to study in my Caravan.
This was my study routine.
For school days
7:20 am: Wake up
9:00 am: School
3:50 pm: Home time free time
4:10 pm: Piano
4:50 pm: Walk the dog
5:20 pm: Dinner - reading book
6:00 pm: 90-minute study
7:30 pm: Break
7:50 pm: 90-minute study session
9:20 pm: Sleep
For weekends
9:00 am: 90-minute study session
10:30 am: 30-minute dog walk
11:00 am: 90-minute study session
12:30 pm: Lunch/free time
1:20 pm: 90-minute study session
2:50 pm: Walk the dog
3:20 pm: 90-minute study session
4:50 pm: continue as usual.
You can copy it if you want. Your lifestyle may require changes to this schedule.
Don’t put your life on hold . Just because you are studying for a test doesn’t mean you should avoid socialising to study. Make sure you have fun and relax with friends or family. It doesn’t hurt to go out with your friends on the weekend. Just make sure you aren’t partying every day till 1 am.
If you are going for year ten entry, sign up for everything in school and out of school. Signing up for sports, leadership, music, jobs, academics, and volunteer work will significantly boost your chances of getting an offer. I remember I had just finished Netball training. I did a school interview for something, and then I had to run to class. Get my name marked off the roll and do Cross Country. You can use your tuition teachers to help you write your resume. Make sure you email as many teachers or adults as you can to make a reference letter. I had more than five reference letters. On your resume, you should have academic achievements, leadership achievements, musical achievements, volunteering achievements and sports achievements. Having a versatile portfolio of accomplishments is better than a single great achievement. My tuition teacher told me I should not stay quiet in the interview.
Here is the resume I used for Suzanne’s Year 10 Entry. You can use it as a template.
Dear Admission Committee,
My name is Micah Lim, and I am a Year 9 student writing to express my keen interest in Suzanne Cory High School. I am drawn to your school’s high-achieving atmosphere and outstanding music programs and events. I have matured a versatile skill set that aligns perfectly with Suzanne Cory's values.
Academically, I am an ambitious learner with a strong mathematics, science, and music foundation. I have studied these subjects at a Year 10 level. My involvement in the school science club has rekindled my understanding and passion for science. I am eager to further develop my knowledge at Suzanne Cory High School, where I can engage in more advanced studies and undertake new academic challenges.
Music is an ardent passion of mine and an innate part of my life. I am studying Grade 7 ANZCA piano and actively participate in various music programs at my school, including House Bands and Vivace Voices, our school choir. I look forward to joining the choir at Suzanne Cory and contributing to the school’s rich musical culture. I have demonstrated my aspiring mindset through years of practising piano and participating in musical programs.
In addition to my academic and musical pursuits, I am actively involved in sports. I have excelled in school Athletics Day, obtaining first place in the 200-meter race and earning several other ribbons. I have also represented my school in interschool sports such as Lawn Bowls, regionals in Cross Country, and Netball. These experiences have taught me the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship. These experiences align well with Suzanne Cory’s emphasis on holistic development and the importance of physical fitness and teamwork.
I strongly believe in community service and fostering a sense of belonging. I have actively contributed to creating a cleaner, greener community through my involvement in Alamanda College Environmental Services (A.C.E.S.), Relay for Life (cancer fundraising), and a school tree-planting programme. These activities have reinforced my belief in the importance of respecting my peers and fostering a sense of belonging, principles that are integral to the ethos of Suzanne Cory.
Leadership is another area where I have sought to make a positive impact. As a volunteer at Tarneit Church, I take on various roles that require organisation, communication, and confidence. Whether supporting classroom activities, delivering speeches, or assisting in event planning, these responsibilities have enhanced my leadership skills and ability to work effectively within a team. These qualities are crucial in contributing to and thriving in the collaborative and dynamic environment at Suzanne Cory.
Thank you for considering my application. I am genuinely excited about the prospect of joining Suzanne Cory High School and bringing my aspirations, skills, and enthusiasm to your eminent institution. My academic achievements, musical talents, athletic spirit, and commitment to community service will allow me to make a meaningful impact on your school community.
Sincerely,
Micah Lim
- Persistence is key. I remember this one time I got 30% on a math test in tuition. It was a multiple choice. I was terrible, and now I am in Suzanne Cory. It wasn’t easy, but with enough work, you can achieve some hard stuff. At the last tuition session, I was top of the class, getting the top scores. Hard work pays off.
Bonus tips: You can ignore the advice.
Skip for 2-3 weeks before selective studying 9 hours a day. You can spread it out every Monday or Tuesday. You can skip the last three weeks straight while only going to school on Fridays to socialise. Whatever works for you. I don’t think it affects your chances of getting an offer. I know many people who skipped school to study getting an offer.
Make friends with people who are trying out for selective.
You don’t have to study at 5 am. You can study whenever you want. Whatever suits you. You can do 5 am if you feel more alert.
If you go to tuition, ask as many questions as possible. Annoy the teacher with questions. It is better to go to multiple cheap tuitions than one expensive tuition as you get more variety in your practice tests.
Use Vocabulary.com for words on the vocab list. You can get Premium by being a teacher and cancelling it repeatedly.
If you cannot finish every question on a practice test, then reviewing your answers has no purpose (Assuming you can solve 99% of the problems but are too slow). You should do more problems to speed up your math problem-solving skills. You can take a screenshot if you don’t know how to solve a question. Then, send it to ChatGPT or a private tutor and get them to solve it. Make sure you understand how to solve the question.
Writing tips: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fly9pFfObQZJWD--ZLF_RchgQ6ZtL_bzUMJt2YWy2wo/edit
You can study 3 hours on weekdays and 9 hours on weekends. Any more, and you may be sacrificing sleep or other important activities. Don’t sacrifice sleep for studying.
The day before the exam, do nothing. Sit and stare at the wall. Make sure your brain is strong and prepared for the test.
Memorise the alphabet and their numerical value for numerical reasoning. For example A is 1 and C is 3 and R is 18 and so fourth.
Selective explained: In Victoria, there are four Selective schools. Macrob (all girls), Melbourne High (all boys), Suzanne Cory (Co-ed) and Nozzal (Co-ed). For simplicity, you have to take a test in June during year 8 to get entry into year 9. To get an offer from the schools, you have to get a better score than everybody else who tried the test. It would help if you aimed to have all components of the test mastered. Make sure to practice your weaker components.
You have five components in the test: Verbal, Reading Comprehension, Math, Numerical Reasoning and Writing (these may have different names).
Verbal: It tests your vocabulary and your ability to solve logic problems. Example: Like if all dogs are animals. All animals are real. Then, are all dogs real?
Reading Comprehension: It tests your ability to read a text and asks questions based on the text. Example: Jane, with her dog Annie, went to the store. What was the dog’s name?
Math: It tests your math skills. Example: A circle has a radius of 5m. How large is the area?
Numerical Reasoning: It tests your ability to solve mathematical patterns or puzzles. Example: Find the pattern—1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21.
Writing: It tests your writing skills. You will have roughly 30 minutes to write a persuasive or narrative. The prompt could be, Should animals be kept in schools? Or Write a story about a world on the brink of collapse. The key is to use much description and keep the story narratively short - with one problem.
For grade 9 entry (Grade 8s doing the test), the test format is Acer. The questions are known to be more wordier, requiring more problem-solving. For grade 10 entry and above, the test format is EduTest. Their questions are known to be more straightforward. Depending on which grade you are trying, you should aim for the correct test format. Example: Grade 9 student doing more EduTest practice tests or grade 8 student doing more Acer tests.
