studysweatthefifth Reading Comprehension: Understanding and interpreting complex texts, which can include questions on main ideas, inferences, and vocabulary.

Writing: Evaluating written expression, including grammar, clarity, structure, and the ability to argue or explain a topic effectively.

Mathematics: Covering arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and problem-solving skills, often testing both accuracy and the ability to apply mathematical concepts in new situations.

Quantitative Reasoning: Assessing numerical and logical reasoning through puzzles, patterns, and data interpretation, designed to gauge analytical skills.

Verbal Reasoning: Testing logic and comprehension with language-focused questions, like analogies, synonyms, antonyms, and sentence completions.

      studysweatthefifth
      hey I did selective this yr and got into Mac Rob so I can share the content in the selective exam (note: Acer tends to change its style and surprise the cohort)

      Writing: In writing there are 2 components where you have to finish both a persuasive text and a narrative in the given 40 minute time frame (ideally 20 mins for each text). The prompts are generally current affairs in the news (most likely wont be too controversial). The prompts also tend to be similar to each other for example this year our narrative prompt was a picture of a person sitting in an empty theatre and the persuasive prompt required us to pick one persons perspective where one was arguing that movie theatres are a waste of time and the other one was against. In the previous year there was one on space exploration and whether is it a waste of money or a pride to the country (not word to word but a similar meaning).

      Mathematics: This test was one of the most difficult tests in my opinion. This test had content which did not exceed yr 8 level concepts (maybe a few questions yr 9) but the test had more long worded problems to 1. pressurize the ppl taking the test and 2. confuse them with words. Instead of asking what 5-3 is Acer would write a lenghty question which says John had 5 apples but one of them rot and half of the rest of the apples were consumed. how many apples remain. This is a very basic questions and will not be on the exam but the style and complexity of the question will be styled similar to this. The topics include: probability (a very major component of our test), algebra,problem solving skills and etc (all the yr 8 content and revise some topic in yr9 just to be safe).

      Quantitative reasoning: This test is generally confused with maths but requires more reasoning skills. The test will largely be based on data interpretation, patterns, identifying puzzles and may include some worded problem questions. This test requires speed to complete as there is only 30 mins and I can't remember exactly but 40-45 question on the test.

      Verbal reasoning: Verbal reasoning tests you language skills with questions about synonyms, antonyms, sentence completions, odd one out, correct word usage, analogies, idioms/proverbs etc. To ace this test, an extensive vocab is vital. The test contains 60 q with 30 mins to complete which may be daunting at first but once you get a hang of the question style it is one of the easiest test.

      Reading: For me personally reading comprehension is my weakness; however, the test just contains analysing poems, answering questions about passages, interpreting graphs, definitions and comics. There also may be some punctuation or Grammer questions but is very rare and unlikey to be on the test. For RC you get 35 q and 30 mins time to finish which is plenty compared to the other tests. In order to be prepared for this test you should read books and practice reading comprehension questions.

      This is all for now but feel free to ask additional questional about specific topics or tests. As MMHS has mentioned if you have any weakness you need help with or tips regarding time management or the test itself we are happy to help. Good luck and hope you achieve you goal!

          studysweatthefifth Sorry for taking so long to reply, here is my take on the test and what you should do:
          My experiences: I started studying for this test a good 3 - 3.5 months before the exam test day. Initially, my friend told me about how he was going for it so i wanted to go for it as well, for a new experience to foster my want for something more, academically and to make me a better person. Anyways, I signed up for James An Coaching College on pretty much the last day of February, and started my first lesson the next day. I went Friday classes, and let's just say I was underestimating the difficulty of the tests. I scored like a 30 something on my first two tests, and was quite disappointed, knowing that my classmates were getting 75+ most times. I kept at it, practicing for at least 2-3 hours a day for selective, spamming James An practice tests. Until finally I got a 50+%, which was a huge achievement for me. Anyways, I kept progressing, until it was the VSSE Trial Exam for James An. Basically a simulation of the real one. I scored mediocre for this test, but did well on the English components, getting Sup for writings, and i think aa for the other english ones. Maths i got like ha. Then we had simulation, which was in class and set up like the actual test, all 5 tests in 1 sitting, i found these tests easier than the usual ones, and scored multiple 80+% for these. I went into the actual test feeling nervous but excited, but I knew i had to be calm, and that is what I think lets most people down, they just stress at the fact that this is for real. I was highly doubting my chances, seeing as I guessed many for QR, easily more than 10, and thought there was no way I would get in. The day came of July 16th, when I got a notification on the SEHS website, saying I had a pending offer. This was the best day of my life, easily. Moral: Even if you may have time constraint, you can still do quite well, its just about how much you want it.
          Tips for each subject:
          VR: Just keep spamming vocab building worksheets, read books, and be excited at the fact of extending your language skills and word connections. A positive mindset is key for all. Extending vocab will help with writing
          RC: I don't know if this is just me, but I always try and find the core meaning of a passage or a text, and its important that in comprehension, you look further than what is just the words on a page, find how they could be ambiguous and have two meanings. Do practice tests.
          Writing: DO lots of writing, use good vocabulary, write fast, find a pen that suits you. The latter point was important for me, as I had to be comfortable with the pen I was writing with otherwise I wouldn't write as quite (for me this was a 4 pen). Also, if the time for writing is 20 mins, practice with 15, as this will give you about 5 mins to look over and change anything.
          NR: Really just do a LOT of worded problems, learn key formulas, but otherwise not too many tips for this one, you kind of have to figure it out by yourself.
          Maths: Cover as many topics as you can in the year 8 curriculum, if acer says it won't extend beyond yr 8 concepts, it won't.
          Hope this helps, if you have any questions from tests, or just any other queries, feel free to ask me or any of the others who have done the test this year and past years.

            Thanks guys also is their anybody who has tried for jms john monash science school

            12 days later

            MMHS oh my god bros literally a legend in all the vic selective test forums lmfaoooo what tips do you have for improving maths and critical thinking 💀💀💀

            • MMHS replied to this.

                a📀 nah bro im not the legend i just really love this place a lot so yea

                • DV78 replied to this.

                    just spam practice tests

                    15 days later