Selective Entry Exam Last Minute Tips - Your 2-Week Countdown Guide

The selective entry exam is approaching. Whether your child has been preparing for months or is looking for a final push, the last two weeks before the SEHS exam are crucial - not for cramming new content, but for sharpening exam technique, building confidence, and arriving on test day in the best possible state.

These selective entry exam last minute tips are designed as a practical day-by-day countdown. Follow the structure, adjust the details to your child's needs, and resist the urge to overload these final days with new material.

The golden rule of final exam preparation

The most important thing to understand about last-minute revision for any competitive exam is this: the final two weeks are for consolidation, not new learning.

If your child has been preparing for the Victorian selective entry exam, the knowledge is already there. These final days are about making sure they can access that knowledge under timed, pressured conditions. Trying to learn new topics in the last week often creates more anxiety than confidence.

Focus on three things: reviewing what they already know, practising under exam conditions, and resting well.

Days 14-10: Targeted revision week

This is the week to use the SK Study Buddy if your child has not already. A structured study plan takes the guesswork out of what to revise and in what order.

Days 9-5: Mock test week

Mock exams under realistic conditions are the single most valuable last-minute preparation activity. They build exam stamina, reveal time management problems, and make the real exam feel familiar rather than intimidating. Students who have completed several timed mock tests consistently perform better than those who have only practised untimed questions.

Days 4-2: The wind-down

Day 1: The night before the SEHS exam

The night before the selective entry exam should be calm, structured and early.

• No studying. A 10-minute glance at the exam strategy cheat sheet is fine. Anything more is counterproductive.
• Pack the bag. Lay out everything needed for exam day (see checklist below). Doing this the night before removes morning stress.
• Have a good dinner. Something familiar and filling - this is not the night for experimental cooking. Avoid heavy, greasy food that might cause discomfort.
• No screens after 8pm. Blue light disrupts sleep. Read a book, talk, or do something relaxing.
• Bed by 9pm. Even if your child cannot fall asleep immediately, being in bed early gives the body time to wind down.
• Positive conversation. Remind your child that they have prepared well, that they know the material, and that tomorrow is simply a chance to show what they can do. Avoid discussing competition, cutoff scores, or what-ifs.

Exam day - the morning routine

Exam day should feel routine, not dramatic. The more normal the morning feels, the calmer your child will be.

• Wake up at the usual time - or slightly earlier if travel is required. Avoid rushing.
• Eat a proper breakfast. Protein and slow carbohydrates - eggs on toast, porridge with fruit, or a banana with peanut butter. Avoid sugary cereal that causes an energy crash.
• Arrive 30 minutes early. This allows time to find the venue, use the bathroom, settle nerves, and read through any final reminders.
• Quick body scan: Before entering the exam room, have your child take three slow, deep breaths. Unclench their jaw, relax their shoulders, and shake out their hands. This simple routine reduces physical tension.

Exam day checklist

• Admission ticket / entry notice
• Two or three sharp 2B pencils
• A good eraser
• Pencil sharpener
• Clear water bottle (no labels)
• Analogue watch (no smart watches permitted)
• Comfortable layers (exam halls can be cold or warm)
• A small healthy snack for the break (fruit, muesli bar)

Do not bring: calculator (not permitted), mobile phone into the exam room (leave it with a parent or in the bag area), electronic devices of any kind.

Section-by-section selective entry last minute tips

Maths and Quantitative Reasoning (60 minutes)

• Read every question twice before solving
• Show all working - even on multiple choice
• Budget roughly one minute per question
• If stuck for more than 90 seconds, mark it and move on
• Check units carefully (cm vs m, minutes vs hours)
• Attempt every question - there is no negative marking

Reading Comprehension and Verbal Reasoning (55 minutes)

• Read the passage first, then the questions - do not skim
• For verbal reasoning, eliminate wrong answers systematically
• Underline key words in both passages and questions
• Answer the easy questions first, then return to harder ones
• For analogy questions, define the relationship before looking at options

Writing (40 minutes - two tasks)

• Spend 2 minutes planning before you start writing each task
• Plan a clear structure: introduction, 2-3 body paragraphs, conclusion
• Use a range of sentence lengths and vocabulary
• Leave 2 minutes at the end to proofread each piece
• Write legibly - markers cannot score what they cannot read
• Stay on topic - an off-topic essay will score very poorly regardless of quality

For more detailed writing strategies, read the selective entry writing tips guide.

Managing exam anxiety - tips for parents and students

Some anxiety before a competitive exam is completely normal and even helpful - it sharpens focus and boosts alertness. The goal is not to eliminate anxiety but to keep it at a manageable level.

For parents

• Stay calm yourself. Children absorb their parents' emotions. If you are visibly stressed about the exam, your child will be too.
• Avoid comparisons. Do not talk about how other children are preparing or what scores they are aiming for.
• Frame the exam positively. This is an opportunity, not a life-defining event. Selective entry is one pathway among many excellent options.
• Praise effort, not outcomes. "You have worked so hard and I am proud of you" is more helpful than "I know you will get in."

For students

• Use breathing exercises. Before the exam starts, take five slow breaths - in for 4 counts, hold for 4, out for 4. This activates the calming nervous system.
• Remember: you have prepared for this. The questions will feel familiar because you have practised them.
• If you feel panicky during the exam, put your pencil down, close your eyes, take three breaths, then continue. Those 15 seconds are an investment, not wasted time.
• Focus on one question at a time. Do not think about the whole exam. Just solve the question in front of you.

What NOT to do in the final two weeks

Avoiding mistakes is just as important as doing the right things. Here are the most common final-week errors that can undermine months of preparation:

• Do not cram new topics. If your child has not covered a topic by now, spending the final week on it will not produce mastery and will create anxiety about "not knowing enough."
• Do not do marathon study sessions. Three hours of stressed cramming is less effective than 60 minutes of focused revision plus rest.
• Do not change routines dramatically. If your child normally goes to bed at 9pm, do not suddenly enforce 7pm bedtimes a week before the exam. Gradual adjustment is better.
• Do not discuss results or cutoff scores. This creates pressure that does not help performance.
• Do not skip meals or sleep for extra study time. Nutrition and sleep have a direct, measurable impact on cognitive performance. A well-rested child will outperform a sleep-deprived child on every section of the exam.
• Do not compare with other families. Every child's preparation journey is different. Focus on your child's progress, not someone else's.

Bringing it together - your final countdown summary

The last two weeks before the selective entry exam should follow a clear pattern: targeted revision in week one, mock exams mid-period, and a gradual wind-down into exam day. The students who perform best are not the ones who studied the hardest in the final days - they are the ones who arrived well-rested, confident, and familiar with the exam format.

Trust the preparation. Focus on technique. Rest well. Your child is ready.

Preparation resources on SK Edge Prep

• Free SK Diagnostic - Quickly identify which areas need last-minute attention across all exam sections.
• SK Mock Tests - Full-length timed exams under real conditions. The most realistic SEHS exam simulation.
• SK Study Buddy - Structured study plans that tell your child exactly what to focus on each day.
• SK Writing Lab - Timed writing practice with detailed AI evaluation against selective entry criteria.

Frequently asked questions

Recommended tools: SK Mock Tests SK Sprint Tests SK FREE Diagnostic Test