The Selective Entry High School Examination

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The Selective Entry High School Examination 是维州政府为墨尔本的精英中学（Selective Entry High Schools）选学生而设，考试时间是每年六月中旬，当年的8年级学生（不论公校私校）可以报名。墨尔本2009年及以前有两所精英中学，一个男校 Melbourne High，一个女校 Mac Robertson Girls' High，2010年增加了一所男女混校 Nossal High，2011年又增加另一所男女混校 Cory High，这四所精英中学只有9到12年级，有近3000人报名2011年的入学考试，录取950人左右。每所普通中学最多只能有5%的8年级在校生可以被精英中学录取，如果你所在中学水平高，就是过了录取线，也有可能被这5%的限制卡住。此外，2010年还开了一所混校 John Monash Science School，这所学校只有10到12年级。

考试共有六个科目（两大类），考试时间约三小时（星期天的中午11点半到下午3点半）。

第一类是 ABILITY TESTS，下有 Verbal Reasoning 和 Numerical Reasoning 两个科目，全是选择题。

官方的说明是：
The Abilities tests are designed to assess a student's ability to think, reason and solve problems, without necessarily relying on prior knowledge. Ability generally predicts how quickly a child will be able to learn and the level of complexity they can comfortably deal with. Please note that most students tend to perform better on either Verbal Reasoning or Numerical Reasoning.
Verbal Reasoning
This test assesses the ability to think and reason using words and language. Vocabulary, word relationships, coding, classification and deduction are assessed.
Numerical Reasoning
This test assesses the ability to think and reason using numbers. Series, matrices, arithmetical reasoning and deduction are assessed.

第二类是 ACHIEVEMENT TESTS，下有Reading Comprehension，Mathematics，Analytical Expression 和 Creative Expression 四个科目，其中前两个科目是选择题，后两个科目是作文。

官方的说明是：
The Achievement tests are designed to measure actual achievement in some key academic areas. Achievement or performance scores are influenced by a student’s ability, as well as the application and practice of knowledge that has been learned at school and through reinforcement at home.
Reading Comprehension
This test assesses the capacity to read and interpret meaning from written passages, as well as correct, complete and punctuate sentences.
Mathematics
This test assesses year-level appropriate mathematical knowledge. Numbers, measurement, space and data are assessed.
Analytical Expression
This test assesses the ability to convey ideas clearly in written form. Punctuation, construction, grammar, spelling and relevance to the task are assessed.
Creative Expression
This test assesses the ability to convey ideas clearly in written form. Punctuation, construction, grammar, spelling and relevance to the task are assessed.

最终的计分是按科目，把绝对分数转换成相对分数，分成六级：
Superior (11% of population)
Above Average (12% of population)
High Average (17% of population)
Average (20% of population)
Low Average (17% of population)
Below Average (23% of population)

根据 Hendersons Educational Services (http://www.hendersons.com.au/) 的经验，六个科目中如果有三个 Superior，两个 Above Average，一个不低于 Average 的成绩，上 Melbourne High 或 Mac Robertson Girls 是不会有问题的。

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