Why Were Reading and Verbal Reasoning Combined in the 2026 Victorian Selective Entry Exam?
In 2026, Reading and Verbal Reasoning were combined into one 55-minute section in the Victorian Selective Entry Exam. This article looks at why the change may have been made, how the two areas overlap, and what students should focus on when preparing for future exams.
One of the biggest changes in the 2026 Victorian Selective Entry Exam was the way Reading and Verbal Reasoning were tested.
Previously, students completed a separate Reading test and a separate Verbal Reasoning test. In 2026, ACER combined them into a single 55-minute Reading and Verbal Reasoning section.
The change may tell us something about the skills the Selective Entry Exam is trying to test: understanding language, drawing conclusions and reasoning from what has been read.
What Changed in 2026?
| Previous Format | 2026 Format | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Separate test, 35 minutes |
Combined Reading + Verbal Reasoning 55 minutes |
| Verbal Reasoning | Separate test, 30 minutes |
This means the two areas that previously had a total of 65 minutes are now tested together in 55 minutes.
ACER does not publicly state the exact number of questions. Students who sat the June 2026 exam commonly reported around 75 questions in the combined section.
Why Might Reading and Verbal Reasoning Have Been Combined?
ACER has published the new exam structure, but it has not published an official explanation for why these two areas were combined. The points below are our analysis of the change.
There Was Already a Lot of Overlap
Reading and Verbal Reasoning sound like two different subjects, but many of the skills required are closely connected.
ACER describes Reading as understanding, interpreting and evaluating ideas in texts. Verbal Reasoning is described as reasoning using words, concepts and logic.
Verbal Reasoning Had Become Quite Dependent on Vocabulary
In previous exam patterns, many Verbal Reasoning questions involved synonyms, antonyms, analogies and relationships between words.
Vocabulary is important, but these questions can sometimes favour students who simply know more difficult English words.
Reading and Reasoning Can Be Tested Together
A short passage can test much more than whether a student remembers what it says.
These skills naturally cross the old boundary between Reading and Verbal Reasoning.
A student reads a short paragraph and has to decide which conclusion is best supported by it. Is that Reading or Verbal Reasoning? In practice, it requires both.
What Does This Mean for Selective Entry Preparation?
Reading becomes even more important
Improving reading speed, understanding and interpretation can now help across a much larger part of the combined test.
Inference deserves separate practice
Students should practise deciding what is supported, what is only possible, and what cannot be concluded from the information given.
Vocabulary should be learnt in context
Learning word meanings still matters, but students should also understand how words change meaning according to the sentence or passage.
Practise mixed questions under one time limit
Preparing only with separate Reading and Verbal Reasoning tests may not fully prepare students for the new format. They also need practice moving between different types of language and reasoning questions.
Does This Mean Students Should Simply Read More?
Reading more will certainly help, but the type of reading matters.
Students should get into the habit of asking questions while they read:
This kind of reading develops comprehension and verbal reasoning at the same time.
Our View on the 2026 Change
Combining Reading and Verbal Reasoning makes sense when we look at how closely the two skill areas are connected.
Strong reading is already based on reasoning. A student needs to understand what is written, connect ideas, recognise relationships and decide what can reasonably be inferred.
A Note About the 2026 Format
ACER officially lists Reading and Verbal Reasoning as a combined 55-minute test. Exact question counts and detailed question distributions are not publicly released by ACER. References to the number or style of questions encountered in June 2026 are based on reports from students who sat the examination.
