Academic Extension Course – School-Based Program

The Academic Extension Course (AEC) at Melville Senior High School offers students from Years 7 to 10 a diverse range of extended academic opportunities to match a child’s excelling academic potential.

Academic Extension students make up the top mainstream class in each year group. The program aims to extend and challenge students whilst progressing with course topics according to curriculum and preparing students for senior school tertiary subjects.

Application and Entry Requirements

The Academic Extension Course is a school-based program for students selected through school-based testing in March each year.

School-Based Testing for 2026 entry is closed.

To gain entry to the Academic Extension course, students are required to sit a test for entry to all Specialist and School-Based Programs in Years 5 or 6. Students who sit the test in Year 5 do not have to resit in Year 6.

The test consists of writing, general aptitude and mathematics and requires no prior study. Although not a requirement, many students in the Academic Extension Course also choose to apply for a Specialist Program as the test is ‘all in one’.

Application Process

The application process to apply for School-Based Programs process is different to the Gifted and Talented program, which is selected and run externally by the Education Department on a state-wide basis.

Year 5 or 6 students can be accepted into the program to study core subjects of Mathematics, Science, English and HASS around 4 hours a week. Entry into the AEC subjects in Years 8 to 10 depends on achievement in each subject in the year prior.

Many Specialist Program students are also in the Academic Extension Course stream. Academic Extension can be a part of your child’s pathway to success in developing the whole student.