NSW Selective Test Practice Online —
Expert Preparation for the 2027
Selective High School Exam

Parents and carers can apply if their child is in a NSW public school, non-government school, home study, interstate school or overseas school. From 2026, the test is held only in NSW, so interstate and overseas applicants must return to NSW to sit it. Families must be living in NSW by the beginning of the school year of entry, and visa or enrolment conditions may apply for some students.

For Year 7 entry in 2027, applications opened on 6 November 2025 and closed on 20 February 2026. The Selective High School Placement Test was held on 1–2 May 2026, the make-up test on 22 May 2026, and outcomes are expected in late August 2026.

For Year 7 entry in 2028, the Selective High School Placement Test is planned in May 2027.

For Year 7 entry in 2029, the Selective High School Placement Test is planned in May 2028.

NSW Education notes that dates can change each cycle, so parents should check the official key dates page regularly.

Parents and carers must use the official NSW Education online application website. Register with the parent's name and email address, verify the email, log in, complete all application sections, and submit. After submission you can still update details, upload documents, request reasonable adjustments, send messages, and change school choices up to the published deadline. NSW Education says late applications are not accepted.

The Selective High School Placement Test is computer-based with 4 parts: Reading (17 questions, 45 min), Mathematical Reasoning (35 questions, 40 min), Thinking Skills (40 questions, 40 min), and Writing (1 response, 30 min). Each section is weighted equally at 25%. NSW Education says the test draws on NSW curriculum up to Year 6 and is designed so students do not need special outside knowledge. There is no advantage from sitting on a particular test day.

Parents can choose between 1 and 3 selective high schools and must list them in order of preference. NSW Education makes clear that there is no extra consideration for listing a school first — students are assessed on test performance alone. If a child qualifies for more than one school, the family receives an offer only for their highest-ranked choice. School choices can usually be changed up to the published deadline.

Students are placed on academic merit based on their placement test performance. The score needed for an offer varies by school depending on demand and available places. Parents do not receive a raw score or placement rank — instead the application dashboard provides a performance report showing broad bands for each test component.

The Equity Placement Model reserves up to 20% of places for high potential and gifted students from under-represented groups — including low socio-educational advantage, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, rural or remote, and students with disability. From the 2027 intake, NSW Education also applies a gender parity model at coeducational selective high schools, with an equal number of places made available for girls and boys. Entry into both pathways is still based on placement test performance.

The NSW Selective Test is for Year 7 entry into selective high schools, while the OC Test (Opportunity Class Placement Test) is for Year 5 entry into an Opportunity Class. Selective applications are usually made in late Year 5 or early Year 6; OC applications are usually made in late Year 3 or early Year 4. The Selective School Test has 4 sections including Writing, whereas the OC Test has 3 multiple-choice sections only (Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills). Opportunity classes run for Years 5 and 6 only — there is no Year 6-only OC entry.

A sensible Year 5/Year 6 selective preparation timeline is to build skills steadily before the November–February application window, then move into more timed practice closer to the early-May test. NSW Education's selective test tips focus on regular school attendance, healthy routine, sleep, nutrition, and balanced wellbeing — rather than last-minute cramming. TestRoom's Selective Test Practice Course is structured to support this steady, topic-by-topic approach.

NSW Education says coaching or tutoring is not necessary, does not recommend or endorse coaching, and states there is no credible research showing coaching gives a child an advantage in gaining entry. A practical parent-first approach is to begin with the department's free online and PDF practice tests, then add more timed practice only if your child needs more familiarity with pacing or the computer-based format. If home access is limited, NSW Education suggests a local public library or support from your child's school.

Start with NSW Education's free resources: the official online practice tests, PDF practice tests, and student resource hub — these are the closest match to the actual NSW Selective Test format. For more structured preparation after the free resources, TestRoom offers a Selective Test Practice Course (topic-wise questions and analytics), Selective School Mock Tests NSW (full-length timed exams with performance reports), a Free Selective T-MAT, and Selective Test Plans & Pricing. TestRoom's questions and tests are independently created and not endorsed by the NSW Department of Education.

Parents receive a Test Admission Ticket about 2 weeks before the test — the child must bring a printed copy on the day. NSW Education says students should wear school uniform, bring 2B pencils, an eraser, a sharpener, and a clear bottle of water. Calculators, rulers, note paper, phones, and smart watches are not allowed. If your child has a disability or medical condition, request reasonable adjustments during the application process and upload supporting evidence as early as possible. If illness or another serious issue affects the test, submit an illness or misadventure request through the dashboard within 5 business days of the test.

For Year 7 entry in 2027, selective outcomes are expected in late August 2026. Parents receive a dashboard message and an email alert. Outcomes can include: an offer, reserve list only, offer plus higher-choice reserve list, unsuccessful, or not applicable. A reserve list is effectively a wait list — NSW Education says later offers for selective high schools can continue up to the end of Term 1 of the entry year if vacancies arise. Reserve bands are estimates only, not guarantees. If you accept a Year 7 offer, NSW Education then emails you to complete online enrolment.

Appeals are limited and must be submitted through the application dashboard with documentary evidence, usually within 5 business days of outcomes. NSW Education notes that multiple-choice questions are computer-marked with reliability checks, and writing is already marked by 2 examiners — appeal decisions are final. Selective high schools are public schools and do not charge attendance fees, except for boarding at some agricultural high schools; families may still pay for curriculum resources, excursions, or sport. For Years 8 to 11 entry, the process is school-managed and separate. For 2027 entry, applications run 17 June to 24 July 2026, with outcomes in September–October 2026.