Selective
NSW Selective School Test
Officially the NSW Selective High School Placement Test. Year 7 entry test for NSW selective high schools covering Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.
Last reviewed
The NSW Selective School Test is used for Year 7 entry to selective high schools. This guide brings together the format, application timeline and free practice examples, with a separate guide for each test section.
Who sits this test: Students currently in Year 6 who plan to enter Year 7 at a NSW selective high school.
What's tested
| Section | Questions | Time | Format | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 171 | 45 min | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 40 min | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Thinking Skills | 40 | 40 min | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Writing | 1 | 30 min | Written response | 25% |
| Total | 93 questions | 155 min | 100% |
- 3 questions have multiple parts to answer
- Based on NSW curriculum up to Year 6 with no special prior knowledge required
- All sections are equally weighted (25% each)
- Calculators are not permitted
- Each section is timed separately
Key dates
2026 test: Year 7 entry in 2027
- Applications open6 November 2025
- Applications close20 February 2026
- Placement test1-2 May 2026 (one allocated day)
- Make-up test22 May 2026
- Last day to change school choices5 June 2026
- Outcomes released19 August 2026
- Outcomes appeal deadline26 August 2026 (11:59 pm)
- Reserve decision date3 December 2026 (3:00 pm)
These dates belong to the test held in 2026 for school entry in 2027. Outcomes were released on 19 August 2026. Check your application dashboard for offers and the official source for reserve-list arrangements.
Check official dates and application guidanceFree NSW Selective School Test practice
4 original iClass practice examples. Try each one, then reveal the worked explanation or the writing guidance. No account needed. These illustrative examples are not official past papers or a full timed mock test.
Reading practice
Read the passage.
Arun had rehearsed his explanation of the broken greenhouse pane all the way home. At the gate he saw his grandmother kneeling beside the frame, fitting a new sheet of glass. She looked up and handed him the brush. The speech he had prepared suddenly seemed much too long. He set down his bag and began sweeping.
Why does Arun's prepared speech now seem too long?
- A.He has forgotten how the pane broke.
- B.He thinks his grandmother cannot hear him.
- C.He recognises that helping with the repair matters more than his rehearsed explanation.
- D.He wants to finish sweeping before his grandmother notices the damage.
C connects the offered brush with Arun's decision to help. His grandmother already knows about the broken pane and is repairing it, so D cannot fit. Nothing suggests memory loss or difficulty hearing. The passage shows his shift from preparing words to taking responsibility through action.
2 more Reading practice questions and preparation advice are in the Reading guide.
Mathematical Reasoning practice
A tank starts three-quarters full. After 28 litres are used, it is two-fifths full.
What is the tank's capacity?
- A.40 litres
- B.60 litres
- C.70 litres
- D.80 litres
- E.100 litres
The 28 litres represent the difference between three-quarters and two-fifths of the same tank. In twentieths, that is 15/20 - 8/20 = 7/20. One twentieth is 28 ÷ 7 = 4 litres, so the full capacity is 20 × 4 = 80 litres. Check: 60 litres at the start minus 28 litres leaves 32 litres, which is two-fifths of 80.
2 more Mathematical Reasoning practice questions and preparation advice are in the Mathematical Reasoning guide.
Thinking Skills practice
A library moved its homework club from Tuesday to Thursday. Attendance doubled. The organiser says, 'Thursday must be a better day for families, so changing the day caused the increase.'
Which fact, if true, most weakens that explanation?
- A.The library uses the same room for the club.
- B.At the same time, the library began providing a free bus from the local school.
- C.Some children borrow books after the club.
- D.The organiser prefers working on Thursdays.
B supplies another change that could explain higher attendance: more children could reach the library. It weakens the claim that the day change caused the increase, without proving that the day had no effect. The other facts do not explain why attendance doubled.
2 more Thinking Skills practice questions and preparation advice are in the Thinking Skills guide.
Writing practice
Write a story for readers your age that begins with this sentence:
The key was still warm when I found it.
Develop a decision your main character must make. For a timed practice attempt, allow 30 minutes.
Planning notes
One possible approach is a character finding a key dropped by someone who has just left. Decide why the warmth matters and what the character risks by returning or keeping it. Keep the action within a small number of places so the decision has room to develop.
An ending could show the consequence of the character's choice through an action or a changed relationship. Other interpretations are possible if they use the opening and develop a decision.
Review your draft
Can a reader understand what the character wants? Does the choice change what happens? Check that details about the key serve the story, and reread for clear sentence boundaries.
1 more Writing practice prompt and preparation advice are in the Writing guide.
How it's scored
Each of the four sections contributes 25% of the placement score. Read the department's current placement guidance alongside your child's outcome report to understand how results are used.
- There is no fixed pass mark — selection is competitive and varies by school each year.
- Top fully selective schools typically require very strong placement scores and competition varies each year depending on demand and cohort strength.
- Borderline scores may receive an offer to a partially selective stream rather than a fully selective school.
- Score reports include section-level results so families can see relative strengths.
How to apply for the NSW Selective School Test
Applications are made online through the NSW Department of Education's application dashboard, not through your child's school.
- Apply while your child is in Year 5: applications open in November and close in February of Year 6, for Year 7 entry the following year.
- Students at NSW public schools, non-government schools, home study, interstate schools and overseas schools can all apply. Families must be living in NSW by the start of the school year of entry.
- You list the selective high schools you want considered when you apply. School choices can be changed up to the published cut-off, which was 5 June in the 2027-entry cycle.
- From 2026 the test is held only in NSW. Interstate and overseas applicants must return to sit it at an allocated test centre.
- Before the test, families receive a Test Admission Ticket showing the allocated centre and day. It must be printed; digital copies are not accepted on the day.
What test day looks like
The Selective High School Placement Test is a computer-based test sat on one allocated day at a department test centre, usually a NSW public high school near your child's primary school.
- Students sit the test on computers provided by the department. The four sections run one after another with breaks, and the day runs for about 3 hours 55 minutes including breaks.
- Bring the printed admission ticket, two 2B pencils, an eraser and sharpener, a clear water bottle and a snack, and wear school uniform. Glasses and a non-smart watch are allowed.
- Calculators, rulers, dictionaries, notebooks, pens, phones, smart watches and pencil cases are not permitted, and neither is any device that can compute, photograph or communicate.
- Approved disability adjustments and necessary medication, such as an EpiPen or inhaler, can be brought in.
- If your child is sick or misses the test, an illness or misadventure request must be lodged through the application dashboard within 5 business days with supporting documents. Holidays and forgotten dates are not accepted.
What happens after the test
Outcomes are released in August of Year 6 through the same application dashboard, with a placement score report showing section-level results.
- Each school choice receives one of three outcomes: an offer, a place on that school's reserve list, or unsuccessful.
- Reserve-list offers continue as families decline places. In the 2027-entry cycle, reserve decisions run until 3 December 2026.
- An outcomes appeal can be lodged through the dashboard by the published deadline, which was 26 August 2026 for the 2027-entry cycle.
- Students who miss the test and have an illness or misadventure request approved may sit the make-up test, held on 22 May 2026 in the 2027-entry cycle.
What good preparation looks like
Strong preparation is built in phases. Cramming in the last few weeks rarely moves the needle — the test rewards reasoning skills that take months to build.
Foundation — 9 to 12 months out
Close core skill gaps. Build vocabulary, reading stamina, mental arithmetic fluency, and exposure to non-routine maths and pattern problems. Writing should focus on planning a 30-minute response, not just generating ideas.
Targeted practice — 3 to 6 months out
Move to section-specific drills under timed conditions. Identify which question types the student loses marks on (e.g. inference vs. main idea in Reading) and rotate practice around those gaps rather than re-doing strengths.
Full simulation — last 6 to 8 weeks
At least three full-format mock tests in test-day conditions to build pacing and stamina across all four back-to-back sections. Review every wrong answer for the underlying skill, not just the right option.
Is your child on track for this test?
Try the free Selective Readiness Check — enter your child's recent practice scores and target school to get an indicative feasibility verdict and the skills to work on before the test.
Try the free Readiness CheckReady to build a personalised preparation plan?
Start Your Child’s Study PlanCommon questions
Applications are made online through the NSW Department of Education. In recent cycles they opened in early November of Year 5 and closed in February of Year 6, with the placement test in early May. Check the official key dates page for the confirmed dates for your child's entry year before applying.
Most students benefit from structured preparation starting 9–12 months before the exam. Building reading comprehension, reasoning skills and writing fluency takes time, especially for students aiming for highly competitive schools.
The test is designed to differentiate high-performing students across NSW. Questions focus on reasoning, problem-solving and reading accuracy rather than memorised school content.
There is no fixed cutoff score. Entry scores vary each year depending on student performance, school demand and the number of available places.
Yes. Consistent, targeted practice and honest review of mistakes matter more than attending any specific provider. Many families now combine self-study, mock exams and adaptive online learning.
Very important. The writing section contributes 25% of the final placement outcome and is marked separately from school assessments.
No. The Mathematical Reasoning section is completed without calculators or formula sheets.
Roughly 15,000 students apply each year for placement into NSW fully and partially selective high schools, although numbers vary slightly by cohort.
The placement test is the main factor used for entry decisions. School assessment information may be considered in some circumstances, but strong test performance remains critical.
Students should complete realistic full-length mock exams under timed conditions, review mistakes carefully, and strengthen weaker question types rather than repeatedly practising strengths.
Writing tasks are independently marked against criteria such as ideas, structure, language and expression. Marks are then scaled and combined with the other sections.
No. The NSW Selective test is designed to challenge students. Many students do not complete every question. Accuracy, time management and knowing when to move on are important skills.
Not always. School performance and selective placement tests assess different skills. The Selective test places greater emphasis on reasoning, problem solving and performing under timed conditions.
Competition varies by school. Some schools receive many more applications than available places, making preparation and strong performance especially important.
Thinking Skills measures problem-solving, logical reasoning and pattern recognition. Students are asked to apply reasoning rather than recall school knowledge.
Students should avoid spending too much time on one question. It is often better to move forward and return later if time permits.
Quality matters more than quantity. Full-length mock exams become most valuable in the final months before the exam, especially when students carefully review mistakes afterwards.
Usually yes. Reading comprehension, vocabulary growth, reasoning ability and writing fluency develop over time. Short-term cramming rarely builds these skills effectively.
A balanced routine, realistic goals and encouragement often help more than pressure. Consistent practice habits usually produce better outcomes than intensive short bursts of study.
Common mistakes include rushing questions, spending too long on difficult problems, skipping review of mistakes and repeatedly practising strengths instead of weaknesses.
Students should build all core skills while giving additional attention to weaker areas. Strong overall performance is generally more effective than relying on one section.
Families receive placement outcomes after marking and scaling are completed. Eligible students may receive offers to fully selective schools, partially selective schools or reserve placement positions.
Many students improve meaningfully with structured preparation, targeted practice and consistent study habits over time.
Ready to build a plan around this exam?
iClass turns this exam profile into a goal-driven study plan tailored to your child's current skill level and target school. We track every practice session and surface evidence-based progress for parents.
Vocabulary for this test
Meanings, example sentences and memory hooks for words at this level, plus a simple routine for learning them.
Selective School Word List (Year 6) →Schools that use this test
Browse profiles, entry score history and preparation guidance for every one of the NSW selective high schools that select students with this test.
View all NSW selective high schools →Practice papers for this test
This guide covers the format, dates and scoring. For full-length papers with worked solutions, browse the NSW Selective High School Placement Test book range.
Selective test practice books →