Are calculators allowed in the OC test?

No. Calculators, rulers and dictionaries are not permitted. Students may use paper for working out, so both mental arithmetic and fast written working matter.

Can my child use paper for working out?

Yes. Answers are entered on screen but students can work on paper. That split — read on screen, work on paper, answer on screen — is worth rehearsing, because it is slower than working entirely on paper.

How is the OC placement score calculated?

All three sections are equally weighted at one third each. Raw scores are scaled and combined into a single placement result, and score reports include section-level breakdowns so families can see relative strengths.

What kinds of texts appear in the OC Reading section?

Reading draws on fiction, non-fiction, poetry, reports and other text types. Breadth matters — a student who reads only narrative fiction is often caught out by information texts and poetry.

What does the Thinking Skills section test?

Logical reasoning rather than curriculum knowledge: following an argument, identifying assumptions and conclusions, and solving structured problems. With 30 questions in 30 minutes it averages about a minute each, so pace is part of the challenge.

What does the Mathematical Reasoning section cover?

35 questions in 40 minutes, roughly 68 seconds each. The emphasis is on multi-step problem solving and reasoning rather than routine computation, and no calculator is allowed.

Is there a writing task in the OC test?

No. The OC test is fully multiple-choice. Writing is assessed in the Year 6 Selective High School Placement Test, which is a separate pathway for Year 7 entry.

When should we start preparing for the OC test?

A common pattern is foundation work 6 to 9 months out — daily reading, times tables fluency and exposure to pattern and reasoning problems — then format familiarity 3 to 6 months out, then timed computer-based simulation in the final 4 to 6 weeks.

Why does practising on a computer matter so much?

Because students cannot underline or annotate a question on screen the way they can on paper. Screen reading, mouse selection and on-screen navigation all cost time until they become routine, so paper-only practice understates how long questions really take.

How many practice tests should my child complete?

Enough that the format feels routine, with full computer-based mock tests concentrated in the last 4 to 6 weeks. Careful review of every mistake matters more than the number of tests completed.

Should my child answer every question?

Every section is multiple choice, so a question left blank can score nothing. Students are usually better served by making a reasoned choice and moving on than by leaving gaps. Confirm current marking guidance with the NSW Department of Education before test day.

Where is the OC test held?

At an allocated test centre, on one allocated day, under timed computer-based conditions.

How competitive is OC placement?

Opportunity classes are competitive and demand for places often exceeds availability. Competition varies by school and by cohort each year, so results are best understood relative to the specific schools applied for.

What are the most common OC preparation mistakes?

Practising only on paper, practising without a clock, and moving past mistakes without understanding them. The question types that consistently consume too much time — usually longer Thinking Skills items or multi-step Maths — are the ones worth drilling specifically.

NSW OC Test (Opportunity Class Placement Test)

Officially the NSW Opportunity Class (OC) Placement Test. Year 5 entry test for high-potential students in NSW, usually sat in Year 4.

Last reviewed 2 September 2026

The NSW Opportunity Class Placement Test is used for entry into opportunity classes in Years 5 and 6 at selected NSW government primary schools. It is usually sat by Year 4 students under timed, computer-based conditions. It is shorter than the Year 6 selective test, but still tests strong reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills.

Who sits this test: Students currently in Year 4 who plan to enter an opportunity class for Years 5 and 6.

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What's tested

All questions are multiple choice.

Section	Questions	Time	Weight
Reading	14¹	40 min	33%
Mathematical Reasoning	35	40 min	33%
Thinking Skills	30	30 min	33%
Total	79 questions	110 min	100%

3 questions have multiple parts to answer

Computer-based test completed at an allocated test centre.
No calculators, rulers or dictionaries are allowed.
Students can use paper for working out.
All sections are equally weighted at one-third of the total score.
Reading includes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, reports and other text types.
Students sit the placement test on one allocated day.

Key dates

Year 5 entry in 2027 (test sat May 2026): outcomes due 9 September 2026

ApplicationsNovember to February (while in Year 4)
Placement test8-9 May 2026 (one allocated day)
Make-up test22 May 2026
Last day to change school choices5 June 2026
Outcomes released9 September 2026
Outcomes appeal deadline16 September 2026 (11:59 pm)
Reserve decision date3 December 2026 (3:00 pm)

These are the NSW Department of Education's published dates for Year 5 entry in 2027, sat by students in Year 4. Outcomes for that cycle are released on 9 September 2026, and reserve-list offers can continue until the reserve decision date. Always confirm with the official source before acting on a date.

Year 5 entry in 2028 (the 2027 test): dates not yet published

The NSW Department of Education has not published the 2028-entry dates yet. In recent cycles applications opened in early November and closed in February while the child was in Year 4, with the placement test held in May.
OC outcomes have been released in September, followed by a one-week appeal window and reserve-list offers that continue into December.
This guide is updated when the department publishes the new dates. Check the official placement page linked below before you apply.

How it's scored

All three sections — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills — contribute equally to the placement score. The test is computer-based, fully multiple-choice, and raw scores are scaled to produce a combined placement result.

Opportunity classes are competitive and demand for places often exceeds availability.
Competition varies by school and cohort each year.
Score reports include section-level breakdowns so families can better understand strengths and areas for improvement.

How to apply for the NSW OC 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 4: applications open in November and close in February, for opportunity class entry in Year 5 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 opportunity class 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 OC Placement Test is a computer-based test sat on one allocated day at a department test centre, usually a NSW public school near your child's primary school.

Students sit the test on computers provided by the department. All questions are multiple choice and are answered on the computer; paper is provided for working out.
The three sections run one after another with breaks, and the day runs for about 2 hours 5 minutes including breaks.
Bring the printed admission ticket, two 2B pencils, an eraser and sharpener and a clear water bottle, 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.
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 September of Year 4 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 is 16 September 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

OC preparation timelines are often shorter than Year 6 selective preparation, but the test places strong emphasis on fast, accurate reasoning under timed conditions.

Foundation — 6 to 9 months out
Build reading stamina through daily fiction and non-fiction reading. Strengthen times tables fluency, mental arithmetic and exposure to pattern and reasoning problems.
Format familiarity — 3 to 6 months out
Practise on a computer, not paper. The screen interface, mouse selection, and the fact that students cannot physically underline or annotate questions during the test all need to feel routine before test day. Time per question is roughly 45–80 seconds depending on section.
Timed simulation — last 4 to 6 weeks
Run full computer-based mock tests under sitting conditions. Identify which question types consistently consume too much time — usually long Thinking Skills items or multi-step Maths — and drill those specifically.

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 Check

Ready to build a personalised OC preparation plan?

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Sample questions

Illustrative examples written by iClass to show the style and reasoning level of each section. They are not past papers.

Sample — Reading (illustrative)

The classroom clock ticked loudly as Ava looked at the half-finished model on her desk. Everyone else had already started decorating theirs. She picked up a blue pencil, put it down again, and glanced at the instruction sheet for the fourth time. "I just want it to be right," she whispered.

What does the passage most strongly suggest about Ava?

A.She dislikes art activities.
B.She is unsure and wants to avoid making a mistake.
C.She has forgotten the teacher's instructions.
D.She is annoyed that others are working faster.

Sample — Mathematical Reasoning (illustrative)

A box contains red, blue and green counters. There are twice as many blue counters as red counters. There are 6 more green counters than red counters. Altogether there are 38 counters.

How many red counters are there?

A.8
B.10
C.12
D.14

Sample — Thinking Skills (illustrative)

Four students — Mia, Noah, Ella and Leo — each chose one activity: chess, coding, art or tennis.

- Mia did not choose a sport. - Noah chose coding. - Ella chose art. - Leo did not choose chess.

Which activity did Mia choose?

A.chess
B.coding
C.art
D.tennis

Common questions

Is the OC test paper-based or computer-based?

Can my child sit the OC test again next year if they miss out?

Is the OC test easier than the Year 6 Selective test?

Do we need to attend a private coaching college?

What is on the OC Placement Test?

How long is the OC test?

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.

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Schools that use this test

Browse profiles, entry score history and preparation guidance for every one of the NSW Opportunity Class schools that select students with this test.

View all NSW Opportunity Class schools →

Practice papers for this test

This guide covers the format, dates and scoring. For full-length papers with worked solutions, browse the NSW Opportunity Class (OC) Placement Test book range.

OC practice books →

Official sources

Official NSW Department of Education OC placement page