OC
NSW Opportunity Class (OC) Placement Test
Year 5 entry test for high-potential students in NSW, usually sat in Year 4.
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.
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
- Applications openAround May (while in Year 4)
- Test sittingLater in Year 4 (date varies each cycle)
- Placement outcomesAfter marking and allocation are complete
Key dates vary each year. For a typical OC placement cycle, applications usually open around May while students are in Year 4, testing is held later in the year, and placement outcomes are released after marking and allocation are complete. Always confirm dates with the NSW Department of Education before applying.
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.
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.
Ready to build a personalised OC preparation plan?
Start Your Child's OC Study PlanSample questions
Illustrative examples written by iClass to show the style and reasoning level of each section. They are not past papers.
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.
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
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
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.