With the cost of living where it is, spending $100+ an hour on selective test tutoring is not realistic for every family. But doing nothing feels risky too.

The good news: there are genuine options at every price point. The bad news: not all of them deliver what they promise. This guide breaks down what is actually available, what it costs, and — most importantly — what your child gets for the money.

The Free Option: Government Resources and Past Papers

What is available

The NSW Department of Education provides official practice materials through the ACER online practice test portal. These are the closest thing to the real test format and question style.

Additionally, some schools distribute sample papers, and parent communities share practice resources informally.

The honest assessment

Strength	Limitation
Official format and style	Very limited supply — only a handful of papers
Free	No explanations or worked solutions
Good baseline reference	No feedback on writing quality
Computer-based format	Cannot track progress over time

Free resources are an excellent starting point. Every family should use them. But they run out quickly, and without explanations or feedback, children often repeat the same mistakes without understanding why.

Best for

Families who want to assess readiness before committing to anything paid, or children who are already strong and just need format familiarity.

The Traditional Option: Tutoring Centres

What is available

Sydney has dozens of selective test coaching centres — North Shore Coaching, Pre Uni New College, BrainTree, and many smaller operations. Most offer weekly group classes, homework booklets, and regular mock tests.

What it costs

Format	Typical Cost	Frequency
Group classes (10–30 students)	$2,500–$5,000/year	Weekly, 2–3 hours
Small group (3–6 students)	$4,000–$7,000/year	Weekly, 1.5–2 hours
Private 1-on-1 tutoring	$80–$150/hour	1–2x per week
Intensive holiday programs	$500–$1,500 per block	School holidays

A typical family starting in Year 4 might spend $6,000–$15,000 across two years of preparation.

The honest assessment

Strength	Limitation
Structured curriculum	Rigid schedules — miss a class, miss the content
Social motivation (peers)	One-size-fits-all pacing
Regular mock tests	Feedback turnaround is days or weeks
Experienced teachers	Paper-based materials in many centres
Accountability	Writing feedback is generic at scale

Tutoring centres have helped thousands of students. The structure and accountability genuinely works for some families. But the model has not kept up with two major changes: the test going fully computer-based, and the shift from General Ability to Thinking Skills.

Best for

Families who value in-person structure, have flexible schedules, and benefit from the social accountability of a classroom environment.

The Modern Option: AI-Powered Online Platforms

What is available

A newer category of preparation tool uses AI and adaptive technology to deliver personalised practice. These platforms typically offer large question banks, instant feedback, progress tracking, and — critically — automated essay marking.

SelectiveReady falls into this category. So do platforms like NotesEdu and SelectiveTrial, though they vary significantly in features and approach.

What it costs

Platform Type	Typical Cost	Access Period
Free tier (limited)	$0	Ongoing
Subscription platforms	$15–$50/month	Monthly
One-time payment platforms	$49–$199	Usually 12 months
Premium with AI features	$99–$249	Usually 12 months

Compared to tutoring centres, online platforms cost roughly 5–10% of the price for unlimited practice.

The honest assessment

Strength	Limitation
Available 24/7, any device	No in-person teacher relationship
Instant feedback on every question	Requires self-discipline (parent supervision helps)
Realistic computer-based format	Quality varies hugely between platforms
AI writing feedback (some platforms)	AI marking is improving but not perfect
Adaptive difficulty	Less social motivation than group classes
Progress tracking and analytics

The standout advantage of AI platforms is feedback speed. In a tutoring centre, a child submits an essay and waits days for generic comments. On an AI platform, they get detailed, criteria-referenced feedback in seconds. Over a 6-week sprint, that difference in feedback loops compounds dramatically.

Best for

Families who want personalised, flexible practice with instant feedback — especially for Writing, where objective marking at home is nearly impossible.

The True Cost Comparison

Here is the real breakdown most comparison articles leave out:

Factor	Free Resources	Tutoring Centre	AI Platform
Annual cost	$0	$3,000–$8,000	$49–$249
Cost per practice test	$0	~$30–$50 (bundled)	~$1–$5
Feedback speed	None	Days	Seconds
Writing feedback	None (parent marks)	Generic, delayed	Detailed, instant
Computer-based format	Partial	Rarely	Yes
Personalisation	None	Low (group pacing)	High (adaptive)
Schedule flexibility	Complete	Rigid	Complete
Question supply	Very limited	Moderate	Large
Progress tracking	Manual	Basic reports	Detailed analytics

The question is not "free vs paid" — it is "what kind of feedback does my child need, and what am I willing to spend to get it?"

When Free Is Enough

Free resources are genuinely sufficient if:

• Your child is already a strong, self-motivated learner
• You mainly need format familiarity rather than skill development
• You can provide effective feedback yourself (especially on writing)
• Your child performs well under time pressure without much coaching

Many children do well on the Selective Test with minimal paid preparation. The test is designed to assess aptitude, and the Department of Education explicitly states that coaching is not necessary.

When Paid Preparation Is Worth It

Paid preparation makes a real difference when:

• Your child has specific weak areas that need targeted work
• Writing feedback is the bottleneck (most common scenario)
• You need a structured plan and accountability
• Your child needs practice under realistic, timed, computer-based conditions
• You want to track progress and adjust the study plan based on data

The biggest gains from paid preparation come in the final 6–8 weeks, when targeted practice with good feedback makes the most difference.

A Practical Hybrid Approach

Most families do best with a combination:

Months out (low cost)

• Use free ACER practice tests for an initial diagnostic
• Build reading habits and vocabulary naturally
• Light, consistent practice with free resources

6–8 weeks out (targeted investment)

• Add an AI platform for structured practice and writing feedback
• Use a focused study plan with timed sessions
• Track progress weekly and adjust

Final 2 weeks (taper)

• One or two full mock exams under realistic conditions
• Focus on pacing, not new content
• Prioritise calm and confidence

This hybrid approach typically costs under $200 total and delivers better results than either extreme — all-free with no feedback, or $8,000+ on intensive tutoring that may not match the current test format.

The Bottom Line

The Selective Test preparation market ranges from completely free to eye-wateringly expensive. Neither extreme is automatically the best choice.

What actually matters is:

1. Realistic practice conditions — computer-based, timed, all four sections
2. Quality feedback — especially on Writing, where self-assessment is unreliable
3. Consistent review — learning from mistakes, not just doing more papers
4. Your child's wellbeing — the best preparation is the kind they can sustain

The families who get the best return on their investment — whether that investment is $0 or $5,000 — are the ones who focus on feedback quality over practice quantity.