The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is scheduled for May 1-2, 2026. Your child will sit the test on one allocated day only, at a designated test centre (usually a local high school).

For many families, exam day is the most stressful part of the entire process. The good news? Most of the stress comes from uncertainty. Once you know exactly what to expect, the day becomes manageable.

This guide covers everything: the night before, the morning routine, what to pack, what happens at the centre, and how to handle the unexpected.

The Night Before

The night before the test sets the tone for the entire day. Here's how to make it count.

Stop studying by 5 PM. Cramming the night before does not improve scores. It increases anxiety, disrupts sleep, and leaves your child mentally fatigued. If the preparation hasn't happened by now, one more evening won't change the outcome.

Prepare everything the night before. Lay out everything your child needs (see the checklist below). Put the printed Test Admission Ticket in a clear folder by the front door. This eliminates the morning scramble.

Have a normal dinner. Don't try a new restaurant or an unusual meal. Stick to familiar, balanced food. Avoid heavy or greasy meals that might cause discomfort the next morning.

Set two alarms. One on a phone, one on a clock. Build in a buffer for unexpected delays.

Aim for 9-10 hours of sleep. If your child normally sleeps at 9 PM, don't force an early 7:30 PM bedtime — they'll just lie awake worrying. Stick to the normal routine, perhaps 15-20 minutes earlier at most. A short, calming activity like reading a favourite book (not study material) can help them wind down.

Exam Day Morning Routine

Wake up with plenty of buffer. Aim to be ready to leave the house at least 60-90 minutes before the test starts. Traffic, parking, and unexpected delays happen.

Eat a proper breakfast. The test runs for approximately 2.5-3 hours with breaks. Your child needs sustained energy.

Good breakfast options:

• Eggs on toast with a piece of fruit
• Porridge with banana and honey
• Wholegrain cereal with milk and berries

Avoid sugary cereals, energy drinks, or large amounts of juice. A sugar spike followed by a crash mid-test is the last thing you want.

Keep the mood light. Don't quiz your child over breakfast. Don't run through "last-minute tips." Chat normally. Tell a joke. Play their favourite music in the car. Your calm energy is contagious — and so is your anxiety.

What to Bring (The Official Checklist)

The NSW Department of Education is specific about what is and isn't allowed in the test room.

Must bring

Item	Notes
Printed Test Admission Ticket	Downloaded from the application dashboard. Must be printed — digital copies on phones are not accepted.
2B pencils (at least 2)	For working paper and any handwritten notes during the test.
Eraser	White, clean eraser.
Sharpener	Small, with a container to catch shavings.
Clear water bottle	Must be transparent, with no labels.
School uniform	Your child should wear their current primary school uniform.

Strongly recommended

Item	Notes
A substantial snack	For the break between test sections. Muesli bars, fruit, or a sandwich work well. The break is not long, so choose something easy to eat quickly.
A watch (analogue, non-smart)	Some centres may not have visible clocks. A simple analogue watch gives your child a time reference. Check centre rules first.
A light jacket or jumper	Test rooms can be cold with air conditioning.
Tissues	Just in case. Small pack in a pocket is fine.

Banned items

These items are not allowed in the test room:

• Calculators
• Rulers
• Dictionaries
• Mobile phones or smartwatches (these must be switched off and left in bags outside the test room)
• Pencil cases (loose stationery only)
• Any electronic or noisy devices

What Happens When You Arrive

Registration and check-in

Arrive at the test centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Most centres are local high schools.

Here's the typical sequence:

1. Find the registration area. Signs will direct families to the check-in point. Staff and volunteers will be on hand.
2. Present the Test Admission Ticket. Your child's identity will be verified.
3. Bag storage. Phones, bags, and banned items are stored outside the test room. Make sure your child knows this in advance so they aren't surprised.
4. Seating. Students are directed to their assigned computer station. The test is run on department-provided computers — your child does not bring a laptop.
5. Instructions. Supervisors explain the test interface, rules, and timing before the test begins.

Drop-off strategy for parents

You will not be in the test room with your child. Plan your drop-off:

• Walk your child to the registration area.
• Keep the goodbye brief and positive: "You've prepared well. Do your best and I'll be right here when you're done."
• Avoid last-minute advice or pep talks at the door — this increases pressure.
• Arrange a clear pick-up point and time so your child isn't anxious about finding you afterwards.

Some parents wait nearby in a car or cafe. Others drop off and return. Either is fine — just make sure your child knows the plan.

The Test Schedule

The 2026 test is fully computer-based and consists of four sections. Your child will complete all sections in one sitting with supervised breaks.

Section	Questions / Task	Time	Weight
Reading	17 questions / 38 answers	45 minutes	25%
Mathematical Reasoning	35 questions	40 minutes	25%
Thinking Skills	40 questions	40 minutes	25%
Writing	1 typed response	30 minutes	25%

Total test time: approximately 2 hours 35 minutes of active testing, plus breaks and administration.

What happens during breaks

Between sections, students get supervised breaks. During breaks:

• Students can eat their snack and drink water
• Students stay in or near the test room (they don't leave the venue)
• There is no study or device use during breaks
• Bathroom breaks are supervised

Managing Nerves on the Day

Test anxiety is completely normal. Most students in the room will be feeling it. Here are practical strategies that actually help.

For students

Before the test starts:

• Take 5 slow, deep breaths (in for 4 counts, hold for 4, out for 4)
• Look around the room and remind yourself: everyone here is nervous too
• Focus on the first question only — don't think about the whole test

During the test:

• If you get stuck on a question, skip it and move on. There is no negative marking — guess rather than leave blanks
• If anxiety spikes, put your hands flat on the desk, feel the surface, take 3 breaths, then continue
• Watch the time but don't obsess over it. Aim for steady progress, not perfection

If something goes wrong (screen freezes, confusion about a question):

• Raise your hand quietly. Supervisors are there to help with technical issues
• Don't panic — time lost to technical problems is typically accounted for

For parents

Your job on exam day is simple: be calm and be practical.

• Don't ask "Are you nervous?" — it plants the idea. Instead, ask "What are you looking forward to having for lunch afterwards?"
• Plan something enjoyable for after the test: a favourite meal, a movie, a trip to the park. Give your child something positive to look forward to
• When they come out, don't immediately ask "How did it go?" Let them decompress first. They'll talk when they're ready

Handling Technical Glitches

The test is fully digital, which means technical issues are possible (though rare). The Department of Education has protocols in place:

• Spare computers are available at each centre
• Technical support staff are on-site
• If a computer fails mid-test, the student's progress is saved and they continue on another device
• Significant disruptions are recorded and factored into outcomes

Your child should know: if something goes wrong with the computer, raise your hand and stay calm. It's not their problem to fix, and it won't count against them.

After the Test

The test finishes in the early afternoon. Here's what happens next:

1. Students are dismissed from the test room and directed to the pick-up area.
2. Results are not immediate. Placement outcomes are expected in late August 2026.
3. Performance bands (not raw scores) will be provided for each of the four sections: top 10%, next 15%, next 25%, or lowest 50%.
4. School preferences can be changed until June 5, 2026 — so if your child has second thoughts about their choices after the test, there's still time.

The post-test conversation

Resist the urge to debrief immediately. Your child has just spent 3+ hours under intense mental pressure. They need food, rest, and normalcy — not an interrogation.

Good things to say:

• "I'm proud of you for giving it your best."
• "Let's go get [favourite food]."
• "You don't have to talk about it unless you want to."

Avoid:

• "What questions did you get?"
• "Do you think you did well enough for [school name]?"
• "Your friend said it was easy — was it easy for you too?"

The Exam Day Packing Checklist

Print this list and tick items off the night before.

• Printed Test Admission Ticket (in a clear folder)
• 2B pencils (x2 minimum, pre-sharpened)
• Eraser
• Sharpener (with container)
• Clear water bottle (filled, no labels)
• School uniform (clean, ready to wear)
• Substantial snack (muesli bar, fruit, sandwich)
• Light jacket or jumper
• Analogue watch (optional — check centre rules)
• Tissues
• Parent's phone fully charged (for coordination)

Do NOT pack: calculator, ruler, dictionary, phone, smartwatch, pencil case, electronic devices.

Final Thoughts

Exam day is one morning. Your child has been preparing for weeks or months. The best thing you can do now is remove every logistical worry so they can walk into that room focused on the test — not on whether they forgot their pencils.

Prepare the bag tonight. Get a good sleep. Eat a proper breakfast. Arrive early. Stay calm.

The rest is up to them — and they're more ready than they think.

Want to build test-day confidence? Practicing on a platform that mirrors the real computer-based interface helps your child feel familiar and focused when it counts. Try a free practice test on SelectiveReady.