One of the most common parent questions is: how is the selective test scored? It is a fair question — and one of the hardest to answer simply, because the selective process is more complex than a normal school exam.

Parents want a single mark. The department provides something different: a combination of test performance, school preference order and placement rules that together determine offers.

The most useful way to understand selective scoring is to break it into five parts: how each section contributes, what "test performance" really means, how school offers are decided, what cut-off scores actually mean, and how reserve lists work after initial offers.

How are NSW selective scores calculated?

The NSW selective test has four sections, each weighted equally at 25%. Students receive a performance band for each section rather than a raw score. Placement offers are then determined by combining test performance with school preference order, available places at each school and the Equity Placement Model — which holds up to 20% of places for students from specified equity groups.

Section weightings

Section	Weighting	Questions	Time
Reading	25%	17 questions (~38 answer items)	45 min
Mathematical Reasoning	25%	35 questions	40 min
Thinking Skills	25%	40 questions	40 min
Writing	25%	1 typed response	30 min

That equal weighting is critically important. A child who is very strong in maths but much weaker in writing is giving away a full quarter of their profile. Balanced preparation across all four sections is essential.

What about the writing section specifically?

The writing task is an open response (not multiple-choice) and is marked by two separate examiners. This is the only section where subjective assessment applies, which is why consistent writing practice matters.

Performance bands explained

The NSW Department of Education does not provide parents with raw test scores or placement ranks. Instead, families receive a performance report that shows how their child performed relative to other students who sat the test that year.

The four performance bands

Band	Meaning
Top 10%	Your child's performance was in the top 10% of all candidates for this section
Next 15%	Performance was in the 75th–90th percentile range
Next 25%	Performance was in the 50th–75th percentile range
Lowest 50%	Performance was in the bottom half of candidates

What the bands do NOT tell you

The bands do not reveal:

• The percentage of questions your child got right
• Their exact ranking among candidates
• How close they were to the last student offered a place at any school

That can feel frustrating, but it reflects how the placement process works: offers are made comparatively, not by announcing a universal pass mark.

How offers are decided

Offers are based on four factors working together:

1. Your child's test performance across the four sections
2. The order of schools on your application (up to 3 preferences)
3. The number of places available at each school
4. The performance of other applicants to those same schools

A simple example

Imagine your child has selected:

1. School A (first preference)
2. School B (second preference)
3. School C (third preference)

• If their performance qualifies for all three → they receive School A only
• If they qualify for School B and C but not A → they receive School B
• If they only qualify for School C → they receive School C

Does school preference order affect scoring?

No — your child's test performance is assessed independently of which schools they chose. But the preference order determines which offer they receive if they qualify for more than one school. Listing a school first does not give your child a scoring advantage for that school.

What cut-off scores really mean

When parents talk about "cut-off scores", they usually mean the performance level needed to get into a particular school. But there is an important reality:

The department says there are no set minimum entry scores published for selective schools.

That is because the level needed changes every year based on:

• Number of applicants
• How strongly those applicants perform
• Number of places at each school
• How many offers are declined later (creating reserve list movement)
• Whether equity places are filled

So when you see unofficial cut-off lists online — and there are many — treat them as rough historical estimates, not guaranteed thresholds.

Why cut-off scores vary between schools

Not all selective schools are equally competitive. A school with many applicants, limited places and a strong applicant pool will naturally require stronger relative performance than a school with fewer applicants or lower demand.

This is why one child can receive an offer from one selective school but not another, even within the same application. For detailed school-by-school information, see the SelectiveReady school profiles.

Why cut-off scores change from year to year

Even for the same school, the effective "threshold" shifts annually because:

• The overall cohort changes in size and strength
• School popularity fluctuates
• Equity placement allocations vary
• Reserve list movement is unpredictable

Parents are better served by understanding competitiveness and fit rather than obsessing over a single number.

The Equity Placement Model

The Equity Placement Model holds up to 20% of places at each school for eligible students from specified equity groups.

How it works

• 80% of places are offered based on test performance in the general process
• The remaining 20% are held for equity-eligible students who have not already gained a place through the general process
• Any unfilled equity places are then offered to general applicants

Eligible equity groups

• Students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
• Rural and remote students
• Students with disability

The department says eligible equity students may receive a place if their performance is within 10% of the minimum accepted for the school from a general applicant during initial offers, or as determined by the selection committee.

How reserve lists work

If your child does not receive their highest possible offer immediately, they may still be placed on a reserve list for a higher-preference school.

Possible initial outcomes

Outcome	What it means
Offer	Your child has been offered a place at a school
Offer and higher-choice reserve list	Offered at one school, but waitlisted for a higher preference
Reserve list only	Not offered a place, but waitlisted
Unsuccessful	Not offered or waitlisted at any school

How "offer and higher-choice reserve list" works

This is common and important to understand. Your child may receive an offer at one school (say, School B) while still waiting on their first preference (School A).

You can accept the current offer while waiting. If a higher-choice reserve place later becomes available and you accept it, the earlier accepted offer is automatically declined.

What the results letter looks like

When outcomes are released (expected late August 2026), families access results through the online application dashboard. The results include:

• Placement outcome — offer, reserve list, or unsuccessful for each school
• Performance bands — one band per section (top 10%, next 15%, next 25%, lowest 50%)
• Reserve band (if applicable) — A through F, indicating estimated likelihood of eventual offer

The results do not include raw scores, exact rankings or specific marks per question.

What parents should focus on

The healthiest and most useful approach is to focus on:

• Is my child improving across all four sections? Balanced growth matters more than maxing out one section
• Are they practising under realistic timing? The test is timed, so preparation should be too
• Are we choosing schools in true preference order? Do not game the system — list schools in genuine order of preference
• Are we emotionally prepared for all outcomes? Offer, reserve and unsuccessful are all normal results

That mindset is far more helpful than trying to reverse-engineer a secret score formula from internet forums.

FAQs

Is each section worth the same amount?

Yes. Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing are each weighted at 25%.

Does the department give raw marks?

No. Parents receive a performance band report rather than raw scores or ranks.

Are official cut-off scores published?

No. The department says there are no set minimum entry scores. Unofficial estimates circulate widely online but should be treated as rough guides only.

Does writing really matter as much as maths?

Yes. Writing is worth 25%, the same as every other section. Many families under-prepare for writing, which means it is often the biggest opportunity for improvement. See the writing guide for preparation strategies.

Can my child get more than one initial offer?

No. You receive one initial offer only, based on the highest school on your list for which your child qualifies.

Can reserve lists move after August?

Yes. Reserve list offers can continue up to the end of Term 1 of the entry year (2027) if vacancies arise.

Does listing a school first give my child a scoring advantage?

No. Test performance is assessed independently of school preferences. The preference order only determines which offer you receive if your child qualifies for multiple schools.

How does the computer-based format affect scoring?

The test runs across multiple days using multiple test versions. Common items across versions help ensure fairness and comparability. These common items do not affect individual final scores directly — they are used for calibration purposes.

What if my child was sick on test day?

The department offers a make-up test date (22 May 2026 for the current cycle). In exceptional circumstances, alternate academic merit processes may apply. Check the official dates and timeline for details.

Final word

If you want the simplest honest answer to how is the selective test scored, it is this:

The selective test is not just marked and ranked like a school exam. It is a competitive placement system. Your child's performance across four equally weighted sections determines academic merit, and offers are then shaped by school preferences, available places, equity rules and reserve list movement.

Once parents understand that, the process becomes far less mysterious — and preparation can focus on what actually matters: balanced improvement across all four sections, realistic timing practice, and thoughtful school preference choices.