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  • 2027 test, 2028 entry

What is the opportunity class (OC) test?

SelectiveReady is an independent practice product. We're not part of or endorsed by the NSW Department of Education.

The opportunity class (OC) test, NSW, is the Department's placement test for a two-year class in Years 5 and 6: you apply at the end of Year 3, your child sits the test in Year 4 and starts in Year 5. For Year 5 entry in 2028, the 2027 test has not been announced yet, so every date below is our expected window.

Facts checked Last updated Sources

Practice: the Department publishes free OC practice tests. SelectiveReady's practice tests are for the selective test.

What is an opportunity class?

An opportunity class is a full-time class for Years 5 and 6, and the OC test decides who is offered a place. An opportunity class is a two-year program in Years 5 and 6. Parents cannot apply for Year 6 only. So the test is about the last two years of primary school, not high school.

There are 89 opportunity classes in NSW: primary schools with full-time opportunity classes, and Aurora College online classes. Aurora College runs its classes online for students in rural and remote areas, so a family far from a host school can still apply.

A place means your child moves to the school that hosts the class (or joins Aurora's online class) for Years 5 and 6. The list of host schools is on the Department's opportunity classes page, linked above.

When does my child apply and sit the OC test?

You apply when your child is near the end of Year 3, and they sit the test in Year 4. For opportunity classes, parents usually apply at the end of Year 3 or the start of Year 4. The child sits the test in Year 4 and starts in Year 5. Students are usually aged between 9 years 5 months and 11 years when they start Year 5.

For Year 5 entry in 2028, the test is the 2027 test. The Department has not yet published any dates for entry in 2028 (the tests sat in 2027). Its key dates still cover entry in 2027 only (checked 6 October 2026). The strip below is our forecast from the last two cycles. Each step is marked “Expected” until the Department publishes it.

The OC year for the 2027 test (Year 5 entry in 2028), starting in Year 3. All dates are expected, not announced.

  1. Step 1

    Applications open

    Expected: 29 October to 13 November 2026

    Expected

    Your child is in Year 3.

  2. Step 2

    Applications close

    Expected: 12–26 February 2027

    Expected

    Year 4 begins.

  3. Step 3

    The OC test

    Expected: 30 April to 16 May 2027

    Expected

    Sat in Year 4, on computer.

  4. Step 4

    Outcomes released

    Expected: 3–10 September 2027

    Expected

  5. Step 5

    Reserve decision date

    Expected: 1–3 December 2027

    Expected

    Reserve offers can follow.

The OC test dates page keeps every date, its status and the reason for each forecast, and changes as soon as the Department announces. The steps for applying are on how to apply for an opportunity class.

What is in the OC test?

The OC test has three sections, each worth the same share of the result. The Opportunity Class Placement Test is a computer-based test with 3 sections. All questions are multiple choice. The OC test has 3 sections (Reading, Thinking Skills and Mathematical Reasoning). Unlike the selective test, there is no Writing section.

The three OC test sections, from the Department's practice tests page.
SectionQuestionsTimeShare of the test
Reading14 questions (33 answers)40 minutes33.3%
Mathematical Reasoning35 questions40 minutes33.3%
Thinking Skills30 questions30 minutes33.3%

In plain terms, Thinking Skills gives your child the least time per question, and Reading asks for several answers within some questions. Each section has its own page on the question types. How the test runs on the day, and on computer, is on how the OC test works.

How many OC places are there, and how are they given?

There are 1,840 places in Year 5 opportunity classes across NSW for entry in 2027. That count is for this year's cycle (the Department has not published the number for Year 5 entry in 2028), and places go by test result and the order of your choices.

Offers are based on placement test performance and the order of your school choices. The guide to OC results explains what the report says, and how the OC reserve list works covers offers made after the first round.

Does an OC place lead to a selective high school?

No. A place in an opportunity class does not give automatic entry to a selective high school. You apply again, separately, in Year 5 for Year 7. Whether or not your child has an OC place, applying for Year 7 is a new application with its own test.

Does my child need coaching for the OC test?

The Department says no. The Department says coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary, and that extra paid coaching will not give a child an advantage. In its own words:

“It is important to know that coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary.”
NSW Department of Education, Selective high school practice tests · © State of NSW (Department of Education), CC BY 4.0

The Department does publish OC practice tests so your child can see the question styles and get used to the test software before the day. We don't copy those questions here. How we check every fact on this page, and what we have corrected, is on how SelectiveReady checks its facts.

Every guide to the OC test

Illustration: a parent and a younger child reading a book together at a table.

Sources

Each fact on this page, the page we checked it against and the source's own words. An “Expected” date is our estimate from past years, not the Department's.

  1. Opportunity classes (list of schools)

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 23 July 2026

    • When families apply for OCPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “at the end of Year 3 or the beginning of Year 4 at the time of applying - in Year 4 when sitting the test.”
    • OC is a two-year programPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “It is a 2-year program (Year 5 to 6). Parents cannot apply for Year 6 placement only.”
    • Opportunity classes in NSWPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are 89 opportunity classes in NSW. The types of opportunity classes are: - primary schools with full-time opportunity classes - Aurora College - providing online opportunity classes for rural and remote students.”
    • Usual age for Year 5 entryPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “aged between 9 years and 5 months and 11 years at the time they start Year 5.”
    • Year 5 opportunity class placesPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are 1,840 places available in Year 5 opportunity classes across NSW.”
    • OC does not lead to a selective placePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “No. You will need to apply separately for selective high school placement when your child is in Year 5 for placement in Year 7.”
  2. Application process

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 12 August 2026

    • No dates yet for entry in 2028PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Entry in 2027 - SHS–Yr 7 entry in 2027 - OC–Yr 5 entry in 2027”
    • Reserve decision date (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: The reserve decision date was 1 December 2025 and 3 December 2026 (3:00 pm). Expected window 1 – 3 December 2027 (our confidence about 0.65).

  3. Selective school and opportunity classes applications open

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 10 November 2025

    • Applications open (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: Applications opened on Thursday 6 November 2025 and Thursday 7 November 2024, the first Thursday of November in both years of the joint window. Expected about Thursday 5 November 2026; window 29 October – 13 November 2026 (our confidence about 0.4 for the day, 0.8 for the window).

    • Applications close (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: Applications closed on Friday 20 February 2026 and Friday 21 February 2025, the third Friday of February in both years. Expected about Friday 19 February 2027; window 12 – 26 February 2027 (our confidence about 0.55).

  4. Placement test

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 August 2026

    • OC test (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: In 2025 the OC test was on the same weekend as the selective test; in 2026 it was one week later (8–9 May, after selective on 1–2 May). With selective expected 30 April – 9 May 2027, OC is expected 30 April – 16 May 2027 (our confidence about 0.5; only one year of the new pattern).

  5. Outcomes

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 5 August 2026

    • OC outcomes (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: OC outcomes came out on 5 September 2025 and 9 September 2026. Expected window 3 – 10 September 2027 (our confidence about 0.55).

  6. Opportunity class practice tests

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 22 July 2026

    • Three sections, all multiple choice on computerPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “The Opportunity Class Placement Test is a computer-based test that has 3 sections. All questions are multiple-choice and are answered using the computer.”
    • No Writing sectionPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are 3 test sections: reading, thinking skills and maths.”
    • Reading: 14 questions, 40 minutes, 33.3%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Reading Test 14 (3 questions have multiple parts to answer) 40 minutes 33.3%”
    • Mathematical Reasoning: 35 questions, 40 minutes, 33.3%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Mathematical Reasoning Test 35 40 minutes 33.3%”
    • Thinking Skills: 30 questions, 30 minutes, 33.3%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Thinking Skills Test 30 30 minutes 33.3%”
  7. Choosing a school

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 June 2026

    • Offers depend on the test and the order of choicesPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Parents are offered a place based on test performance and the order of their school choices.”
  8. Selective high schools (list of schools)

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 10 September 2026

    • When families apply for selectivePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “at the end of Year 5 or the beginning of Year 6 when their parents apply - in Year 6 when they sit the test”
  9. Selective high school practice tests

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 20 March 2026

    • The Department says coaching is not necessaryPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “It is important to know that coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary.”

Quotes from NSW Department of Education pages are © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), used under CC BY 4.0.

Not affiliated with the NSW Department of Education. SelectiveReady (ABN 53 930 169 401) is an independent practice product. Every fact here is checked against the Department's own pages, and changes are logged.

How we check our facts