OC test format: the three sections and the morning

Three multiple-choice sections, sat one after another on a computer in one morning: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. Each section is worth the same.

Questions draw on concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 4^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and the Department says there's no new or special knowledge needed^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. There is no OC syllabus to learn: the format is what's worth knowing.

Does the OC test have writing?

No. Every OC question is multiple choice, and there is no writing test. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} Writing is a section of the Selective test, sat in Year 6, not of the OC test.

Why does Reading have more answers than questions?

Some Reading questions have several parts, so 14^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} questions need 33^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} answers. Tell your child before the day, so a long question doesn't feel like a mistake.

What does each section test?

Each section tests a different kind of thinking, and each has its own page with a Year 4 method and three questions to try.

Your child reads every question and enters every answer on a computer. The test runs on computers provided by the Department^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and work is saved automatically every 30 seconds^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

No calculator^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} is allowed. Each child gets 2^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} sheets of working paper and can ask for more. Parents can also request reasonable adjustments for disability or medical conditions^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

Is there an answer sheet in the OC test?

Not in the real test: every answer goes in on screen. The Department's PDF practice papers are different. They are older paper-based versions^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, each a question paper with a separate answer sheet^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Those papers also ask for working out on the question paper, no extra paper^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. On the real day, working paper is handed out. So use the PDFs for extra questions, and the Department's online practice to learn the screen. ^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Talk about the day before it comes, and keep the morning ordinary. The Department notes the OC test is the first test like this for many children^{1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, and it offers social stories that show what to expect on test day^{1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Bring the printed ticket, two 2B pencils, an eraser, a sharpener and a clear water bottle^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Wear school uniform, even on a Saturday^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Leave at home: pens, rulers, calculators, nuts, smart watches, phones and pencil cases^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Arrive on time: there is no extra time for arriving late^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Read the Department's social story together a few days before. ^{1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

On the day, parents leave the school grounds^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} once children go in. Your child is nine or ten and more than one test: tell them that doing their best is enough, whatever happens.

Opportunity classes are classes for high potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 6^{8NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The OC test decides who is offered a Year 5 place, together with the order of the schools you list. ^{7NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

An OC place doesn't carry on into high school: oC doesn't give automatic Selective entry^{8NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Selective entry comes from a separate test in Year 6.

How long is the OC test?

Just under two hours of test time across the three sections. With arrival and breaks, the Department's example morning runs from 9:30 am^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} to 12:35 pm^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

What order are the sections in?

In the Department's example timetable: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, then Thinking Skills. Your child's ticket sets the real times.

Is the OC test on paper or on a computer?

On a computer. Every answer is entered on screen, and working paper is provided for rough work. ^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Do wrong answers lose marks?

No. The Department's OC practice papers tell children there are no marks lost for incorrect answers^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Your child should answer every question.

Is there a snack break in the OC test?

The example OC timetable has short breaks in the test room, not a long snack break. ^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} The morning ends at 12:35 pm^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} in the example, so a good breakfast matters.

Is there a syllabus for the OC test?

No separate one. Questions draw on concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 4^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Knowing the format and having a habit for each section matter more than extra content.