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What is the NSW selective test?

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The NSW selective test (the Selective High School Placement Test) is a four-section computer test your child sits in Year 6 for a Year 7 place at a selective high school. The 2027 test is for Year 7 entry in 2028, and the Department has not yet announced its dates.

Facts checked Last updated Sources

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What is the selective test, and who sits it?

It is the test the NSW Department of Education uses to offer Year 7 places in selective high schools. Its full name is the Selective High School Placement Test. Your child sits it in Year 6, on a computer.

For selective high schools, parents usually apply at the end of Year 5 or the start of Year 6. The child sits the test in Year 6 and starts in Year 7.

The Department labels each cycle by the year the child starts, so its key dates relate to entry the following year. The tests sat in May 2026 were for entry in 2027; the tests sat in 2027 will be for entry in 2028. So a child in Year 5 now sits the 2027 test, for Year 7 entry in 2028. That is the cycle this guide follows. If your child is in Year 3 or Year 4, the test you are thinking of is probably the opportunity class (OC) test; our OC and selective comparison sets the two side by side.

What happens in the year of the 2027 test?

Your year runs in five steps, from applying in Year 5 to the reserve decision at the end of Year 6. 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). Until it does, every date below is our forecast from past cycles, marked Expected.

The 2027 test, for Year 7 entry in 2028: each step with its date and status

  1. Step 1

    Applications open

    Expected: 29 October to 13 November 2026

    Expected

  2. Step 2

    Applications close

    Expected: 12–26 February 2027

    Expected

  3. Step 3

    Your child sits the test

    Expected: 30 April to 9 May 2027

    Expected

  4. Step 4

    Outcomes released

    Expected: 18–26 August 2027

    Expected

  5. Step 5

    Reserve decision date

    Expected: 1–3 December 2027

    Expected

Our selective test dates page explains each forecast and changes it to the Department’s date the day it is published. How we check every date is set out on our sources page.

The cycle before yours, the 2026 test for Year 7 entry in 2027, is nearly over. Its outcomes are out (Wednesday 19 August 2026), and its last date still ahead is the reserve decision: Thursday 3 December 2026, 3:00 pm. If that is your family, read reading your results and the reserve list.

What are the four sections?

The test has four sections, each worth the same share. Three are multiple choice and one is a single piece of writing. All four are answered on the computer.

The four sections of the selective test, from the Department's practice tests page
SectionQuestionsTimeShare of the test
Reading17 questions (38 answers)45 minutes25%
Mathematical Reasoning35 questions40 minutes25%
Thinking Skills40 questions40 minutes25%
Writing1 task30 minutes25%

The questions draw on concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 6, and the Department says students do not need extra knowledge. In plain terms, the test asks your child to use what they already know in unfamiliar ways: reading closely, reasoning with numbers, solving puzzles and writing to a set topic in a short time.

Each section has its own guide, linked from the table. For how the day runs, the breaks and how results are reported, see how the selective test works. The Department publishes its own practice tests, which show the screens and question styles.

How are places offered?

Two things decide an offer. Parents are offered a place based on their child's test performance and the order of their school choices.

So the order in which you list schools on the application matters. Our how to apply guide covers choices, eligibility and the places set aside under the equity model. Parents often ask what result a school needs; our cut-offs guide explains what the Department does and does not publish.

Does my child need coaching?

The Department says no. Its practice tests page puts it this way:

“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 builds the test on what children already learn at school, and it publishes practice tests that show the format. You may still choose some practice at home. Whatever you decide, it helps to know the four sections well and to keep the year calm for your child.

Which schools take students through the test?

There are 4 types of selective high schools: fully selective, partially selective, agricultural high schools and Aurora College. Our selective school chooser lists every school with its type, so you can shortlist before you apply.

Every guide to the selective test

Illustration: a parent and child at a desk with a laptop and a wall calendar.

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. 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”
    • Types of selective high schoolsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are 4 types of selective high schools: - fully selective high schools - partially selective high schools - agricultural high schools - Aurora College.”
  2. Application process

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 12 August 2026

    • Cycles are named by entry yearPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Be careful to choose the correct tab for either selective high school (SHS) or opportunity class (OC) placement and note that it relates to entry next year.”
    • 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).

    • Selective outcomes releasedPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “19 August 2026 | Placement outcomes expected to be released”
    • Reserve decision datePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “3 December 2026 (3:00 pm) | Reserve decision date”
  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

    • Selective test (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: The selective test fell between 1 and 9 May in each year from 2023 to 2026 (1–2 May in 2026), and the Department says the tests are held in May. Expected window Friday 30 April – Sunday 9 May 2027 (our confidence about 0.85).

  5. Outcomes

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 5 August 2026

    • Selective outcomes (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: Selective outcomes came out on 18 August 2023, 23 August 2024, 22 August 2025 and 19 August 2026. Expected window 18 – 26 August 2027 (our confidence about 0.7).

  6. Selective high school practice tests

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 20 March 2026

    • Four sections, all on computerPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “The Selective High School Placement Test is a computer-based test that has 4 sections. All questions (multiple-choice and the writing question) are answered using the computer.”
    • Reading: 17 questions, 45 minutes, 25%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Reading Test | 17 (3 questions have multiple parts to answer) | 45 | Multiple-choice | 25%”
    • Mathematical Reasoning: 35 questions, 40 minutes, 25%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Mathematical Reasoning Test | 35 | 40 | Multiple-choice | 25%”
    • Thinking Skills: 40 questions, 40 minutes, 25%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Thinking Skills Test | 40 | 40 | Multiple-choice | 25%”
    • Writing: 1 task, 30 minutes, 25%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Writing Test | 1 | 30 | Open response | 25%”
    • Concepts up to Year 6PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “The questions draw upon concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 6 that your child learns at school. We review all questions to make sure students do not need any extra knowledge.”
    • 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.”
  7. Choosing a school

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 June 2026

    • How offers workPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Parents are offered a place based on test performance and the order of their school choices.”

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.

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