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How do I apply for a selective high school?

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

You apply online on the Department's application website in five steps (register, verify your email, log in, complete the form, then submit), listing one to three selective schools in order of preference. Applications for Year 7 entry in 2028 (the 2027 test) aren't open yet: they are expected to open in early November 2026, and late applications are not accepted.

Facts checked Last updated Sources

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What are the steps to apply?

You apply online, on the Department's application website, as the parent or carer. You apply online in 5 steps: register, verify your email, log in, complete the 8 sections (including a photo of your child), and submit.

  1. Register

    Register with your own details as the parent or carer, not your child's.

  2. Verify your email

    Open the verification email. If it hasn't come, check your junk folder and give it a little time.

  3. Log in

    Log in to the application website. Use the forgot-password link if you need to reset it.

  4. Complete the sections

    Answer every question and upload a photo of your child. You can save and come back to it.

  5. Submit

    Submitting is its own step, separate from saving. Look for a confirmation once you have submitted.

Submitting doesn't lock everything in. You can change your school choices in the application dashboard after you submit, up to the last day to change choices in the key dates. The Department's placement test then follows; our guide to how the selective test works covers that part.

Where is the selective test login?

There is no separate test login: you log in to the Department's application website, and that same login opens your application dashboard. The register and log-in buttons sit on the Department's application process page, which also links to the dashboard for families who have already applied.

Use the dashboard after you submit to change details, change school choices before the deadline, upload documents and message the Department. Results come back to the same place later in the cycle, as our guide to selective results explains. We are an independent site, so we can't see or open your application.

When can we apply for Year 7 entry in 2028?

Not yet. 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).

Applications are open for about 4 months, from November each year to February the following year. Going by the last two cycles, we expect:

  • Applications open: Expected: 29 October to 13 November 2026
  • Applications close: Expected: 12–26 February 2027

Last cycle's pattern for the year your child is in: Students applying for a selective high school were in Year 5 when applications opened and in Year 6 when they closed. So for the 2027 test, a child in Year 5 now is the one to apply for.

Closing dates are strictly observed. Late applications are not accepted. Our selective test dates page changes each forecast to the Department's date as soon as it is published.

Who can apply?

Most families can: your child doesn't need to be at a NSW public school. Parents and carers can apply if their child is at a NSW public school, a non-government school, in home study, or at an interstate or overseas school.

There are residency rules for the year your child would start:

  • Students and their families must be living in NSW by the beginning of the school year of entry.
  • Conditions may apply to students who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, or New Zealand citizens. The Department lists them on its visa subclasses and enrolment conditions page.
  • If you expect to meet all enrolment conditions before initial offers are released, you may still apply and your child can sit the test. You must meet them before you can receive an offer.

On age, Students are usually aged between 11 years 5 months and 13 years when they start Year 7. The Department publishes the matching birth dates for each entry year. It hasn't published the window for Year 7 entry in 2028 yet; last cycle's was this: For Year 7 entry in 2027, students usually have a birth date between 1 January 2014 and 31 July 2015 (inclusive).

If your child is outside the usual age range or school year, explain why in the application. The selection committee decides whether to accept it.

How many schools can we choose, and does the order matter?

For selective high schools you can choose between 1 and 3 schools, in order of preference. The order matters for which offer you get, but not for whether you get one. Listing a school as your first choice gives no extra consideration.

You get an initial offer from one school only. If your child's result is enough for several of your choices, the offer comes from the highest of them. You cannot decline an offer in order to get a later offer from one of your lower-choice schools, so order your choices carefully.

Worked example

Three choices, one initial offer

A family lists School A first, School B second and School C third. Each school needs a different level of result for an offer.

How one initial offer comes from three ranked choicesThree schools listed in order. The result is not enough for choice 1. It is enough for choice 2, so the one initial offer comes from choice 2. Choice 3 gives no initial offer.Choice 1: School AResult not enough for this schoolChoice 2: School BResult enough: the one initial offerChoice 3: School CNo initial offer: a higher choice gave one
  1. The result is not enough for School A, so no initial offer comes from there.
  2. It is enough for School B. That is the highest choice it is enough for, so School B makes the one initial offer.
  3. School C gives no initial offer, even if the result would be enough there. Declining School B doesn't bring an offer from School C.

So list schools in the order your family would really choose them, and only list schools you would accept. Our list of selective schools shows each school's type, location and places. If no initial offer comes, the reserve list is the next stage.

You have time to change your mind. We expect the last day to change choices for entry in 2028 to be Expected: 28 May to 11 June 2027, which is after the test.

How do places for girls and boys work?

Co-educational schools now hold equal places for girls and boys, but entry is still by the test. From the 2027 intake, co-educational selective and partially selective high schools and opportunity classes have an equal number of places for girls and boys. Entry is still based on the placement test.

  • If places for boys or girls are not filled, they are offered to students of the other gender who qualify on their test performance.
  • Gender diverse students are considered on their test performance. One who scores higher than the lowest eligible student of either gender is offered a place, even if the gender balance shifts slightly.

For your application, nothing changes: you fill in the same form and choose schools the same way. The change is in how the Department counts places at each co-educational school.

What are equity places, and do we apply for them separately?

No, there is no separate form. There is no separate application for equity places. Students are considered automatically from their standard application.

Up to 20% of places at each selective high school and opportunity class are held for high potential and gifted students from 4 groups: low socio-educational advantage areas, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, rural and remote students, and students with disability.

The held places, by group (the Department says the shares can change from year to year)
Share of places and group
10% low socio-educational advantage
5% Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
2.5% rural and remote
2.5% disability

In plain terms, places are filled in this order:

  1. The first 80% of places are offered on test performance to everyone, including students in the equity groups. The next 20% go to equity-group students who were not already offered a place.
  2. Equity offers go to students whose test performance is within 10% of the minimum accepted for the school from a general applicant in initial offers, or as the selection committee decides.
  3. Any equity places that are not filled are offered to general applicants.

Families are not told whether an offer came from an equity place, for privacy, equity and wellbeing reasons. Schools are not told whether a student's offer came through equity placement.

How do we apply for boarding at Farrer or Yanco?

You go to the school, not through the usual form. For boarding places at Farrer Memorial and Yanco agricultural high schools, you apply directly to the school. Students offered a boarding place at Farrer Memorial or Yanco do not have to sit the Selective High School Placement Test.

For a day place at any selective school, you use the standard online application above. Boarding places can involve extra steps, such as an interview at the school; the Department's application process page links to the details for each school.

Do selective schools charge fees?

No attendance fees, apart from boarding. Selective high schools are public schools and do not charge attendance fees, except for boarding at agricultural high schools. Schools may ask parents to pay for curriculum-related resources such as textbooks and subject materials, and for excursions or sports.

If you also have a younger child heading for Year 5 entry, our guide to applying for an opportunity class covers that application. For the bigger picture, start at our selective test guide, and see how we check each fact on our sources page.

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. Application process

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 12 August 2026

    • Applying in 5 stepsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Submitting your application in 5 easy steps 1. Register”
    • 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”
    • No late applicationsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Closing dates for applications are strictly observed. No late applications will be accepted.”
    • Who can applyPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Parents and carers can apply for placement if their child is in: - NSW public schools - non-government schools - home study - interstate schools - overseas schools.”
    • Living in NSW by the start of the yearPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “students and their families must be living in NSW by the beginning of the school year of entry.”
    • Conditions for non-citizensPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “conditions may apply to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of Australia or citizens of New Zealand.”
    • Meeting the conditions laterPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If you think you will meet all enrolment conditions before we release initial offers, you may still apply and your child can sit the placement test.”
    • Last day to change school choices (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: The last day to change choices was 5 June 2026, about 5 weeks after the first test day. Expected about Friday 4 June 2027 if the pattern holds (our confidence about 0.7); the window 28 May – 11 June 2027 is our plus or minus one week.

  2. Choosing a school

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 June 2026

    • Choices can be changed after applyingPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “You can change your school choices after you submit your application – see 'last day to change school choices' in the Key dates.”
    • Up to 3 selective school choicesPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “For selective high schools you can choose between 1 and 3 schools.”
    • No advantage for a first choicePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “You will not be given any extra consideration for listing a school as your first choice.”
    • One initial offer, from the highest choice metPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Parents can get an initial offer of placement from only one school.”
    • You cannot decline to move down your listPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “You cannot decline a placement offer to get a later offer from one of your lower-choice schools.”
  3. What are selective high schools and opportunity classes?

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 March 2026

    • Applications run November to FebruaryPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Applications are open for approximately 4 months, from November each year to February the following year.”
  4. 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).

    • School year when applyingPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Students seeking placement in a selective high school are in Year 5 when applications open and in Year 6 when applications close.”
  5. Selective high schools (list of schools)

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 10 September 2026

    • Usual age for Year 7 entryPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “aged between 11 years and 5 months and 13 years at the time they start Year 7.”
    • Usual birth dates for Year 7 entry in 2027PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “For Year 7 entry in 2027, students will usually have their birth date between 1 January 2014 and 31 July 2015 (inclusive).”
    • Outside the usual age rangePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If your child is outside the usual age range or school Year when applying, you should explain the reasons for this in your application.”
    • Boarding at Farrer and Yanco: apply to the schoolPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Parents and carers applying for boarding places at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School and Yanco Agricultural High School must apply directly to the schools for placement.”
    • No attendance fees (except boarding)PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “NSW selective high schools are public schools and do not charge attendance fees – except for boarding at agricultural high schools.”
    • Schools may ask for some costsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Schools may ask parents to make payments for curriculum-related resources, such as textbooks and materials needed for some subjects.”
  6. Fair access

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 20 February 2026

    • Equal places for girls and boys from 2027PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “From the 2027 intake onwards, there will be an equal number of selective places made available for girls and boys at all coeducational selective and partially selective high schools, as well as opportunity classes in public primary schools.”
    • Unfilled places go to the other genderPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “the available places will be offered to students from the opposite gender who qualify for placement based on their performance in the placement test.”
    • Gender diverse studentsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If a gender diverse student scores higher on the placement test than the lowest eligible student of either gender, they will be offered a place, even if it slightly changes the gender balance.”
    • Up to 20% of places held for 4 groupsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Under the Model, up to 20% of student places at each selective high school and opportunity class are held for high potential and gifted:”
    • How the held places are splitPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “10% of places for students from communities of low socio-educational advantage - 5% of places for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students - 2.5% of places for students from rural or remote NSW locations”
    • 80% first, then up to 20%PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Offering 80% of places to students according to their performance in the placement test. This includes students in equity groups whose performance qualifies them for one of these places.”
    • Within 10% of the school's minimumPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “These students may be offered a place if their test 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).”
    • Unfilled equity places go to general applicantsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Any equity places that are not filled will be offered to general applicants.”
    • Equity consideration is automaticPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There is no separate application process – students will be automatically considered for equity placement when submitting a standard application.”
    • Families are not told about equity offersPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Will I be told if my child's offer is from an equity place? No. This is because of student privacy, equity and wellbeing considerations.”
    • Schools are not told eitherPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Likewise, schools will not be told if a student has received an offer through equity placement.”
  7. Boarding at agricultural high schools

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 5 December 2025

    • Farrer and Yanco boarders do not sit the testPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Students who get an offer for boarder placement at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School or Yanco Agricultural High School do not have to sit the Selective High School Placement Test.”

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