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  • 2027 test, 2028 entry

When is the selective test, and when do applications open?

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Not yet announced: the Department hasn't published any dates for the 2027 selective test (Year 7 entry in 2028). Going by past years, applications are expected to open in early November 2026, with the test expected in early May 2027.

Facts checked Last updated Sources

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Have the 2027 selective test dates been announced?

No. 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 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 test in Year 6 and starts Year 7 in 2028. When you look for dates on the Department's key dates, look for "entry in 2028".

The clock below counts down only to dates the Department has published. Those still to come belong to the cycle now finishing (the reserve list for Year 7 entry in 2027). The rows for the 2027 test are our forecasts, so they have no countdown.

Selective dates still to come

  • Reserve decision date

    Thursday 3 December 2026, 3:00 pm

    Published

  • Term 1 2027 ends Friday 9 April 2027

    Friday 9 April 2027

    Published

  • Applications open (expected)

    Expected: 29 October to 13 November 2026

    ExpectedNo countdown until the Department publishes the date.

  • Applications close (expected)

    Expected: 12–26 February 2027

    ExpectedNo countdown until the Department publishes the date.

  • Selective test (expected)

    Expected: 30 April to 9 May 2027

    ExpectedNo countdown until the Department publishes the date.

When do applications open for Year 7 entry in 2028?

Applications are expected to open in early November 2026, but the Department has not yet confirmed the day. Our forecast is Expected: 29 October to 13 November 2026, based on the day they opened in each of the last two years.

The pattern itself is published: Applications are open for about 4 months, from November each year to February the following year. We expect the window for Year 7 entry in 2028 to close around Expected: 12–26 February 2027.

How the online form works, what you need ready and who can apply is on how to apply for a selective high school.

What dates should we expect for the 2027 test?

Every date for the 2027 test is an estimate until the Department publishes it. We work each one out from the same event in past cycles, and we show it as a window rather than a single day where the day has moved from year to year.

Expected dates for the 2027 selective test (Year 7 entry in 2028)
WhatWhenStatus
Dates announced (expected)sourceExpected: 17 October to 6 November 2026Expected
Applications open (expected)sourceExpected: 29 October to 13 November 2026Expected
Applications close (expected)sourceExpected: 12–26 February 2027Expected
Last day to update application details (expected)sourceExpected: 5–19 March 2027Expected
Selective test (expected)sourceExpected: 30 April to 9 May 2027Expected
Make-up test (expected)sourceExpected: 14–28 May 2027Expected
Last day to change school choices (expected)sourceExpected: 28 May to 11 June 2027Expected
Selective outcomes (expected)sourceExpected: 18–26 August 2027Expected
Reserve decision date (expected)sourceExpected: 1–3 December 2027Expected

Each child sits the test on one day only, and the Department allocates the day. Plan around the whole window for now, and don't book anything you can't move. When the Department publishes the dates, this table changes from "Expected" to "Published" and the clock starts counting down.

The OC test runs on a separate day in the same cycle. Its dates are on OC test dates.

Can we trust the old 2027 dates still online?

No. An old Department table listed test dates for 2027, but the Department removed it and has not confirmed them. Search results and older websites still quote it.

The same table was wrong last time. The Department's withdrawn table had given 1–3 May 2026 for the tests and 18 May 2026 for the make-up. The tests actually ran on 1–2 May (selective) and 8–9 May (OC), with the make-up on 22 May 2026. That is why we label every forward date "Expected" until the Department prints it on its key dates page.

What were the dates for the 2026 test (2027 entry)?

Last cycle's dates are the basis for our forecasts. These are the Department's published dates for Year 7 entry in 2027, from the announcement to the reserve decision.

Selective dates for the 2026 test (Year 7 entry in 2027)
WhatWhenStatus
Dates announcedsourceFriday 17 October 2025Published
Applications open and closesource6 November 2025 to 20 February 2026Published
Selective High School Placement Testsource1–2 May 2026Published
Make-up testsourceFriday 22 May 2026Published
Last day to change school choicessourceFriday 5 June 2026Published
Selective outcomes releasedsourceWednesday 19 August 2026Published
Last day for an outcomes appealsourceWednesday 26 August 2026, 11:59 pmPublished
Reserve decision datesourceThursday 3 December 2026, 3:00 pmPublished

Two things stand out. The dates were announced only a few weeks before applications opened, so the 2028-entry dates may also arrive with little notice. And the test, the make-up and the change-of-choices deadline all fell within about five weeks.

What happens between the test and the results?

Between the test and the results there is one more deadline that applies to every family: the last day to change your school choices. Last cycle that was Friday 5 June 2026, several weeks after the test, and outcomes were due on Wednesday 19 August 2026.

The Department's own pages word the results date in different ways. The Department's page for students says parents get a message with the results in late August. The key dates table gives the exact day, so treat that one as the date to watch.

After results, there is a short window to appeal (last cycle it closed on Wednesday 26 August 2026, 11:59 pm), then the reserve decision date. What the result letter means is on selective results, and how offers move after that is on the reserve list. For the whole process in one place, see the selective high schools guide.

Which school terms does the 2027 test cycle fall in?

The 2027 school calendar is published, so you can see which term each expected date falls in. Applications close early in Term 1, the test is expected early in Term 2, and results are expected in Term 3.

NSW public school terms in 2027 (students' days)
WhatWhenStatus
Term 1 2027source3 February to 9 April 2027Published
Term 2 2027source29 April to 2 July 2027Published
Term 3 2027source20 July to 24 September 2027Published
Term 4 2027source12 October to 20 December 2027Published

This matters for planning. The expected test window sits in the first fortnight of Term 2, so keep that stretch clear of trips and other commitments. The expected reserve decision date falls late in Term 4, before your child starts Year 7.

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

    • 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”
    • 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.”
    • Reserve decision datePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “3 December 2026 (3:00 pm) | Reserve decision date”
    • No late applicationsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Closing dates for applications are strictly observed. No late applications will be accepted.”
    • Last day to update application details (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: In the 2027-entry cycle the last day to update details was 13 March 2026, about 3 weeks after applications closed (from the Department's key dates as archived; past rows are dropped from the live page). Expected about Friday 12 March 2027; window 5 – 19 March 2027 is our plus or minus one week (confidence about 0.6).

    • Make-up test (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: The make-up test was on Friday 22 May 2026, two weeks after the OC test. Expected about Friday 21 May 2027 (our confidence about 0.7); the window 14 – 28 May 2027 is our plus or minus one week.

    • 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.

    • 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 High School Placement TestPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “1-2 May 2026 | Selective High School Placement Test (students are allocated to attend one test day only)”
    • Make-up testPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “22 May 2026 | Selective High School Placement Make-up Test”
    • Last day to change school choicesPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “5 June 2026 | Last day to change school choices”
    • Selective outcomes releasedPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “19 August 2026 | Placement outcomes expected to be released”
    • Last day for an outcomes appealPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “26 August 2026 (11:59 pm) | Last day for parents to submit an outcomes appeal”
  2. 2027 NSW school calendar

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 13 August 2026

    • Term 1 2027 ends Friday 9 April 2027PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “First to last days for students - Term 1: Wednesday 3 February to Friday 9 April”
    • Term 1 2027PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Term 1: Wednesday 3 February to Friday 9 April”
    • Term 2 2027PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Term 2: Thursday 29 April to Friday 2 July”
    • Term 3 2027PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Term 3: Tuesday 20 July to Friday 24 September”
    • Term 4 2027PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Term 4: Tuesday 12 October to Monday 20 December”
  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).

    • Applications open and closePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “The application period is from 6 November 2025 to 20 February 2026.”
  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. 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.”
  6. Applications to open for 2027 selective school entry

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 17 October 2025

    • Dates announced (expected)ExpectedChecked

      Our estimate: Last cycle the Department announced the dates in a news item on Friday 17 October 2025, 20 days before applications opened; notice has shrunk from months (2023, 2024) to weeks (2025). Expected window 17 October – 6 November 2026 (our confidence about 0.6). 17 October 2026 is a Saturday.

    • Dates announcedPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “17 October 2025 Applications for 2027 entry to NSW selective schools and opportunity classes will open on 6 November 2025”
  7. 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).

  8. Placement test (archived copy, Wayback Machine capture of 12 August 2025)

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 5 June 2025

    • Withdrawn: old test dates for entry in 2028WithdrawnChecked
      The source's words
      “2027 | 2028 | Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May 2027”
    • Withdrawn: old make-up date for entry in 2028WithdrawnChecked
      The source's words
      “Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May 2027 | Monday 17 May 2027”
    • The old table missed the 2026 datesWithdrawnChecked
      The source's words
      “2026 | 2027 | Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May 2026 | Monday 18 May 2026”
  9. Get ready for the Selective High School Placement Test

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 3 December 2025

    • Results timing: student page wordingPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “We will message your parents with the results in late August to tell them if you have a place in a selective high school.”

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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