Skip to main content
  • Selective test
  • 2027 test, 2028 entry

How does the selective test work?

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

The selective test is one computer-based test, sat on one day in May at a test centre in NSW, with four sections worth a quarter each: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. For Year 7 entry in 2028, children sit it in the 2027 test; the date is not yet announced and is expected around the start of May 2027.

Facts checked Last updated Sources

Practise for the selective test: one full practice test with results is free with a parent account.Start free

What is in the selective test?

The test has four sections, and each one counts for the same share of your child's result. The Selective High School Placement Test is a computer-based test with 4 sections: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.

The four sections of the Selective High School Placement Test, in the Department's order
SectionQuestionsTimeWeight
Reading17 questions (38 answers)45 minutes25%
Mathematical Reasoning35 questions40 minutes25%
Thinking Skills40 questions40 minutes25%
Writing1 task30 minutes25%

Read the table as a time budget. Thinking Skills gives your child the least time per question, and Reading the most, because Reading questions come with texts to read first. Writing is a single task, so the whole section goes on planning and typing one piece.

The questions draw on concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 6, and the Department says students do not need extra knowledge. Calculators are not allowed in any part of the test. Each section has its own page on what the questions ask and how to practise: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.

On preparation: 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.

Is the test on a computer or on paper?

It is on a computer: your child reads and answers every question on screen, including the Writing task. Both placement tests are computer-based and held in May. Only one test is held on each test day.

  • Students do not bring their own computer or mouse. The test centre supplies the computer.
  • Each student is given two A4 sheets of paper for working out at the start of the test, and can ask for more. Paper is for working out only; answers go into the computer.
  • All student work is saved automatically every 30 seconds. If a computer stops, your child's answers up to that point are kept.

The online practice tests simulate the real test, so your child can get used to the test software and its tools. They are linked from the Department's placement test page.

When and where is the test held?

Your child sits the test once, on one day in May, at a local test centre in NSW. For Year 7 entry in 2028, the date of the 2027 test is not yet announced (Expected: 30 April to 9 May 2027, our estimate from past years). Dates are tracked on selective test dates.

  • Each student sits the placement test on one day only.
  • Students are allocated to a local test centre based on their primary school's location. Most centres are local public high schools.
  • All students from the same primary school sit the test on the same day, so keep both test days free until you receive your child's test date.
  • You cannot change the test centre or date unless there are reasons outside your control, and even then a change is not guaranteed.

Does every child sit the same test?

No. Because the test runs over more than one day, children sit different versions, and the Department compares results across them. There are several versions of the test so it can run on different days. The Department says no test day gives an advantage and performance is compared across versions.

Some questions are common to all test versions, to keep the versions consistent. These questions do not count towards your child's score. In plain terms, a few questions appear in every version so the Department can check the versions line up. The Department does not say which ones they are, so the advice is the same as for any question: answer it and move on. The Department does not explain the method in more detail.

How is the test marked?

The Writing response is marked by people, not a computer. Each Writing response is marked by two different examiners. The placement procedures say that where the two examiners' scores differ, a third marker re-marks the response.

There is no pass or fail mark on the placement test. The marks are used to rank applicants for places, not to pass or fail anyone. Offers are based on placement test performance and the order of your school choices. How the results are reported and what the bands mean is on selective results, and what the markers look for in Writing is on the Writing page.

What happens on test day?

Your child arrives at the centre and time shown on the ticket, with the printed ticket, the listed kit and school uniform, and sits the four sections with short breaks in between. Here is the day in order.

  1. Before the day: print the ticket

    The Test Admission Ticket is sent 2 weeks before the test. You are emailed when it is in your application dashboard. Your child must bring a printed Test Admission Ticket. A digital copy on a phone or device is not accepted.

  2. Arrive at the right place and time

    If you arrive at the wrong location, or on the wrong date or time, your child will not be allowed to sit the test. If you arrive late, your child will not get extra time.

  3. Sit the sections, with breaks

    There are short breaks between the test sections, and students stay in the test room. The selective test has a longer break in the middle, when students can eat their snack.

  4. Pick up your child

    In the Department's example selective timetable, students are dismissed at 1:55 pm. Your child's ticket has the real times.

What to bring

  • Every student needs a printed Test Admission Ticket, two 2B pencils, an eraser, a pencil sharpener and a clear bottle of water, and must wear school uniform, even on a Saturday.
  • Students may bring a clear plastic bag for stationery (pencil cases are not allowed) and a wristwatch that cannot make a noise, compute or connect to the internet.

If needed

  • If needed, students can also bring a snack for the break, items approved as disability adjustments, medication, glasses and tissues.

What not to bring

  • Not allowed: pens, rulers, calculators, note paper, dictionaries or other books, smart watches, phones or other devices, and pencil cases.
  • Nuts and products containing nuts are not allowed in your child's snack.

Pack the night before and check the ticket is on paper, not just on a phone. A forgotten ticket is the easiest problem to avoid.

What if my child is sick on test day?

If your child is sick or something outside your control happens, you can ask the Department for an illness or misadventure review, and an approved request can lead to a make-up test. Act quickly, because the window is short.

  • An illness or misadventure request is usually due 5 business days after the test or make-up test. Late requests are not accepted.
  • A misadventure request can include up to 3 supporting documents and cannot be changed once submitted. Documents sent separately are not accepted.
  • If a request is approved, the student may sit the make-up test, or have their score adjusted if they sat some of the test.

For the 2027 test, the make-up date is not yet announced (Expected: 14–28 May 2027, our estimate from past years).

Reasons that are not accepted

  • Forgetting the test date, being busy with work or family, or not knowing the process and due dates are not accepted reasons.
  • A family holiday, school or local sport, school events and school photo days are not accepted reasons for missing the test.

A problem on the Department's side is handled differently. If a technical problem stops many students starting or finishing, the test may be postponed and those students moved to the make-up test. The steps for making a request are on the Department's placement test page.

Does school attendance matter?

Yes. Poor attendance at school can count against a placement, even with a strong test result. If a child misses too many school days without a good reason before the test, the Department tells the selection committee, which may not place students with poor attendance.

The placement procedures say parents must not take their child out of school to prepare for the tests, and too many unjustified absences may put an offer at risk. Practice belongs outside school hours, not in place of school days.

How is it different from the OC test?

The opportunity class (OC) test follows the same rules for tickets, test centres, illness and the make-up test. The OC test has 3 sections (Reading, Thinking Skills and Mathematical Reasoning). Unlike the selective test, there is no Writing section. 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. The OC version of this page is how the OC test works, and the two tests are set side by side on OC vs selective. The main selective guide covers applying, results and offers.

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 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.”
    • No calculatorsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Students cannot use a calculator during this, or any other, test.”
    • 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.”
    • Poor school attendance is reported to the committeePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If they miss too many days without a good reason, we tell the selection committee. The committee may not place students who do not have good attendance.”
    • Online practice simulates the real testPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “The online computer-based practice tests will simulate the actual placement tests. This helps your child get familiar with the test software and its tools.”
  2. Placement test

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 18 August 2026

    • Computer-based, held in MayPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “The placement tests are computer-based and held in May. Only one test is held on each test day.”
    • No need to bring a computerPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Students do not need to bring their own computer or mouse to sit the placement test.”
    • Two A4 sheets of working paperPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “each student will be given two A4 pieces of paper for working out at the start of the test. They may ask for more paper if needed.”
    • Work saved every 30 secondsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “All student work is automatically saved every 30 seconds.”
    • Each student sits on one dayPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Each student is only required to sit the placement test on one day.”
    • 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).

    • Local test centres, mostly public high schoolsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Students are allocated to local test centres based on their primary school location. Most test centres will be in local public high schools.”
    • Whole primary school tested on one day: keep both days freePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “All students from your child's primary school will be tested on the same day. Because of this, it's important that you keep both test days free until you are given your test date.”
    • Centre and date can't usually be changedPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “You cannot change the location or date, unless there are reasons outside your control. In these rare cases, contact us through your application dashboard. But there is no guarantee that a change can be made.”
    • Held only in NSW from 2026PublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “From 2026 the placement tests will only be held in NSW. Students who are overseas or interstate need to sit the placement test in NSW.”
    • No placement without sitting in NSWPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If your child is unable to return to NSW to sit the test, they will not be considered for placement in an opportunity class or selective high school.”
    • Several test versions, compared fairlyPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are measures in place to ensure there is no advantage from sitting the test on a particular day and performance can be compared across multiple test versions.”
    • Unscored common itemsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Some items are common across all test versions to ensure consistency and comparability. These items will not affect your child's final scores.”
    • Ticket sent 2 weeks before the testPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “We will send your Test Admission Ticket to you 2 weeks before the test. We will email you to let you know when it is available in your application dashboard.”
    • Printed ticket onlyPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Your child must bring their printed ticket to be allowed to sit the test. A digital copy on a phone or device will not be accepted.”
    • What every student needsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “All students need: - a printed copy of the Test Admission Ticket - two 2B pencils - eraser - pencil sharpener - a clear bottle of water - to wear their school uniform – even if it is Saturday.”
    • Clear stationery bag and a plain wristwatchPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “a clear plastic bag for stationery (pencil cases are not allowed) - a wristwatch (that cannot make a noise, calculate, compute, connect to the internet, send or receive messages, or facilitate attempted malpractice).”
    • No nutsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “nuts, or products containing nuts, for your child's snack”
    • Wrong place or time means no testPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If you arrive at the wrong location or on the wrong date or time, your child will not be allowed to sit the test.”
    • No extra time for late arrivalPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If you arrive late, your child will not get extra time for the test.”
    • Short breaks between sectionsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are short breaks between the test sections where students remain in the test room.”
    • Selective: a longer snack breakPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There is a longer break in the middle of the selective high school test. During this break students can eat their snack.”
    • Selective: example timetablePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “1:55 pm | Students dismissed |”
    • Misadventure: usually 5 business days, no late requestsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “This is usually 5 business days after the test or make-up test. Late requests cannot be accepted.”
    • Misadventure: up to 3 documents, no editsPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “You cannot edit or change your Illness or misadventure request once you submit it. Make sure you include all supporting documents (up to 3 attachments) before selecting ‘Submit’. Documents sent outside of this request will not be accepted.”
    • Approved requests can sit the make-up testPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If the request is approved, the student might: - be allowed to sit a make-up test, or - have their score adjusted, if they sat some, or part of, the test.”
    • Misadventure: forgetting or not knowing isn't acceptedPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Reasons that cannot be accepted - You forgot the test date. - You were busy with work or family life. - You didn’t know the processes and relevant due dates.”
    • Misadventure: holidays, sport and school events aren't acceptedPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Your family was on holiday during the test period. - Your child was taking part in school or local sports, school events, or school photo days.”
    • Missing the test and the make-up means no placementPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Your child missed both the main test and the entire make-up test. If both tests are missed, they cannot be placed in a selective high school or opportunity class.”
    • Major technical problems: make-up testPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If the problem stops many students from starting or finishing the test, the test may be postponed. These students will be re-scheduled to sit the make-up test.”
  3. Outcomes

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 5 August 2026

    • Writing: two examinersPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Each writing test response, in the Selective High School Placement test, is already marked by two different examiners.”
    • No pass or fail markPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There is no pass or fail mark”
  4. Selective high schools and opportunity classes placement procedures (PD-2002-0006-06)

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 5 November 2025

    • Writing: a third marker if the two differPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Each writing test response, in the Selective High School Placement Test, is marked by 2 different examiners. Where the score differs between the markers, it is re-marked by a third marker.”
    • Don't take children out of school to preparePublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Parents and/or carers must not take their child out of school to prepare for the placement tests. Too many unjustified absences may jeopardise a placement offer”
  5. 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.”
  6. Get ready for the Selective High School Placement Test

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 3 December 2025

    • Items not allowedPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “Do NOT bring: pens rulers calculators note paper dictionaries or other books smart watches, phones or other devices that compute, photograph, communicate or make a noise pencil cases.”
    • What to bring if neededPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “If required, bring: a substantial snack to eat during the break any items approved as adjustments for disability, e.g. FM transmitters EpiPen, asthma inhalers, diabetes or other medication glasses tissues”
  7. Application process

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 12 August 2026

    • 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.

  8. Opportunity class practice tests

    NSW Department of Education · page last updated 22 July 2026

    • No Writing sectionPublishedChecked
      The source's words
      “There are 3 test sections: reading, thinking skills and maths.”
  9. 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.”

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