Selective school choices: how to put them in order
Independent. Not affiliated with the NSW Department of Education.
For Year 7 Selective entry in 2028, list the school your child most wants first, then the rest in true order, and only schools you'd accept. A first choice gets no extra weight: each choice is judged on test performance.
Your child sits the Selective test either way, whatever the order. A free practice section needs no account.
How are selective school choices used?
You list up to 31NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published selective schools, in order. Places go by test performance and the order of your school choices1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and three rules turn that order into one offer.
Every choice is judged the same way
Your child is considered for every school on test performance alone. Putting a school first gives it no extra weight. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
One offer, from the highest choice that fits
If your child meets the level for more than one school, the offer comes from the higher choice only. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
So the order doesn't change your child's chances at any school. It decides which offer comes when your child qualifies for more than one.
What does the Department's own example show?
The Department explains the rule with one family's list: James Ruse first, North Sydney Girls second and Blacktown Girls third. These are its example schools, not a ranking.
| If the child meets the level for | The result |
|---|---|
| All three schools | an offer from James Ruse only1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. Declining it brings no offer from a lower choice. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| The second and third schools | an offer from North Sydney Girls only1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published |
| The third school only | an offer from Blacktown Girls1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published |
The lesson: the school at the top of your list is the one you'll be offered whenever your child qualifies for it. Put it there only if your child would be glad to go.
Which way do your family's answers point?
Answer three questions about your list. You'll see which rule applies, and what to check before the change deadline. Nothing is sent or stored.
No account · nothing sent
Work out your case
Check your choices
Answer each question to see your case.
For your situation
Take that school off. If your child qualifies for it, the offer comes from it 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and declining won't bring an offer from a lower choice. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
For your situation
Order by where you'd most like your child to go. Every choice is judged on test performance alone, so a first choice gets no extra weight. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published No school is officially hardest: there's no set minimum score 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the Department ranks no school. 3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published
For your situation
Put the school you'd most like first. The Department points to two things: a school your child wants to go to 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published and less travel. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published The order doesn't change how each choice is judged. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
For your situation
Talk about why first. If your child would rather go to another school on the list, and you'd be glad of it too, it can go first. When your child qualifies for more than one school, the offer comes from the highest choice. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
The Department counts a school your child wants to go to1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published as an important consideration.
For your situation
Ask your child before the change deadline.
The Department counts a school your child wants to go to1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published as an important consideration, and says visiting is the best way to learn about a school. 1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published Last round, choices could be changed until 5 June 20264NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Every case, in one table
The helper reads the first row that matches your answers.
| A school you wouldn't accept? | How you ordered the list | Is your child glad of the first choice? | Where it points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Any | Any | Take that school off. If your child qualifies for it, the offer comes from it 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and declining won't bring an offer from a lower choice. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| No | Hardest school first | Any | Order by where you'd most like your child to go. Every choice is judged on test performance alone, so a first choice gets no extra weight. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published No school is officially hardest: there's no set minimum score 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and the Department ranks no school. 3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published |
| No | Something else | Any | Put the school you'd most like first. The Department points to a school your child wants to go to 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published and less travel. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published The order doesn't change how each choice is judged. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| No | Where we'd most like to go | No, they'd rather another | Talk about why first. If your child would rather go to another school on the list, and you'd be glad of it too, it can go first. When your child qualifies for more than one school, the offer comes from the highest choice. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published The Department counts a school your child wants to go to1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published as an important consideration. |
| No | Where we'd most like to go | We haven't asked yet | Ask your child before the change deadline. The Department counts a school your child wants to go to1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published as an important consideration, and says visiting is the best way to learn about a school. 1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published Last round, choices could be changed until 5 June 20264NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. |
| No | Where we'd most like to go | Yes | Your list follows the rules: only schools you'd accept, in your real order. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published You can change it until the key-dates deadline; last round it was 5 June 20264NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. |
Why does the order matter so much?
Because an offer can't be swapped for a lower choice. You can't decline an offer to get one from a school lower on your list. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Reserve lists only ever point upwards. Each school shows one outcome: offer, reserve list only, offer and higher-choice reserve list, unsuccessful, or not applicable2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. A child with an offer can also wait on a reserve list for a higher choice, while lower choices show "Not applicable", meaning a lower choice than the school that made an offer2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Declining a lower-choice offer to wait for a higher one is a gamble: there's no certainty of a later reserve offer1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. That's why the Department asks you to put the school you want most first. 5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published
How do different orderings work out?
These are worked examples, not real families. Each shows what the rules do with a list. None can say which schools a child will qualify for.
The school your child loves, then a closer one
Your child's favourite is first. A school with a shorter trip is second, and your child would be happy there too.
If your child qualifies for both, the offer comes from the first. If only the second, the offer comes from it, and your child may also be placed on the first choice's reserve list. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
The best-known school first, by reputation
You put the school with the biggest name first. Your child would rather go to your second choice.
If your child qualifies for both, the offer comes from the first, and declining it won't bring the second. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published Swap them now if your child's wish is clear.
Only one school listed
There's one selective school your child wants, and no other you'd accept.
That's allowed. List only schools you would genuinely like your child to attend1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, even if that's fewer than 31NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
A "just in case" third choice
You added a third school you wouldn't really choose, to have a back-up.
If your child qualifies for it and not the first two, the offer comes from it. You'd then decline, and the round ends with no place. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published Take it off unless you'd be glad of it.
What should decide your order?
Your child, then the trip, then the school itself. The Department asks you to weigh your child's interests and abilities, academic and co-curricular needs, social and emotional needs, and any specialised support1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
What your child wants
Choosing a school your child wants to go to1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published is an important consideration, in the Department's words.
The daily trip
Subjects, sport and music
Selective schools may offer a variety of electives, or subjects taught with accelerated learning techniques1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. Check what your child would study.
Girls, boys or both
Coeducational selective schools have equal places for girls and boys from the 2027 intake7NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Single-sex schools are listed by the Department.
The kind of school
A visit
Most schools hold open days or tours. Check each school's website for the dates. 1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published
Should rankings or cut-offs decide the order?
No. The Department's school lists give each school's type, location and places, and don't rank them. 3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published There's no set minimum entry score2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, so a "cut-off" table from elsewhere is someone's estimate, not a rule.
Order by where your child would be glad to go. A ranking can't tell you about the trip, the friendships or what your child loves to do.
Can you change your school choices after applying?
Yes, until the key-dates deadline. You can submit now and change school choices later4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. For Year 7 entry in 2027 the last day was 5 June 20264NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, after the test.
Log in to the dashboard
Open your application and choose Update application, then School selection, then Submit1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Check the email
Check your inbox: an email confirms the changes are saved1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. No email usually means Submit wasn't pressed.
Mind the deadline
After it, changes are possible only in extenuating circumstances after the cut-off4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
Exact dates for Year 7 entry in 2028 are not published4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published. Applications are expected from November 2026–February 20274NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected.
What about Aurora, boarding and partially selective schools?
Most can go on your list like any other school, with a few differences worth knowing before you order. Aurora College has its own eligibility rule.
| School type | What's different |
|---|---|
| Aurora College | Only for a child attending or enrolling at a rural or remote host school4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. It runs online selective classes for rural and remote students3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. There is no reserve list for Aurora College2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. |
| Agricultural schools with boarding | Boarding places may involve extra steps, such as an interview at the school4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. Boarding is the one attendance fee. 3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Partially selective schools | The school has selective classes inside a local high school3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Your child would be in the selective classes. |
| Fully selective schools | At these schools, every student is placed through the selective process3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. |
What does the Department say about choosing schools?
Choose with your child, close to home where you can, and only schools you'd accept. These are its points, in our words.
Only list schools you'd really accept.
List only schools you'd genuinely like your child to attend, even if that's fewer than the most allowed. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Put the school you want most first.
On the School choices page, the school you want most goes first5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Visit the schools.
It's the best way to learn about a school. 1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published
Ask around.
It suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Other families' stories about which school is "harder" aren't official evidence. Weigh them as one family's view.
Questions parents ask about selective school choices
Does putting a school first help my child get in?
No. No extra weight for first choice1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published: every choice is judged on test performance alone.
How many selective schools can we choose?
Between one and 31NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Fewer is fine if you'd accept no other school. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Can we change our first choice after the test?
Last round, yes: changes were open until 5 June 20264NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, after the test on 1–2 May 20264NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Check the key dates each year.
Should we put the hardest school first?
No. No school is officially hardest. Order by where your child would most like to go. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
How do we choose if the performance report is mixed?
Last round the order was locked on 5 June 20264NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, before outcomes came on 19 August 20268NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. So the report can't shape that round's list. Order by your child's wishes.
Does an OC place change our selective choices?
No. OC doesn't give automatic Selective entry9NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and each choice is judged on the Selective test alone.