Smiths Hill High School: how selective places are won

Through the NSW Selective test alone. Smiths Hill is fully selective, so every student is placed through the selective process^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and it has no local intake area. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

The school sends all Year 7 enquiries to the Department's Selective Education Team. You apply online while your child is in Year 5, and your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Offers follow test performance and the order of your school choices^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

The school is on Gipps Street, Wollongong^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Illawarra^{8NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. It is close to the Wollongong beach, CBD, University of Wollongong, Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre and Beaton Park sporting complex^{9Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Its travel page lists school bus routes such as the S182, Stocklands Shellharbour to Smiths Hill HS^{10Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, along with local loop buses. Parking is not allowed on school grounds.

The Department says less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Plan your commute opens the school in your own map app. ^{8NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Yes, through the school's own eligibility list, not the HAST. ^{12NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} Years 8 to 10 open up only when a student leaves, and for Year 11 the school may offer up to 20 additional places, subject to the selection criteria and places in particular subjects^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

1. Apply with your documents

   Send the school's form with school reports, NAPLAN results and any competition results.

2. The panel reads them

   If your child looks likely to meet the entry benchmarks, you are invited to the test. You can ask for the test even if not invited.

3. The eligibility test

   The test is four online tasks at the school: reading comprehension, writing, numeracy without a calculator, and general ability^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The fee is A$130^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, not refunded.

4. Interview with the Principal

   Next comes an interview with the Principal, with parents, for students who meet the entry benchmarks^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

5. A place on the eligibility list

   Results stay valid for two years^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. When a vacancy arises, the panel picks from the list.

How fast must you act on a Smiths Hill offer?

Very fast. You must accept within 48 hours and start within 7 days^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

That guide is the school's own yardstick for Years 8 to 11 only. It says nothing about Year 7, where there is no set minimum entry score^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

When is the next Smiths Hill test?

The current round for entry in 2027 closes on 30 October 2026, 3 pm (Sydney time)^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The test is on 12 November 2026^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, for students going into Years 8 to 10.

Think about your child's interests and abilities, academic and co-curricular needs, social and emotional needs, and any specialised support^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, as the Department asks. Tick what's true; nothing is stored.

• ✓

  Your child would be happy in a fully selective co-ed school. ^{9Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  The bus trip works at school times. ^{10Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Your child plays or wants to play in a band: the school has a Concert Band, a String Orchestra and a Guitar Ensemble, among other groups^{13Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  Your family likes being near the beach, the university and Beaton Park. ^{9Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  Your child wants to go there. ^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Smiths Hill in Year 7, and the level needed changes with how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Reserve bands in your dashboard are only estimates. ^{14NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} HSC results speak about past Year 12 students, not about Year 7 entry.

Year 7 dates are statewide, and for entry in 2028 they are expected, not published. ^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published}

1. 30 October 2026, 3 pm (Sydney time)^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

   Years 8 to 10 applications close

   Smiths Hill's own Term 4 round, entry in 2027.

2. 12 November 2026^{6Smiths Hill HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

   Smiths Hill eligibility test

3. November 2026–February 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Year 7 applications, listing Smiths Hill

   For a child in Year 5 in 2026.

4. early May 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   The Selective test

5. August 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Year 7 outcomes

These three are the nearest by straight line from the Department's coordinates.

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