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Most apps only do maths. Cognora practises Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills together.
Year 6 · Selective High Schools
Selective High School Placement Test practice
The Selective High School Placement Test is sat in Year 6 for entry into a selective high school in Year 7. It is highly competitive, and the papers reward reasoning under time pressure rather than recall.
Start practising freeWhat’s on the test
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Reading | Comprehension, inference and analysis across fiction, non-fiction and poetry. |
| Mathematical Reasoning | Multi-step problems that test reasoning, not calculation speed. |
| Thinking Skills | Logical reasoning, argument analysis and problem solving. |
| Writing | One extended response. Cognora does not mark writing — practise this with a teacher or tutor. |
How Cognora prepares your child
Mistakes come back
The Smart Mistake Bank re-asks concepts your child got wrong, inside new questions, until they stick.
Weekly mock papers
Full timed papers on Unlimited, so pacing is practised as deliberately as content.
Guides to the process
- The Selective Writing test: what is marked, and how to prepare
One task, 30 minutes, typed on a computer, and a quarter of the NSW Selective result. The department does not publish a marking rubric or sample answers — here is what it does say markers look for, and how to prepare for a paper you cannot cram.
- Thinking Skills practice questions: what the NSW test actually asks
Thinking Skills is the one paper in the NSW OC and Selective tests that is not taught at school, so most children meet it cold. Three real questions with full worked explanations, and what each one is really testing.
- OC or Selective: which test should my child sit?
The Opportunity Class test is sat in Year 4 for entry in Year 5. The Selective test is sat in Year 6 for entry in Year 7. They are different tests at different ages, most children are eligible for both in turn, and one does not gate the other.
- How to apply for an Opportunity Class or Selective High School in NSW
Applications for OC and Selective placement open in November and close in February, and no late applications are accepted. The steps, the school preference rules that catch most families out, and what you need before you start.
- NSW Selective test dates 2027: applications, test window and timeline
When is the 2027 NSW Selective High School Placement Test? Applications open in November 2026, close in February 2027, with the computer-based test in early May 2027.
- What score do you need for a Selective School in NSW? Cut-offs explained
There is no fixed score that guarantees a NSW selective school place. The four test papers count 25% each, and any minimum score is set by that year's applicants and places. What that means, and what to track in practice instead.
- NSW Selective results 2026: reserve lists, appeals and what happens next
Selective High School placement outcomes for 2027 entry are released on 19 August 2026. What an offer, a reserve list place and no offer each mean — and the 26 August appeal deadline.
Common questions
How competitive is it?
Very — places are limited and demand is high, particularly at the best-known schools. Consistent preparation across all sections matters more than last-minute intensity.
Does Cognora mark the Writing section?
No. Writing needs human feedback, and we would rather say so than pretend an algorithm substitutes for a teacher.
Can we practise one section at a time?
Yes. Choose a specific subject and topic, or let the adaptive engine decide where the time is best spent.