Guides
The process, explained plainly
The NSW selective and OC process is more confusing than it needs to be, and a lot of the advice online still describes the old test calendar. These pages stick to what the department actually publishes, and say when each one was last checked.
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How to prepare for the OC test: a realistic plan working back from May
The NSW Opportunity Class test is sat in early May of Year 4. The department says coaching is not necessary, and it is right. What actually helps is familiarity with the three papers, the free official practice tests, and short regular practice — here is how to spread that across the months you have.
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Victorian selective entry at Year 10 and 11: a different test, applied for school by school
Year 10 and 11 entry to Melbourne High, Mac.Robertson, Nossal and Suzanne Cory does not use the central ACER exam. Places depend on vacancies, the test is Edutest, and you apply to each school separately, with registrations closing around late May and the exam in mid-June.
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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.
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OC practice tests: the free official ones, and how to use them
The NSW Department of Education publishes one online OC practice test in the current computer format, and three PDF sample tests from the older paper test. What each is good for, when to use it, and why the order matters.
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HAST test: where it's sat, when, and how to register
There is no central HAST test date or test centre. Each school that uses the Higher Ability Selection Test sets its own date, runs the test on its own grounds, and takes registrations directly. How to find a school near you, what the test covers, and what to expect.
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Victorian selective entry exam for 2028 entry: dates, sections and how it differs from NSW
Victoria's selective entry high school exam is sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry. For 2028 entry, applications are expected to open in early March 2027 and the paper exam to run on a Saturday in June 2027. Sections: Maths and Quantitative Reasoning, Reading and Verbal Reasoning, and two writing tasks.
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WA selective test (ASET) for 2028 entry: dates, the four sections and how it differs from NSW
WA's Academic Selective Entrance Test is sat in Year 6, on paper, in early March. For Year 7 entry in 2028, applications are expected to open mid-October 2026 and close early February 2027. Four equal sections: Reading, Writing, Quantitative Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning.
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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.
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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.
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OC results 2026: reserve lists, appeals and what happens next
Opportunity Class placement outcomes for 2027 entry were released on 9 September 2026. What an offer, a reserve list place and no offer each mean — and the 16 September appeal deadline.
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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.
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Opportunity Class (OC) test dates 2027: applications, test days and timeline
When is the NSW Opportunity Class (OC) placement test? Applications open in November 2026 and close in February 2027, with the computer-based test in early May 2027.
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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.
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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.
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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.