The Complete Guide to the NSW Selective High School Test (2027 Entry)

If your child is in Year 5 and preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, this guide covers everything you need to know. The test format, what each section involves, key dates, and practical advice for preparation, all in one place.

Test Structure at a Glance

The NSW Selective test is a computer-based exam taken at external test centres. Here's what your child will face:

Section	Time	Questions	Weighting
Reading	40 minutes	30 questions	25%
Mathematical Reasoning	40 minutes	35 questions	25%
Thinking Skills	40 minutes	40 questions	25%
Writing	30 minutes	1 extended response	25%

Total test time: Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours including breaks.

Students are provided with computers at the test centre. Two A3 sheets of paper are provided for working out during the Maths and Thinking Skills sections.

Important change: All four sections now count equally at 25% each. Writing used to be weighted less (around 15%), so this section now deserves serious attention in your preparation.

Key Dates for 2027 Entry

If your child is currently in Year 5 and will start Year 7 in 2027:

Milestone	Date
Applications open	6 November 2025
Applications close	20 February 2026
Test dates	1-2 May 2026 (Friday to Saturday)
Make-up test	22 May 2026
Results released	Mid-August 2026
School starts	Term 1, 2027

Important: There are no late applications. If you miss the 20 February 2026 deadline, your child cannot sit the test for 2027 entry.

Planning Ahead: 2028 Entry

If your child is currently in Year 4 and will start Year 7 in 2028, here's what to expect (dates are indicative based on previous years):

Milestone	Expected Timing
Applications open	Early November 2026
Applications close	Late February 2027
Test dates	Early May 2027
Results released	Mid-August 2027
School starts	Term 1, 2028

Official dates for 2028 entry will be confirmed by the NSW Department of Education in late 2026.

What Each Section Tests

Reading (30 questions, 40 minutes)

The Reading section assesses comprehension across different text types:

Fiction and comparison texts (approximately 8 questions)
Poetry analysis (approximately 6 questions)
Factual text comprehension (approximately 6 questions)
Multi-text analysis, comparing information across multiple passages (approximately 10 questions)

Skills tested:

Finding explicit information
Making inferences (reading between the lines)
Understanding author's purpose and tone
Vocabulary in context
Analysing text structure

What makes it challenging: The reading level is significantly above typical Year 5-6 classroom texts. Students need to read quickly, comprehend deeply, and answer accurately under time pressure, roughly 80 seconds per question.

Mathematical Reasoning (35 questions, 40 minutes)

This section covers the Year 1 to 5 Australian curriculum, but applies concepts in unfamiliar and challenging ways.

Topic areas:

Number and Algebra: Place value, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, patterns, basic algebra
Measurement: Perimeter, area, volume, time calculations, unit conversions (metres to centimetres, litres to millilitres)
Space and Geometry: 2D and 3D shapes, angles, coordinates, transformations
Statistics and Probability: Reading graphs and tables, calculating averages, probability of events

What makes it challenging: Questions require multi-step problem solving, not just applying formulas. Students must interpret word problems, identify the relevant information, and work through logical steps, all without a calculator.

Time pressure: Approximately 70 seconds per question. Mental maths skills and efficient working are essential.

Thinking Skills (40 questions, 40 minutes)

This is often the most unfamiliar section for students because it's not explicitly taught in schools.

Question types:

Pattern recognition: Identifying rules in sequences of numbers, shapes, or symbols
Spatial reasoning: Visualising 2D and 3D shapes, rotations, reflections, nets of cubes
Logical reasoning: Deductive puzzles, syllogisms ("If all A are B, and no B are C...")
Evaluating evidence: Identifying what strengthens or weakens an argument

What makes it challenging: No prior knowledge is required, but the reasoning demands are high. Students must think flexibly, spot patterns quickly, and apply logic under pressure.

Time pressure: Approximately 60 seconds per question, the tightest time allocation of any section.

Writing (1 task, 30 minutes)

Students complete one extended writing task. The format varies and might be:

A persuasive letter or essay
A narrative story
An informative report
A diary entry or newspaper article

Assessment criteria:

Content (15 marks): Ideas, development, relevance to the prompt
Technical skills (10 marks): Grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence variety, vocabulary

Two independent examiners mark each response.

What makes it challenging: Students must plan, write, and review a substantial piece in just 30 minutes. With Writing now worth 25% of the total score, this section deserves as much attention as Maths or Reading.

The Computer-Based Format

The test transitioned to computer-based delivery in 2025. Here's what that means for preparation:

Typing skills matter: While most answers are multiple choice, the Writing section requires typing a substantial response in 30 minutes. If your child is a slow typist, practice regularly.

Reading on screen is different: Screen reading requires different skills than reading on paper. Ensure your child is comfortable reading longer passages on a computer without losing focus.

Test interface features: The test includes tools for highlighting text, flagging questions for review, and navigating between questions. The official practice tests use the same interface, so make sure your child is familiar with it before test day.

Screen stamina: A 2.5 to 3-hour computer-based test is mentally and physically tiring. Build stamina through practice sessions of increasing length.

Understanding the Competition

How Many Students Apply?

The numbers are significant but not impossible:

Approximately 17,000 to 18,000 students sit the test each year
Places available: Around 4,300 Year 7 places across all selective schools, plus 100 places at Aurora College (virtual selective for rural and remote students)

What's the Acceptance Rate?

Roughly 24 to 25% of applicants receive offers, approximately one in four. However, this varies dramatically by school:

James Ruse Agricultural High School: The most competitive, with around 120 places and thousands of applicants
Other fully selective schools: Competitive but slightly less intense
Partially selective schools: Higher acceptance rates as they offer a mix of selective and local placements

What Happens After the Test?

You'll receive:

A performance report showing how your child performed in bands compared to all test-takers
An outcome: Offer, Reserve List placement, or unsuccessful

Important: The NSW Department of Education does not publish numerical scores, rankings, or cut-off marks. This is a deliberate wellbeing policy.

Types of Selective Schools

NSW has several categories of selective schools:

Fully selective schools (17): All students are placed via the test. These include well-known schools like James Ruse, North Sydney Boys, North Sydney Girls, Sydney Boys, Sydney Girls, and Baulkham Hills.

Partially selective schools (26): A portion of students are placed via the test, with the remainder coming from the local area.

Agricultural selective schools (4): Selective entry with a focus on agricultural studies.

Virtual selective school (1): Aurora College offers 100 places for rural and remote students who study online.

The Equity Placement Model

Up to 20% of places are reserved for underrepresented groups:

10% for students from low socio-educational backgrounds
5% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Remaining allocation for rural/remote students and students with disability

Students are automatically considered for these places, there's no separate application. To be eligible, students must score within 10% of the minimum threshold.

Eligibility Requirements

To sit the test, your child must:

Be the correct age (typically 11 years 5 months to 13 years at the start of Year 7)
Be living in NSW by the start of the school year
Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or permanent resident (visa conditions may apply for others)

You can list up to three school preferences in order of priority.

What to Bring on Test Day

Required:

Printed Test Admission Ticket
School uniform
Substantial snack and clear water bottle
Wristwatch (non-smart), recommended but not required

Not permitted:

Mobile phones or electronic devices
Study materials or notes
Pencil cases (writing materials are provided)

Free Official Resources

The NSW Department of Education provides free practice tests that match the actual test format:

Website: education.nsw.gov.au (search for "selective high school practice tests")

These official practice tests include all four sections and use the computer-based format. They're the most authentic preparation resource available and cost nothing. Use them.

Sample Questions

Here's what each section looks like in practice:

Sample Maths Question

A train leaves Sydney at 9:45 am and arrives in Newcastle at 12:20 pm. The same journey back departs Newcastle at 2:15 pm. If the return journey takes 25 minutes longer, what time does the train arrive back in Sydney?

A) 4:40 pm
B) 5:05 pm
C) 5:15 pm
D) 5:35 pm
E) 5:55 pm

Answer: C) 5:15 pm

Explanation: Sydney to Newcastle takes 2 hours 35 minutes (9:45 to 12:20). The return takes 25 minutes longer: 2 hours 35 minutes + 25 minutes = 3 hours. Departing 2:15 pm + 3 hours = 5:15 pm.

Sample Thinking Skills Question

Look at the pattern below:

2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ?

What number comes next?

A) 36
B) 40
C) 42
D) 44

Answer: C) 42

Explanation: The differences between consecutive terms are 4, 6, 8, 10, 12... (increasing by 2 each time). So the next difference is 12, and 30 + 12 = 42.

Sample Reading Question

Read the following extract:

"The council's decision to remove the old fig tree sparked immediate protest from residents. 'That tree has stood here for over a century,' said Margaret Chen, whose grandmother had planted flowers beneath it as a child. 'You can't just erase history for a car park.'"

What is the main purpose of including Margaret Chen's quote?

A) To explain why the tree needs to be removed
B) To show the emotional significance of the tree to the community
C) To describe what the tree looks like
D) To argue that car parks are unnecessary

Answer: B) To show the emotional significance of the tree to the community

Explanation: The quote emphasises personal and historical connection ("over a century," "grandmother had planted flowers"), demonstrating why residents care about preserving the tree.

The Bottom Line

The NSW Selective test is challenging but not mysterious. It tests Reading, Maths, Thinking Skills, and Writing in equal measure. Around 17,000 students sit it each year, and roughly one in four receives an offer.

Your best preparation strategy:

Use the free official practice tests to understand the format
Build strong reading habits and solid maths fundamentals
Practice Thinking Skills questions, these are unfamiliar to most students
Don't neglect Writing, it's now worth 25%
Develop computer-based test skills including typing and screen reading

Most importantly, remember that three in four applicants don't receive offers. That doesn't make them failures, it makes selective schools selective. This test is one pathway among many to a great education.

This guide was written for SelectiveGuru, an Australian-made platform helping Year 5 and 6 students prepare for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test.