NSW Selective Test 2026, 2027 and 2028: Complete Dates and Preparation Guide
Everything parents need to know about the NSW Selective High School test over the next three years, from test dates to application windows.
If you have a child in Year 4, 5 or 6, you are already thinking about the NSW Selective High School test. Knowing the exact test dates, application windows, and preparation runway for your child's year is the foundation of a sensible prep plan.
This guide covers the test dates and application windows for the May 2026, May 2027 and May 2028 tests, what has changed recently, and how long your child realistically needs to prepare depending on when they will sit the test.
Quick Reference: Which Test Is Your Child Sitting?
The NSW Selective test is sat by students in Year 6, for entry into a selective high school in Year 7 the following year. Here is how the years line up:
| Test held | For entry in | Your child's current year (in 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Year 7, 2027 | Year 6 |
| May 2027 | Year 7, 2028 | Year 5 |
| May 2028 | Year 7, 2029 | Year 4 |
Note: the NSW Department of Education sometimes refers to tests by entry year (e.g. "the 2027 Selective Test") and sometimes by the year the test is physically sat (e.g. "the May 2026 test"). They are the same test. This guide uses both so search traffic lands on the right place.
NSW Selective Test May 2026 (for 2027 Entry)
This is the test for students currently in Year 6. Applications have closed and the test is weeks away.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 6 November 2025 |
| Applications close | 20 February 2026 |
| Last day to update parent details | 13 March 2026 |
| Placement test | 1 to 2 May 2026 (Friday and Saturday) |
| Make-up test (illness or misadventure only) | 22 May 2026 |
| Last day to change school choices | 5 June 2026 |
| Results released | Late August 2026 |
| School starts | Term 1, 2027 |
What is new for the May 2026 test
- Computer-based testing. The test is now fully computer-based. Students read passages on screen, click multiple-choice answers, and type their writing response.
- NSW-only testing. Overseas testing centres have been discontinued. All candidates sit the test in NSW.
- Smaller testing centres. The NSW Department of Education now runs logistics directly, with smaller and more controlled venues.
NSW Selective Test May 2027 (for 2028 Entry)
This is the test for students currently in Year 5. Applications are expected to open in late 2026, following the same rhythm as previous years. Exact dates have not been released at time of writing, but based on the pattern:
| Milestone | Expected date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Early November 2026 (expected) |
| Applications close | Mid to late February 2027 (expected) |
| Placement test | Late April or early May 2027 (expected) |
| Results released | Late August 2027 (expected) |
| School starts | Term 1, 2028 |
What is new for the May 2027 test and onwards
- 50/50 gender balance rule applies. From the 2027 intake onwards, coeducational selective schools and opportunity classes allocate equal places to boys and girls. Entry is still merit-based, but places are split 50/50 before the top scores within each gender are selected.
- Computer-based format continues. Same testing format as the May 2026 test.
- Inspire program in more public schools. From 2026 onwards, every NSW public school offers structured High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE), with 33 Partner Schools receiving $100 million in infrastructure upgrades and dedicated extension classes in 8 schools (with more to follow in 2027).
If your child does not get a selective school place, they now have genuine alternatives through Inspire extension classes and HPGE provisions at their local comprehensive public high school.
NSW Selective Test May 2028 (for 2029 Entry)
This is the test for students currently in Year 4. You have roughly two years to prepare, which is a healthy runway.
| Milestone | Expected date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Early November 2027 (expected) |
| Applications close | Mid to late February 2028 (expected) |
| Placement test | Late April or early May 2028 (expected) |
| Results released | Late August 2028 (expected) |
| School starts | Term 1, 2029 |
By the 2028 test, the 50/50 gender balance rule and computer-based format will be well established. The Inspire program will have further expanded. Your child also has the benefit of more time to build strong foundations rather than cramming, which is how the highest-scoring students typically prepare.
Preparation Timeline by Your Child's Current Year
The biggest mistake parents make is starting too late. Here is a realistic timeline based on where your child is right now.
If your child is in Year 6 now (May 2026 test)
The test is weeks away. This is polish mode, not new-skill-building mode.
- Now to late April: Full-length mock tests weekly under real test conditions. Review every mistake.
- Writing: At least 2 timed writing pieces per week, each marked against NSW Set A and Set B criteria.
- Mental maths: Daily 5 to 10 minute timed drills to keep speed sharp.
- Vocabulary: Keep up the daily 10-word habit.
- Final week before test: Light revision only. Rest. Mental prep. Do not introduce anything new.
If your child is in Year 5 now (May 2027 test)
You have roughly 12 to 13 months. This is a full prep cycle with time to build and then sharpen.
- Now to end of Year 5: Cover every topic at least once through Strategy Lab. Identify weak areas with a baseline mock test. Build vocabulary and mental maths speed daily.
- Start of Year 6 (Jan to Feb 2027): Start regular mock tests (one every 2 to 3 weeks). Focused practice on weak topics. Structured writing practice.
- Term 1 of Year 6 (March to April 2027): Weekly mocks. Writing feedback cycles on NSW criteria. Revision of every wrong answer.
- Final weeks: Light revision, rest, confidence building.
If your child is in Year 4 now (May 2028 test)
You have roughly 24 months. The ideal runway. Foundations first, drilling later.
- Year 4 (now): Build strong foundations. Vocabulary (10 new words a day), reading habit (at least 20 minutes daily, varied genres), mental maths speed (short daily drills), and general curiosity. Do NOT drill selective-style questions yet. It burns out your child.
- Year 5: Introduce selective-style questions through Strategy Lab. Identify weak topics. First full-length mock test mid-year to get a baseline.
- Year 6: Full prep cycle as above. Regular mock tests, writing feedback, focused practice on weak areas.
Parents of Year 4 students often think they are being too early. The opposite is true. The students who do best in the selective test have spent years building strong reading, writing, and numerical foundations, not 6 months of intensive drilling.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the NSW Selective Test in 2026?
The 2026 NSW Selective High School Placement Test is held on 1 and 2 May 2026 (Friday and Saturday). A make-up test for approved illness or misadventure cases is held on 22 May 2026.
When is the NSW Selective Test in 2027?
The May 2027 test date has not been officially announced yet, but based on the pattern of previous years it is expected to be held on the first Friday and Saturday of May 2027. Applications typically open in early November of the preceding year.
When is the NSW Selective Test in 2028?
The May 2028 test is for Year 7 entry in 2029. Based on recent patterns, it is expected to be held on the first Friday and Saturday of May 2028, with applications opening in early November 2027.
What year should my child be in to sit the selective test?
Students sit the test in Year 6, for entry into Year 7 the following year. A Year 6 student sitting the May 2026 test would start Year 7 at a selective school in Term 1, 2027.
Can my child sit the test twice?
No. Students have one opportunity to sit the test in Year 6. There is no retest in Year 7 or later.
How long does the selective test take?
The placement test runs across two days. Total test time is about 2.5 hours split across Reading (40 minutes, 30 questions), Mathematical Reasoning (40 minutes, 35 questions), Thinking Skills (30 minutes, 40 questions), and Writing (30 minutes, typed response).
When do results come out?
Results for the May test are released in late August of the same year. Offers for school places follow shortly after.
What is the 50/50 gender balance rule?
From the 2027 intake onwards, coeducational selective high schools and opportunity classes allocate places equally between boys and girls. Entry is still merit-based, but the pool is split by gender before the highest scorers are selected within each pool.
The Bottom Line
Whether your child is sitting the May 2026, 2027 or 2028 selective test, the most important thing is to start preparing with the right foundations, not just drilling past questions.
Strong vocabulary, reading comprehension, fast mental maths, and clear writing are the skills the test actually measures. These are built over months and years, not weeks.
SelectiveGuru provides a complete preparation path for every year group: Strategy Lab for step-by-step concept mastery, Mental Maths for speed, Daily Vocabulary for word power, full-length mock tests on computer, writing feedback against NSW Set A and Set B marking criteria, and a personalised daily study plan calibrated to your child's target test year.
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