The NSW Department of Education commissioned an independent review into the fairness and integrity of the 2025 Selective High Schools and Opportunity Class placement tests following the adjustments made to respond to disruptions at the large testing centres on 2 May 2025.

The review was completed by Professor Jim Tognolini, Director of the Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment at the University of Sydney.

Professor Tognolini’s work examined whether students who sat the test twice had an advantage and whether all test versions were comparable and equally difficult.

The review found:

• No evidence of systematic advantage for students who re-sat the exam.
• Students who undertook two selective high school placement tests on average did slightly better in the first exam.
• There was no perceptible difference between the scores on the first and second test for students who sat the opportunity class placement via a resit opportunity.
• All test versions, including those used for re-sits, were of comparable difficulty.

Where common questions were used between tests, proven national and international methods were applied to ensure fairness across all sessions

Additional information

View the related media release.