The test
Students seeking entry to an opportunity class should sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test held in designated test centres each year.
Test date
The Opportunity Class Placement Test test will be conducted on Thursday 27 July 2023.
The Opportunity Class Placement Test is paper-based.
The test is held only in NSW and only on the test date each year.
Test authority
An 'Authority to sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test' letter will be made available in the application dashboard along with the test centre location and extra information about the test on Thursday 13 July 2023.
The test information consists of:
- a Test authority letter which must be taken to the allocated test centre on test day
- a Test information sheet for parents and students that explains the test and lists what your child should and should not bring, and
- information about adjustments to the test for disability, if relevant.
Test information
The Opportunity Class Placement Test (PDF 604 KB) has been designed to allow students to demonstrate their abilities across a range of areas, including reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills. The tests are designed to measure ability rather than academic performance.
Test structure
The test for 2023 is paper-based. The test consists of 3 test components: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, and Thinking Skills, in that order.
- Reading - 25 items - 30 minutes
- Mathematical Reasoning - 35 items - 40 minutes
- Thinking Skills - 30 items - 30 minutes
All questions are multiple-choice.
Preparing for the test
Students will be more comfortable with the test process if they are familiar with the types of questions they may be asked. Samples of paper-based test questions are provided below to help students become familiar with the types of questions. However, the Department of Education does not recommend any specific coaching for the test.
Results of sample tests do not show how a student will perform in their Opportunity Class Placement Test. The selection committee will not consider performance on sample tests or any other practice tests.
Sample tests
Below are paper-based sample tests which indicate the types of questions to expect in the Opportunity Class Placement Test but are not the questions that will be asked on test day. You can view the questions to help understand the types of questions that may be asked in the test.
(The sample test papers are intended for printing and do not meet WCAG 2.0 accessibility requirements. Students are provided with modified test materials as reasonable adjustments for disability if required.)
| Section | Links to samples | |
|---|---|---|
Reading |
Reading sample questions (PDF 717 KB) Reading sample answer sheet (PDF 591 KB) Reading sample answers (PDF 8.41 KB) Explanation of answers - Reading (PDF 387 KB) |
|
Mathematical Reasoning |
Mathematical reasoning sample questions (PDF 280 KB) Explanation of answers - Mathematical reasoning (PDF 857 KB) |
|
Thinking Skills |
Thinking skills sample questions (PDF 604 KB) Thinking skills sample answer sheet (PDF 590 KB) Thinking skills sample answers (PDF 46.4 KB) Explanation of answers - Thinking skills (PDF 411 KB) |
Practice tests from the 2022 Opportunity Class Placement Test
| Section | Links to samples | |
|---|---|---|
Reading |
Reading practice test questions (PDF 552.8 KB) Reading practice test answer sheet (PDF 115.3 KB) Reading practice test answers (PDF 122.5 KB) |
|
Mathematical Reasoning |
Mathematical Reasoning practice test questions (PDF 1.2 MB) Mathematical Reasoning practice test answer sheet (PDF 122.8 KB) Mathematical Reasoning practice test answers (PDF 88.9 KB |
|
Thinking Skills |
Thinking Skills practice questions (PDF 1.5 MB) Thinking Skills practice test answer sheet (PDF 122.4 KB) Thinking Skills practice test answers (PDF 72.5 KB) |
Practice tests from the 2021 Opportunity Class Placement Test
| Section | Links to samples | |
|---|---|---|
Reading |
Reading practice test questions (PDF 321 KB) Reading practice test answer sheet (PDF 66.6 KB) Reading practice test answers (PDF 90.2 KB) |
|
Mathematical Reasoning |
Mathematical Reasoning practice test questions (PDF 551 KB) Mathematical Reasoning practice test answer sheet (PDF 66.6 KB) Mathematical Reasoning practice test answers (PDF 70.0 KB |
|
Thinking Skills |
Thinking Skills practice questions (PDF 2.18 MB) Thinking Skills practice test answer sheet (PDF 65.8 KB) Thinking Skills practice test answers (PDF 89.8 KB) |
Test day
Students should wear school uniform, including a jumper if it is a cool day and a hat.
Students should arrive at the test centre no later than 9.00 am. Students will be directed to the test room.
Students who arrive late may be allowed to sit the test but will be required to finish at the same time as other students.
Students found to be cheating risk disqualification from the test.
Placement outcome information
It is expected that parents will be notified of the placement outcome on 20 October 2023.