From 2025, the placement tests for selective high schools and opportunity classes will move from single version paper-based tests to computer-based tests.
This change will apply to students seeking placement in a selective high school or opportunity class starting in Term 1, 2026.
The following information is about:
Students must sit a placement test to be considered for Year 7 placement in a selective high school or Year 5 placement in an opportunity class. No other form of academic merit is considered.
For selective high school entry in Years 8 to 12, please contact the individual schools you want to apply for to learn about their selection criteria and any assessments for entry. For more information see Selective high schools – Years 8 to 12 applications.
The new online computer-based practice tests are now available.
Learn about the different test sections and access the online practice tests, and their PDF copies, at the relevant test page below.
Each student is only required to sit the placement test on one day.
The placement tests are held at scheduled times over multiple days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) each year. A student will only be required to sit the placement test on one of these days. The Opportunity Class Placement Test is held in the morning and the Selective High School Placement Test is in the afternoon.
There will be multiple versions of the computer-based test to allow the tests to be conducted on different days and to allow for a make-up test. There are measures in place to ensure there is no advantage from sitting the test on a particular day and performance can be compared across multiple test versions.
Computers will be provided. Students do not need to bring their own device on the day.
Parents and carers can nominate a preferred test date (Friday, Saturday or Sunday) in their application. We cannot guarantee that applicants will be given their preferred test date – students may have to sit the test on any one of the 3 test dates.
Allocation of students to test days will depend on the availability, capacity and location of the test centre, as well as demand for preferred dates. Test dates and locations are not allocated based on the date of application.
| Test year | School entry year | Main test period | Make-up test |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2026 | Friday 2 May to Sunday 4 May 2025 | Monday 19 May 2025 |
| 2026 | 2027 | Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May 2026 | Monday 18 May 2026 |
| 2027 | 2028 | Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May 2027 | Monday 17 May 2027 |
| 2028 | 2029 | Friday 5 May to Sunday 7 May 2028 | Monday 22 May 2028 |
See the full list of Key dates.
Placement tests in 2025
New requests, or changes to previous requests, to sit the test interstate or overseas can no longer be accepted.
Your child will be allocated a test centre based on the details you provided in your application.
If possible, your child should sit the placement test in NSW.
Parents who live interstate or overseas and are able to travel to NSW for their child to sit the placement test should enter in their application a suitable NSW suburb so that a nearby test centre can be allocated for their child.
If you intend to travel to NSW for the test but realise before the test date that you will not be able to, please let the Selective Education Unit know immediately.
If your child is interstate or overseas and cannot travel to NSW to sit the test you can apply for your child to sit the placement test, at your own expense, at an available authorised interstate or overseas test centre location. These test locations are organised for the department by the British Council test network.
You will be asked if you need to apply for an interstate or overseas test location during the normal application process.
Testing outside NSW incurs a fee of £295 (Great British Pounds), payable directly to the local British Council test centre.
The British Council network operates in specific countries and test centres are usually located in the capital city – check their country listExternal link. Test centre allocation depends on the availability, capacity and location of test centres. The test centre will confirm with the parent/carer their child’s allocation to the test centre 4 weeks prior to the test day.
Students sitting the test interstate or overseas will be assigned to sit the test on Day 1 (Friday) of the test period. Testing is not available on Saturday or Sunday at interstate or overseas test centres.
If a student is unable to sit the placement test on the test day, or their performance is impacted during the test, parents and carers can submit an illness/misadventure request. If the request is approved, the student will be able to sit a make-up test approximately 2 weeks later at either the same test centre or another nearby.
Students who sit the placement test interstate or overseas will also be subject to the residency requirements to gain placement in a selective high school or opportunity class.
For the full conditions relating to sitting the test interstate or overseas, please see the Selective high schools and opportunity class placement procedures.
The tests are mostly held in external test centres across NSW (i.e. not in schools). Students are allocated to test centres based on the postcode of the school they attend, whether they are public or non-government schools.
You’ll receive a message in your application dashboard 2 weeks before the start of the main test period when your Test Admission Ticket becomes available. You will also receive an email directing you to view this message. See 'Test centre allocation and Test Admission Ticket released' in the Key dates.
If you have not received your test centre allocation 2 weeks before the start of the main test period, send the Selective Education Team a message in the application dashboard.
Students are allocated to test centres based on the postcode of the school they attend, whether it is a public or non-government school. You need to include the school your child attends in your application.
If the school your child attends has changed after submitting your application, please update this information in the application dashboard. The deadline for updating your child’s current school is in the Key dates.
Once students are allocated to a test centre and test date, it is not possible to make changes unless there are exceptional circumstances beyond your control. In these cases, you should message the Selective Education Team in the application dashboard, however, there is no guarantee that a change can be made.
On test day your child should:
Note: each student will be given two A3 pieces of paper for working out at the start of the test.
Please do not bring your child to the test if he or she is ill with respiratory or other contagious disease (e.g. flu or COVID).
If your child presents a health risk to other students, they may not be allowed to sit the test. For more information, see Illness or misadventure below.
It's important to carefully plan your trip to the test centre before the test day. Here are some key steps to consider:
Parking considerations
Be aware that parking may be limited at many test venues and/or there may be a change to available parking. Plan ahead to identify the nearest parking facilities and factor in extra time for parking on test day.
Public transport information
If you’re using public transport, refer to the NSW Government Trip PlannerExternal link. The planner provides comprehensive information on routes, timetables, and any potential disruptions.
By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your child arrives at the test centre feeling calm and prepared.
Arrive at the test centre on the day and arrival time shown on the Test Admission Ticket.
Log in to your application dashboard to access and print your Test Admission Ticket.
For a smooth check-in process, please:
By following these instructions, you help create a supportive environment for your child as they get ready to begin the test.
The opportunity class test will finish at approximately 11 am.
The selective high school test will finish at approximately 4:30 pm.
Follow instructions provided by the invigilators on where to collect your child after the test. Please arrive on time to pick up your child – they should not be left waiting after the test.
If the test has not finished when you arrive, please wait quietly to avoid disturbing the students.
If you have organised for your child to be collected by someone else, your child needs to bring a signed note from you to confirm who is picking up your child.
There are short breaks between the test sections where students remain in the test room.
For the selective high school placement test there is a longer break in the middle of the testing period where students can go outside (if an outside area is available) and eat the food they have brought.
| Time | Activity | Actual test duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Students arrive | – |
| 8:30 am | Reading Test | 30 minutes |
| 9:00 am | Short break (students remain seated or use the bathroom) | – |
| 9:10 am | Mathematical Reasoning Test | 40 minutes |
| 9:55 am | Short break (students remain seated or use the bathroom) | – |
| 10:05 am | Thinking Skills Test | 30 minutes |
| 10:40 am | End of Thinking Skills Test | – |
| 10:55 am | Parent pick-up time | – |
Students who are found to be cheating (also called 'malpractice') on the test may not be considered for placement.
For more information see the Selective high schools and opportunity class placement procedures.
Parents and/or carers can submit a request for illness/misadventure in situations where:
Illness/misadventure requests applicable to the day of the placement test and/or the make-up placement test, must be submitted by parents and/or carers through the application dashboard by the cut-off date listed in the Key dates (typically 4 business days after the first day of the main test period or 4 days after the make-up placement test).
Illness/misadventure requests must include supporting documentary evidence showing why the child missed the placement test or why their test performance was impacted. Supporting documentary evidence includes:
Supporting documents must be submitted when completing the Illness/misadventure request in your application dashboard by the due date – see 'When does the request need to be submitted?' above.
Any supporting documents sent outside of the application dashboard's illness/misadventure request (such as through a dashboard message or email) will not be accepted.
Invalid grounds for illness/misadventure request include:
Important note: you can only submit requests for a short time after missing all or part of the test – see the Key dates. Make sure to include all evidence in your request, as you cannot add more information later.
You will get the result of your request via the Applicant dashboard once it has been reviewed.
Important note: Illness/misadventure requests cannot be changed after you submit them. Make sure to include all supporting documents (up to 3 attachments) before selecting ‘Submit’. Documents sent outside of this request will not be accepted
Parents and/or carers will receive advice on the outcome of their illness/misadventure request via message sent to the application dashboard. If the illness/misadventure request is approved, the student may:
The test provider will investigate any illness/misadventure matters relating to performance in the test.
Students who miss the make-up placement test can no longer be considered for placement in a selective high school or opportunity class.
The illness/misadventure process detailed above also applies to applicants sitting the placement test interstate or overseas.
