Placement test
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:
- the Selective High School Placement Test for Year 7 entry
- the Opportunity Class Placement Test for Year 5 entry.
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.
Test structure and practice tests
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.
Video: Parent talking about how their child prepared for the test (duration 26 seconds)
Test dates
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.
Interstate and overseas students
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.
Sitting the placement test interstate or overseas
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.
How do I apply?
You will be asked if you need to apply for an interstate or overseas test location during the normal application process.
How much does it cost?
Testing outside NSW incurs a fee of £295 (Great British Pounds), payable directly to the local British Council test centre.
Is there a test location near me?
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.
When is the test date?
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.
What if my child is sick on test day?
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.
Residency requirements for placement
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.
Test centres and locations
Where is the test held?
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.
How will I find out my child's test centre and test date?
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.
How is my child's test centre location decided?
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.
Test day
On test day your child should:
- wear their school uniform
- bring their Test Admission Ticket (available for download from your application dashboard).
- bring the items listed in the test day checklist below. Students do not need to bring their own computer to sit the placement test.
Test day checklist
All students need:
- two 2B pencils
- eraser
- pencil sharpener
- a printed copy of the Test Admission Ticket
- a clear bottle of water
- to wear their school uniform – please bring a hat for any breaks and a jumper if the weather is cool.
If required, bring:
- any items approved as adjustments for disability, e.g. FM transmitters
- EpiPen, asthma inhalers, diabetes or other medication
- glasses
- tissues
- a clear plastic bag for stationery (pencil cases are not allowed)
- a wristwatch (that cannot make a noise, calculate, compute, connect to the internet, send or receive messages, or facilitate attempted malpractice).
These items are not allowed:
- pens
- rulers
- calculators
- note paper
- dictionaries or other books
- smart watches, phones or other devices that compute, photograph, communicate or make a noise
- pencil cases.
Student drop-off and pick-up time
Arrive at the test centre at the arrival time shown on the Test Admission Ticket.
Drop your child at the test centre at the arrival time shown on the Test Admission Ticket so they can start the test on time. If you are late, they will not get extra time.
After the placement test, pick up your child at the time shown on the Test Admission Ticket.
Please arrive on time to pick up your child – they should not be left waiting after the test. Collect your child from the same entrance after the test.
The exact finish time may vary depending on the size of the test centre. If the test finishes early, students will be supervised. 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 taking charge of your child.
During the test
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.
Malpractice
Students who are found to be cheating (also called 'malpractice') on the test may not be considered for placement.
- copying answers from another student or allowing another student to copy your answers during testing
- collaboration and/or communication between students during testing
- using or trying to use unauthorised material during testing such as notes, study guides, mobile phones and electronic devices
- altering or attempting to alter any software, hardware devices or test materials, e.g. laptops or computer-based test interface
- using technology devices such as smart watches, hidden cameras, audio recorders, digital glasses or other wearable technology to capture test content and/or access information during the test
- not following the instructions of invigilation staff during testing
- student impersonation (pretending to be someone else) or arranging for another person to take the test on your behalf
- obtaining or trying to get the test questions before the test
- individual or multiple students submitting another person’s work as if it were their own
- removing test materials from the test room without authorisation, e.g. test materials, working out paper and test admission ticket (TAT)
- sharing answers or test content with others (individuals and/or educational business entities) before, during, or after the test
- any other conduct that provides an unfair advantage
For more information see the Selective high schools and opportunity class placement procedures.
Illness or misadventure
Parents and/or carers can submit a request for illness/misadventure in situations where:
- illness, injury, anxiety, fatigue, stress or a medical condition at the time of the test has:
- negatively affected a student’s performance on the day of the test
- resulted in the student missing the test
- a student missed the test or part of the test due to other incident (for example, Sorry Business or other bereavement)
- the student experienced test centre problems such as disruptions during the test or suspected shorter time given for the test
- unexpected, unscheduled, unavoidable activities and/or events that stopped the student from sitting the test or doing his or her best in the test, such as selected participation in representative entertainment and sporting events, excursions, camps or family related travel needs/events.
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 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:
- a medical certificate (if relevant) and/or
- any other evidence that covers the test day.
Invalid grounds for illness/misadventure request include:
- parent oversight – forgot test date, didn’t read emails/messaging in the application dashboard, generally busy with work or family activities.
- family holiday – child and family are away during the test period and no prior request was submitted to sit the test interstate or overseas with the child’s application.
- participation in school or local sporting activities, e.g. individual/team school or local sport activities, school fairs, school photo days etc.
- missing the whole make-up test – as no other forms of academic merit can be considered, if a student misses the test in the main test period and also the whole make-up test, they cannot be considered for placement in a selective high school or opportunity class.
- Log in to your application dashboard.
- Select the 3 dots in the ‘Action’ column and then select ‘Illness/misadventure’.
- Select either the ‘Test performance’ or ‘Unable to sit the test’ button
- Answer all questions to explain what happened.
- Upload all your supporting documents as one file attachment (for example, a medical certificate and 'Independent evidence of illness form') and select 'submit'.
If you cannot combine all documents into one file, you can send multiple documents to the Selective Education Unit in a new message.
After submitting a request about missing the test
You will get a pop-up notification confirming that the request has been sent (you will not get an email confirmation). If you missed the pop-up message, select the 3 dots in the ‘Action’ column and then select ‘view illness/misadventure’ to confirm your submission.
After submitting a request about test performance
A screen will show telling you that it has been submitted. You will also get a confirmation email.
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:
- be eligible to sit a make-up test (date and location will be provided) or
- have their score adjusted, if they sat some or part of test during the main test period.
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.