Application process
Learn how to submit an application for selective high school or opportunity class entry.
The information on this page is about applying for selective high school or opportunity class entry. The general application processes are the same for both. These are managed by the Selective Education team.
Students must sit the Placement Test and apply through the online application website.
For more detailed policy information, visit:
Years 8 to 11 selective high school entry
The Years 8 to 11 application process is different from Year 7 entry. Applications are managed individually by each selective high school. This includes their vacancies, placement processes, assessments and reserve lists (where available).
Learn more at Selective high schools – Years 8 to 11 applications.
Placement stages
Selective high school – Yr 7 entry
Year 5/6
Apply
November to
February
Year 6
Test
Mid-May
Year 6
Outcome
August
Opportunity classes – Yr 5 entry
Opportunity classes – Year 5 entry
Year 3/4
Apply
November to
February
Year 4
Test
Mid-May
Year 4
Outcome
September
Key dates
Check the key dates for the application activities and when they occur.
Select the correct tab below (SHS-Yr 7 entry in 2028 or OC–Yr 5 entry in 2028) to see the relevant dates and activities. You need to choose the correct tab for either selective high school (SHS) or opportunity class (OC) placement and note the dates refer to key activities for the chosen placement.
There may be changes to dates and activities, so please check back regularly for any updates.
Note: The Reserve decision date for SHS Year 7 entry in 2027 and OC Year 5 entry in 2027 is 3 December 2026 at 3:00 pm.
Entry in 2028
SHS–Yr 7 entry in 2028
Selective high school – Year 7 entry in 2028
Key dates
| Date | Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 November 2026 | Applications open | |
| 15 February 2027 | Applications close Last day to request reasonable adjustments for the placement test. | |
13 & 14 May 2027 | Selective High School Placement Test (students are allocated to attend one test day only) | |
11 June 2027 | Selective High School Placement Make-up Test | |
| 25 June 2027 | Last day to change school choices |
OC–Yr 5 entry in 2028
Opportunity class – Year 5 entry in 2028
Key dates
| Date | Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 November 2026 | Applications open | |
| 15 February 2027 | Applications close Last day to request reasonable adjustments for the placement test. | |
11 & 12 May 2027 | Opportunity Class Placement Test (students are allocated to attend one test day only) | |
10 June 2027 | Opportunity Class Placement Make-up Test | |
| 25 June 2027 | Last day to change school choices |
Who can apply?
Parents and carers can apply for placement if their child is in:
- NSW public schools
- non-government schools
- home study
- interstate schools
- overseas schools.
Residency requirements
Parents and carers must be aware that:
- students and their families must be living in NSW by the beginning of the school year of entry.
- enrolment conditions apply to selective high schools or opportunity classes if students are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of Australia, or hold an eligible visa and are living in NSW by the beginning of the school year. For more information on visa conditions, visit Visa subclasses and enrolment conditions.
What if I don’t currently meet the enrolment conditions?
If you think you will meet all enrolment conditions before we release initial offers, you may still apply and your child can sit the placement test.
You must meet all enrolment conditions before you can receive any placement offer.
Where are the placement tests held?
The Selective High School and Opportunity Class Placement Tests are only held in NSW.
Students who are overseas or interstate will be required to return to NSW to sit the placement test.
If your child is unable to return to NSW to sit the test, they will not be considered for placement in a selective high school or opportunity class.
Aurora College
Students must be currently attending or intending to enrol in a rural and remote NSW public school (their Aurora College host school) to be considered for entry.
If their child is not currently attending an authorised host school, parents and carers must indicate in their application which rural and remote Aurora College host school they will be enrolling their child in.
Students applying to sit the Selective High School Placement Test must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for Aurora College:
- Be enrolled or planning to enrol in their local public high school which is an authorised host school for Aurora.
- Reside in a rural and remote area (not in city or regional areas).
Students applying to sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for Aurora College:
- Be enrolled or planning to enrol in their local public school which is an authorised host school for Aurora.
- Reside in a rural and remote area (not in city or regional areas).
- Be enrolled in their authorised host school before an offer can be accepted.
Age and school year
To learn more about who can apply and the application conditions relating to your child's age and school year, visit the relevant webpage below.
How to apply
Submitting your application in 5 easy steps
1. Register
Register to start your application
Parents and carers enter their own details to register (not their child’s).
2. Verify email
Verify your email address
Go to your verification email. No email?
Check your junk folder or wait a little while – the email does not always arrive immediately.
3. Log in
Log in to start. Go to the application website and log in.
Forgotten your password? Select forgot password to reset it. Make sure it has the required number and types of characters.
4. Complete
Complete all the sections
Answer all the application questions. You can save your application, come back to update it and complete the questions.
Note that saving your application does not submit it – see the next step.
5. Submit
Select submit to finish your application
Check you have received the confirmation email and application dashboard message.
You can log in to your application dashboard and make changes after you have submitted the application. For example, you can update details, upload documents and send and receive messages. See the full list of key dates above for deadlines for updates you can make after submitting.
Using the application website
Need help using the application website?
Need help with making your school choices?
Changing your school choices after submitting your application
If you are not certain about your school choices, you can still submit your application with your initial selections and change your choices before the cut-off date (see last day to change choices in Key dates above). Changes cannot be made after the cut-off date.
Please note: Only choose schools you genuinely would like your child to attend and choose the order of your schools carefully. If you are offered a place at a higher choice school, you will not get an offer from any lower choice schools, even if you decline the higher choice offer.
Applying for boarding at agricultural high schools
For boarder placement, parents and carers apply directly to the school or through the online application process depending on the school. Placement for the boarding schools may involve some extra steps, including:
- Students may need to attend an interview at the school.
- Parents and carers of students from rural and remote locations may be asked to provide their child's school reports to be considered for an early offer.
Learn more about how to apply for places at each school at Boarding at agricultural high schools.
Can I submit a late application?
Closing dates for applications are strictly observed. No late applications will be accepted.
Adjustments for the test for students with disability
Parents and carers of students with disability or medical conditions can request reasonable adjustments for the placement test. These are practical arrangements that support students to have fair access when taking the test.
Talk to your child about the benefits and challenges of selective education and address their questions and concerns
Ask your child’s teacher (or other staff who know them well) whether they think selective education will suit your child.
Apply for any required reasonable adjustments for disability or medical conditions.
Support your child to continue co-curricular activities, see friends, eat healthily and sleep well in the lead-up to the test.
Remind your child they only need to do a small amount of preparation for the placement test, and don’t need coaching.
Encourage your child to use the department's free resources to prepare for the test.
Student resource hubs
Encourage your child to learn more about selective high schools or opportunity classes and the application journey at the relevant student hub below.
Have you already applied?
For selective high schools or opportunity classes
If you have already submitted your application for placement, you can log in to your application dashboard to:
- send us a message about your application (go to step 10)
- make changes to your application (go to the relevant step)
- update your school choice (go to step 3)
- upload any supporting documents (go to step 10)
- request reasonable adjustments for the placement test (go to step 4)
- request illness or misadventure consideration or an appeal.
Current selective high school and opportunity class students wanting to change schools
Selective high school students
Students cannot automatically transfer to another selective high school.
If a current selective high school student wishes to change to another selective high school, an application for Years 8 to 11 must be submitted.
Opportunity class students
Students cannot automatically transfer to another opportunity class.
More information
For more information about the full placement policy and procedures for selective high schools and opportunity classes, visit:
Downloads
- Submit your application in 5 easy steps (PDF 383 KB)
- Guide to selective high schools and opportunity classes (PDF 95 KB)
- Aurora College flyer - for rural and remote students (PDF 667 KB)
