Application process
Learn how to submit your application for opportunity class entry in Year 5 or selective high school entry in Year 7.
Applications are now open for opportunity class entry in Year 5 in 2025. Applications close 20 May 2024.
Download the Information for Applicants – procedures and guidelines for opportunity class placement (PDF 347KB).
The general application process for selective high school Year 7 entry and opportunity class entry are the same. These processes are both managed by the Selective Education Unit. For more detailed information please refer to the department's relevant policies and procedures:
Years 8 to 12 selective high school entry
The application process for selective high school entry in Years 8 to 12 is different from that for Year 7 entry. Individual schools manage their vacancies, placement processes, assessments and reserve lists (where available) for Years 8 to 12 entry at their school.
Learn about the application process at Selective high schools – Years 8 to 12 applications.
Placement stages
Opportunity classes
Year 4
Apply
Early
April
Year 4
Test
Early
August
Year 4
Outcome
Late October
Selective high school – Year 7 entry
Selective high school – Year 7 entry
Year 5
Apply
October to November
Year 6
Test
Early
May
Year 6
Outcome
Late
August
Key dates
Check the dates below for the key application stages and their timing.
Be careful to select the correct tab below for your child's school placement and entry year.
There may be changes to these dates and procedures, so please check back regularly for any updates.
OC–Yr 5 entry in 2025
Opportunity class – Year 5 entry in 2025
Key dates
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| 4 April 2024 | Applications open |
| 20 May 2024 | Applications close Requests for reasonable adjustments for the test due |
| 10 June | Last day for parents to update their contact details, or if their child has changed schools since applying, in the application dashboard |
| 18 July 2024 | Test centre and Test authority letter released Parents/carers told of any reasonable adjusmtents granted for the test |
| 1 August 2024 | Opportunity Class Placement Test Interstate and overseas Report of academic merit due |
| 8 August 2024 | Illness/misadventure requests due |
| 11 August 2024 | Last day to change school choices |
| September 2024 | Selection committee meets |
| 25 October 2024 | Placement outcomes released (expected) |
| 1 November 2024 | Appeals due |
| Mid-November 2024 | Offers are made from Reserve lists Reserve bands progress available on the website |
| 16 December 2024 | Appeals outcomes released |
| 16 January 2025 at 3 pm | Reserve decision date (students holding accepted offers are removed from any reserve lists at 3 pm) |
| 17 January 2025 | Authority to attend letter available to parents/carers with accepted offer |
SHS–Yr 7 entry in 2025
Selective high school – Year 7 entry in 2025
Key dates
| Date | Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 October 2023 | Applications open | |
| 20 November 2023 | Applications close Requests for reasonable adjustments for the test due |
|
| 5 February 2024 | Last day for parents to update their contact details, or if their child has changed schools since applying, in the application dashboard | |
| 24 April 2024 | Test centre and Test authority letter released Parents/carers told of any reasonable adjustments granted for the test |
|
| 9 May 2024 | Selective High School Placement Test Interstate and overseas Report of academic merit due |
|
| 16 May 2024 | Illness/misadventure requests due | |
| 16 June 2024 | Last day to change school choices | |
| 23 August 2024 | Placement outcomes expected to be released | |
| Late-August 2024 - 7 days after outcome release | Results enquiries about Writing test due Appeals on other grounds due |
|
| Early-September 2024 | Offers are made from reserve lists Reserve bands progress available on website |
|
| Late-September 2024 | Writing test results enquiry outcome released | |
| End-October 2024 | Appeals outcomes released | |
| 18 December 2024 at 3 pm | Reserve decision date (students holding accepted offers are removed from reserve lists at 3:00 pm) | |
| Late-January 2025 | Authority to attend letter released to parents/carers with accepted offers |
Who can apply
Selective high schools
Submitting your application
How to apply in 5 easy steps
1. Register
Register to start your application
Parents and/or 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 the 8 sections
Answer all the application questions. You can save your application and 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.
Need help using the application website?
Need help with making your school choices?
You can submit your application and change your school choices later.
If you are not yet certain about your school choices, you can still submit your application and change them later.
You have time after the placement test to finalise your choices (see last day to change choices in the Key dates above).
For special consideration after this date, please refer to the Selective high schools and opportunity class placement procedures.
Applying for boarding at agricultural high schools
The process of applying for boarding schools may involve some extra steps, including:
- Students may need to attend an interview at the school.
- Parents 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 at Boarding at agricultural high schools.
Can I submit a late application?
You must apply by the application closing date – see Key dates.
Only in very rare cases can you submit a late application request. You will have to explain what exceptional events stopped you from applying during the entire application period. You will also need to provide proof of this.
Please note that only a small minority of late application requests are eligible and get approved.
The only circumstances under which a late application request can be approved are:
- Where all parents/carers of the child have evidence to show that circumstances beyond their control prevented them from completing an application during the entire application period.
- When parents/carers are applying for placement of their children in selective high schools or opportunity classes where there may be a shortage of suitable applicants (for example, some rural schools or for a few metropolitan schools). Your child cannot be considered for any other schools, even if you move home.
If you are eligible on one of the above two grounds, you should submit a late application request as soon as possible, see below.
How to submit a late application request and the application
The 2-step process
- Make a late application request as soon as possible and before the request due date – see the Key Dates).
- If approved, submit your late application by the due date.
Step 1: How to make a late application request
- Log in to the application site and select '+ Create late application request'. If you have not registered for the site, do this first and log back in.
- Add your child's information in the 'Student details' section.
- Choose your school selections.
- Tell us why you were unable to apply during the entire application period in the 'Grounds for the request' section. Be sure to add your supporting evidence or your request will be declined.
- Select 'submit request'.
Once submitted, you cannot edit your request. But you can message us with updates and attachments (for example, supporting evidence) in the application dashboard – see Making updates and sending messages.
What happens next?
We will review your request and evidence and tell you if it has been approved or declined. The time this takes depends on your circumstances and how many requests we have. Unfortunately, we cannot provide progress reports over the phone. However, we may also contact you if we need more information.
If your request is rejected, you have the option to apply for Selective high school – Years 8 to 12 entry.
If your request is approved, you need to complete the application and submit it as soon as possible. You cannot submit it after the late application due date – see Key dates.
Step 2: How to submit your late application
- Log in to your application dashboard.
- Select the 3 dots in the 'Action' column, and then select 'Complete application'. This will take you into the application form.
- Complete all 8 sections — see Using the application website.
Please note: Some of the details will be filled in from your late application request and will be greyed out and can’t be updated. - When complete, select the 'Submit application' button.
After submitting, you can update some details in the application dashboard – refer to the different deadlines in the Key dates.
Adjustments for the test for students with disability
Parents 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.
Learn more about requesting Reasonable adjustmentsLearn more about requesting Reasonable adjustments
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.
Have you already applied?
For selective high schools – Year 7 entry or opportunity classes
If you have already submitted your application for placement, you can log in to your application dashboard to:
Current selective high school students wanting to change schools
Students cannot automatically transfer between selective high schools.
If a student wishes to change from the current selective high school to a different one, an application for Years 8 to 12 must be submitted.