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.

• 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/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.

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:

• 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.

1. Log in to your application dashboard.
2. Select Illness/misadventure: Select the 3 dots in the Action column next to your submitted application and select Illness/Misadventure.
3. Read the information: A new screen will appear. After reading the information, select Complete illness/misadventure form.
4. Choose your reason: Your child’s details will show at the top of the form. Pick the best reason for your request from these options:
   • Absent for the test (did not go to the test centre)
   • Absent for part/s of the test
   • Encountered issues that affected test performance
     
     Note: If you select Absent for the test (did not sit the test centre), you will need to answer Yes or No to whether the absence was due to a medical issue. If you answer Yes, upload a medical certificate which covers the day of the test in Step 6.
     
     If you are applying for missing the make-up test, choose either Absent for part/s of the test or Encountered issues that affected test performance.
5. Describe the issue: Enter a short description of the issue your child faced during the test or the reason for their absence. You have a limit of 1,000 characters.
6. Upload supporting evidence: Attach any necessary documents, such as a medical certificate. You can upload a maximum of 3 files.
   Note: Documents sent outside of this illness/misadventure online request (such as through a dashboard message or email) will not be accepted.
7. Review and Submit: After filling in Steps 4 to 6, check your request carefully and then select Submit request.
   Note: You have a limited time to submit your request – see the Key dates.

You will get the result of your request via the Applicant dashboard once it has been reviewed.

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.