The 2026 NSW Selective High School Placement Test: Everything Parents Should Know
Selecting the right high school is an important decision for every family. If your child is academically high-achieving and curious, a selective high school can provide the challenge and enrichment they need. Entry into these schools is highly competitive and based on the Selective High School Placement Test, usually taken in Year 6 for entry into Year 7.
Below is a complete guide for parents preparing for the 2026 intake, including key dates, the application process, test format, appeals, and helpful preparation tips — all drawn from official NSW Department of Education information.
What Are Selective High Schools?
Selective high schools are NSW public schools designed for high potential and gifted students from Years 7 to 12. They offer an advanced curriculum that goes deeper and moves faster than the mainstream syllabus.
There are four types of selective schools in NSW:
• Fully selective high schools – all students are in the selective stream.
• Partially selective high schools – a mix of selective and comprehensive students.
• Agricultural high schools – selective schools with agricultural studies.
• Aurora College – a virtual selective school for rural and remote students.
Entry is based on academic merit, as determined by the Selective High School Placement Test, with adjustments for special considerations under the Equity Placement Model. Up to 20% of places are reserved for students from equity groups (e.g. low socio-educational backgrounds, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students, rural and remote students, or students with disability).
Key Dates for 2026 Entry
The Test Format and Content
From 2025, the placement test will become fully computer-based. Each student sits one session during the test window. The test consists of four sections, each equally weighted:
Reading – 40 mins: comprehension of various texts
Mathematical Reasoning – 40 mins: problem-solving and applied mathematics
Thinking Skills – 40 mins: logical reasoning, patterns, and problem-solving
Writing – 30 mins: typed written response to a prompt
Students receive a performance report with banded results for each section (e.g. top 10%, top 25%), but raw scores and overall rankings are not released.
Offers and Reserve Lists
Offers are made based on the child’s combined test result and the order of school preferences.
Each student can receive only one initial offer, corresponding to their highest qualifying preference.
Students who narrowly miss out may be placed on a reserve list for that school.
Reserve lists remain active until 1 December 2025.
If you accept an offer, you may remain on a reserve list for a higher preference. If you receive a new offer later, you can choose to accept it and withdraw from the previous one.
Appeals Process
If you believe your child’s performance was affected by exceptional circumstances, you may lodge an appeal. However, appeals are only successful in limited situations.
Valid grounds include:
• Serious illness or misadventure not previously covered.
• Procedural errors or disruptions at the test centre.
Invalid grounds include disappointment with results or general test-day nerves.
Appeals must be submitted online by the deadline (29 August 2025) with supporting evidence, such as medical or incident reports. Decisions are final and released in early October 2025.
Helpful Tips for Parents
• Plan ahead and apply early.
• Use official practice materials provided by the Department.
• Focus on balance across reading, writing, maths, and thinking skills.
• Build good habits: daily reading, logical puzzles, and timed work.
• Stay positive and focus on progress rather than perfection.
How Test Academy Can Help
At Test Academy, our Selective Test Mastery Classes provide structured preparation aligned with the new computer-based format — covering all four sections with highly realistic practice exams in a computer simulation lab, performance analytics and learning, and time management strategies.
Prefer a more flexible option? FlexiClass allows families to schedule tutoring sessions in specific skill areas such as Thinking Skills, Reading, or Mathematical Reasoning — ideal for busy Year 5–6 students. Test Academy is also NSW's leading online test platform with bundles available for the Selective and OC tests.
