Selective School Tests in Australia: A Parent’s Guide

By the Success Tutoring team · 4 October 2026

Selective high schools offer places based mainly on an entrance test. In NSW, the Selective High School Placement Test is sat in Year 6 for Year 7 entry and has four equally weighted sections: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. Other states run their own tests with a similar focus on reasoning, maths, reading and writing. The best preparation is building those core skills steadily over a year or more.

The NSW selective test at a glance

The test is computer-based. The NSW Department of Education publishes the application process, key dates and eligibility each year, so check the NSW Department of Education website early, as applications usually close well before the test.

Other states

Each state runs its own process, so the details differ:

• Victoria: the four selective entry high schools use an exam run by ACER, sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry.
• Western Australia and South Australia run their own academic selective entrance tests (in SA, for example, the IGNITE program).
• Other states and territories may have academically selective schools or programs with their own entry steps.

Whatever the state, check your state education department’s website for the current format and dates rather than relying on old information.

Building each skill

Reading

Wide reading is the foundation. Mix novels, non-fiction, news written for kids and poetry. After reading, ask “Why did the character do that?” or “What is the writer trying to convince us of?” The Reading Comprehension game adds quick, focused practice.

Mathematical Reasoning

Secure number facts free up thinking time for harder problems. Then focus on fractions, decimals and percentages, area and perimeter, angles and word problems with several steps.

Thinking Skills

Practise patterns, codes, logic puzzles and questions about which conclusion follows from the evidence. The Thinking Skills game, Verbal Reasoning game and Non-Verbal Reasoning game cover a wide mix of question types.

Writing

Practise planning for a few minutes before writing, then writing with a clear structure and checking at the end. Clean punctuation and accurate spelling make ideas easier to follow. Ask your child to write one short piece a week and talk about one strength and one thing to improve.

A sample weekly plan (Year 5 to Year 6)

Practising under test conditions

In the final months, add some timed work. Many of our games have a Timed test button: 15 questions in 10 minutes, with answers revealed only at the end. It helps your child practise pacing, moving on from a hard question and staying focused, just as they will need to on the day. Review mistakes together afterwards, since the explanations show what to practise next.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving writing until last. In NSW it is worth a quarter of the result, so build it in every week.
• Only doing practice papers. Papers show gaps, but short skill practice is what fills them.
• Chasing speed too early. Accuracy first, then pace.
• Ignoring the official information. Formats change, so check the current details for your state each year.

Keep it balanced

Selective schools are one option among many good ones. Sleep, exercise and downtime protect the concentration your child needs, and intense cramming often backfires. Our broader guide on preparing for a selective or scholarship test covers timelines and test-day tips. If your child is younger, see the NSW OC test guide, and the selective test practice page groups our games by section.

Success Tutoring is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the NSW Department of Education, any other state education department or ACER. Test names are used only to describe what our original practice covers. Always check the official websites for the latest formats and dates.

Frequently asked questions