Free Selective School Test Practice
Selective high schools use an entrance test to offer places. The NSW Selective High School Placement Test has four equally weighted sections, including a writing task. Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia run their own selective entry tests, and all of them focus on reasoning, maths, reading and writing. The games below build those core skills.
Quick facts
- Who sits it
- Upper primary students applying to selective high schools
- When
- NSW: usually in Year 6 for Year 7 entry. Other states vary.
- Official information
- NSW Department of Education
- NSW: four sections, each worth 25%: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. The test is computer-based.
- Victoria: the four selective entry high schools use an exam run by ACER, sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry.
- Other states run their own tests (for example, WA’s academic selective entrance test and SA’s IGNITE program test). Check your state education department for details.
⏱️ New: timed tests. Most games below have a Timed test button: 15 questions in 10 minutes with answers revealed at the end, just like the real thing. Use it once your child is confident in practice mode.
Thinking Skills and reasoning
Logic puzzles, codes, sequences and spatial reasoning.
Series, codes, ordering clues and “must be true” logic.
Shape sequences, odd one out, grids and mirror images.
Analogies, odd one out, hidden words, synonyms and codes.
Find the missing number in a sequence.
Kid-sized 4×4 and 6×6 sudoku puzzles.
Mathematical Reasoning
Fractions, decimals, percentages, area, angles and problem solving.
Convert, compare and order fractions, decimals and percentages.
Multiples, factors, prime numbers, square numbers and prime factors.
Find the area and perimeter of rectangles and L-shapes.
Name, estimate and calculate angles.
Read pictographs, bar graphs and tally charts.
Answer as many questions as you can in 60 seconds.
Reading and vocabulary
Comprehension, word meaning and word parts.
Read short stories and fact files, then answer questions about them.
Find words with the same or opposite meaning.
Add prefixes and suffixes to build new words and spell them correctly.
Choose the right homophone to finish each sentence.
Writing (NSW and others)
Strong spelling, punctuation and grammar make writing clearer.
Tips for parents
- Build skills over a year or more rather than cramming in the final weeks.
- Mix practice: a reasoning game, a maths game and a reading game in one session.
- For writing, practise planning for 3–5 minutes before writing, then checking at the end.
- Use mistakes as clues. The explanation after each wrong answer shows what to practise next.
Guides for parents
Frequently asked questions
What is in the NSW selective test?
Four sections worth 25% each: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.
When is the Victorian selective entry exam?
Students sit it in Year 8 for entry to Year 9 at one of Victoria’s four selective entry high schools. Check the Victorian Department of Education website for dates.
Are these past papers?
No. Every question is original practice written by Success Tutoring. We never copy official test papers.
Original practice by Success Tutoring. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the NSW Department of Education, the Victorian Department of Education, the WA Department of Education, the SA Department for Education or ACER. Test names are used only to describe what the practice covers. Formats can change, so always check the official website for the latest details.
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