Complete 2026 Guide to NSW Selective Entry Tests

New South Wales operates Australia's largest selective high school system, with 47 fully selective and 17 partially selective high schools providing academically rigorous public education for high-achieving students. Each year, approximately 15,000+ Year 6 students compete for roughly 4,400 Year 7 selective places—making this one of Australia's most competitive academic pathways.

The NSW Selective High Schools Test determines who receives offers. This standardized assessment measures reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, and thinking skills—providing fair comparison across students from diverse primary schools with varying academic programs and resources.

Understanding the complete selective entry process—test format, scoring methodology, how placement lists work, school allocation, key dates, and preparation requirements—is essential for families considering this pathway. The system is complex, with fully selective schools, partially selective schools, agricultural high schools, and opportunity classes all using test results differently.

This comprehensive guide explains everything about NSW Selective High Schools for 2026: the selective school system structure, complete test format across all three sections, how scoring and placement works, the offer allocation process, key dates and application timeline, eligibility requirements, and what distinguishes selective schools from comprehensive high schools.

Understanding NSW's Selective School System

NSW's selective education includes multiple pathways and school types.

Fully Selective High Schools (47 Schools)

What They Are:
Schools where all students gained entry through the selective test. Admission is entirely merit-based using test scores.

Key Fully Selective Schools Include:

• James Ruse Agricultural High School (consistently top-ranked)
• Sydney Girls High School and Sydney Boys High School (prestigious inner-city)
• North Sydney Girls and North Sydney Boys (strong academic tradition)
• Baulkham Hills High School (large selective school)
• Hornsby Girls High School (academically excellent)
• Plus 40+ other fully selective schools across Sydney and regional NSW

Characteristics:

• Entirely academically selected cohorts
• Accelerated curriculum and high expectations
• Strong VCE/HSC results
• Competitive academic environment
• Co-curricular programs (debating, music, sport)

Partially Selective High Schools (17 Schools)

What They Are:
Comprehensive high schools with selective streams. Most students gain entry through local intake (catchment), while selective stream students enter via the selective test.

How They Work:

• Selective stream classes separate from mainstream classes for core subjects
• Shared facilities, co-curricular activities, and pastoral care
• Typically 30-90 selective students per year level
• Located across Sydney providing geographic access

Advantages:

• Often closer to home than fully selective options
• Less competitive atmosphere than fully selective schools
• Good outcomes for selective stream students
• Backup local school if selective entry unsuccessful

Agricultural High Schools (4 Schools)

What They Are:
Selective boarding schools with agricultural education focus:

• James Ruse Agricultural High School (day school, fully selective)
• Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School (boarding)
• Hurlstone Agricultural High School (day and boarding)
• Yanco Agricultural High School (boarding)

Characteristics:

• Selective entry via same test
• Agricultural studies integrated into curriculum
• Boarding facilities (except James Ruse)
• Rural/regional student access

Opportunity Classes (OC) - Year 5/6 Entry

What They Are:
Academically selective classes within primary schools for Years 5 and 6, serving as a pathway to selective high schools.

Relevance:

• Separate application and test (not the Year 6 selective test)
• OC students often perform well in Year 6 selective testing
• Not required for selective high school entry but provides preparation

The NSW Selective High Schools Test

The standardized assessment determines all selective placements.

Test Format Overview

The test comprises four sections administered over approximately 3 hours including breaks.

Section 1: Reading

• Time Allowed: 40 minutes
• Number of Questions: 38-40 questions
• Format: Multiple choice (typically 4-5 answer options)
• Content: Multiple passages of varying types and lengths

Section 2: Mathematical Reasoning

• Time Allowed: 40 minutes
• Number of Questions: 35-40 questions
• Format: Multiple choice (typically 5 answer options)
• Calculator: NOT permitted

Section 3: Thinking Skills

• Time Allowed: 40 minutes
• Number of Questions: 40 questions
• Format: Multiple choice (typically 4 answer options)
• Content: Verbal reasoning, numerical patterns, abstract reasoning

Section 4: Writing

• Time Allowed: 30 minutes
• Format: Extended written response to one prompt
• Task Type: Creative, persuasive, or narrative writing
• Assessment: Creativity, effectiveness, purpose, and audience

Total testing time is approximately 2.5 hours of actual testing plus breaks between sections.

Who Takes the Test

Primary Pathway - Year 7 Entry:

• Current Year 6 students applying for Year 7 entry (vast majority of test-takers)
• Approximately 15,000+ students annually

Year 8 Reserved Entry:

• Limited places (typically 10-20 students per school) for Year 8 entry
• Reserved for students who couldn't apply in Year 6 (e.g., moved to NSW)
• Separate application process

Year 11 Entry:

• Very limited places at some schools
• Typically for students with exceptional circumstances

Eligibility Requirements:

• Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Current Year 6 student (for Year 7 entry)
• Resident of NSW
• Not currently attending a selective high school

NSW's Selective Test is highly competitive, with three times as many applicants as available places. EduCourse's NSW Selective preparation provides comprehensive practice across all four test sections—Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing—with detailed analytics showing exactly where your child stands and what improvement is needed to compete for placement.

Reading Section

The comprehension component assesses sophisticated reading abilities.

What It Tests

Reading evaluates:

• Literal comprehension of complex texts
• Inference and deduction from passages
• Understanding author's purpose and perspective
• Vocabulary in context
• Identifying main ideas and supporting details
• Analyzing text structure and organization
• Making connections between ideas

Passage Types

Students encounter diverse text types:

• Informational/Expository: Science articles, historical accounts, explanatory texts
• Narrative: Literature excerpts with character, plot, theme
• Persuasive/Argumentative: Opinion pieces, speeches, editorials
• Functional: Instructions, schedules, informational graphics
• Poetry: Occasional poetic texts with figurative language

Passages range from 200-600 words with varying complexity.

Time Management Challenge

40 questions in 40 minutes = 1 minute per question average, including reading time. Students must read strategically, not every word in depth.

Mathematical Reasoning Section

The mathematics component tests problem-solving more than calculation.

What It Tests

Mathematical Reasoning assesses:

• Multi-step problem-solving with numbers
• Number operations, patterns, and sequences
• Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio, proportion
• Algebraic thinking and pattern recognition
• Data interpretation from tables, graphs, charts
• Geometry and measurement applications
• Logical reasoning with quantitative information

The emphasis is on reasoning and application, not procedural computation.

Key Characteristics

• No Calculator: All questions require mental math and written working
• Unfamiliar Problems: Questions often present novel scenarios requiring flexible thinking
• Time Pressure: 40 questions in 40 minutes with complex problem-solving
• Word Problems: Heavy emphasis on extracting mathematical information from text

Content Scope

Aligned with NSW Mathematics syllabus through Year 6, but often presents Stage 3 and early Stage 4 content in challenging formats.

Thinking Skills Section

The cognitive reasoning component assesses logical thinking abilities.

What It Tests

Thinking Skills evaluates:

• Verbal reasoning and word relationships
• Numerical patterns and sequences
• Abstract reasoning with shapes and figures
• Logical deduction and inference
• Analogical thinking
• Classification and categorization
• Problem-solving with unfamiliar formats

This section combines elements of verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, and abstract reasoning.

Question Types

Typical formats include:

• Verbal Analogies: Word relationship patterns
• Number Sequences: Identify patterns and continue series
• Abstract Reasoning: Pattern recognition with shapes and figures
• Odd One Out: Identify which item doesn't belong
• Verbal Classification: Category membership and relationships
• Logical Puzzles: Multi-step reasoning problems

What Makes It Challenging

Thinking Skills is often the most difficult section because:

• Unfamiliar question types not taught in school
• Requires flexible thinking across multiple reasoning domains
• Time pressure on complex logical problems
• Combines verbal, numerical, and abstract reasoning

Writing Section

The writing component assesses communication skills and creative expression.

What It Tests

Writing evaluates:

• Understanding and responding appropriately to a prompt
• Planning and organizing ideas effectively
• Developing ideas with relevant details and examples
• Using appropriate text structure (narrative, persuasive, or creative)
• Employing varied and effective vocabulary
• Writing grammatically correct and well-structured sentences
• Demonstrating accurate spelling and punctuation
• Creativity and originality in expression

Prompt Types

Students receive one writing task, which may be:

Creative/Narrative Writing:

• Tell a story based on a prompt or stimulus
• Develop characters, setting, plot, and conflict
• Use descriptive and engaging language
• Example: "Write a story about an unexpected discovery"

Persuasive Writing:

• Argue a position on an issue
• Convince readers with reasons and evidence
• Structure arguments logically
• Example: "Should students be given more responsibility for their learning? Persuade your reader."

What Makes It Challenging

Thirty minutes requires efficient time management:

• Understanding the prompt (2-3 minutes)
• Planning ideas and structure (3-5 minutes)
• Writing the response (20-22 minutes)
• Reviewing and editing (2-3 minutes)

Students must write a complete, well-developed response under significant time pressure while maintaining quality and creativity.

Scoring and Placement

Understanding how offers are determined clarifies competitive requirements.

Test Scoring

Raw Scores:
Number of questions answered correctly in each section (maximum 40 per section).

Scaled Scores:
Raw scores are scaled to ensure fairness across different test versions. Scaling accounts for difficulty variations between years.

Total Score:
Sum of scaled scores across all three sections (maximum 300).

Placement Score Calculation

Components:

• Selective Test Score: 60% weighting
• School Assessment: 40% weighting (based on Year 5 and Year 6 school reports)

Placement Score:
Calculated formula combining test performance and school assessment creates a final placement score used for all offers.

How Offers Are Allocated

Step 1: Preference Listing
Students list up to three selective schools in order of preference on their application.

Step 2: Placement List Creation
All applicants are ranked by placement score from highest to lowest.

Step 3: Allocation Process

• Highest placement score students receive offers to their first preference (if places available)
• If first preference full, student considered for second preference
• If all preferences full, student may receive offer to nearest selective school with places
• Process continues down placement list until all places filled

Step 4: Offer Rounds

• Round 1 offers (July): Majority of places allocated
• Round 2 offers (August): Remaining places, waitlist movement
• Late round offers (September): Final adjustments

What Scores Are Competitive?

While exact cutoffs vary by school and year:

James Ruse / Top Selective Schools:

• Placement scores typically top 2-3% of all test-takers
• Near-perfect or perfect test scores often required

Established Selective Schools:

• Placement scores in top 10-15% of test-takers
• Strong performance across all three sections

Partially Selective Schools:

• Placement scores in top 20-30% of test-takers
• Competitive but more accessible than fully selective

Approximately 30% of test-takers receive selective offers (fully or partially selective).

Key Dates for 2026 Entry

Critical timeline for Year 7 entry in 2026.

Application Period

October 2025:

• Applications open online (typically early October)
• Schools listed with available places
• Application submission deadline (mid-October)

November 2025:

• Late applications may be accepted with approval
• Application confirmation emails sent

Test Date

March 2026:

• Selective High Schools Test administered (typically mid-March)
• Single test date for all Year 7 applicants
• Tests held at primary schools or designated centers

Results and Offers

July 2026:

• Test results released
• Round 1 placement offers announced (early July)
• Accept/decline deadline (mid-July)

August 2026:

• Round 2 offers from waitlist movement
• Final placement confirmations

January 2027:

• Students commence Year 7 at selective high schools

Missing application deadlines eliminates eligibility regardless of ability.

Preparation Recommendations

Effective preparation requires early start and systematic approach.

When to Start

Ideal Timeline: 6-12 months before test (Year 5 or early Year 6)

• Allows thorough skill development across all sections
• Time for multiple practice tests and improvement
• Reduces stress through gradual preparation

Minimum Timeline: 3-4 months

• Intensive preparation possible but more stressful
• Focus on test strategies and question formats
• Less time for fundamental skill-building

Preparation Focus

Reading:

• Wide reading across text types
• Comprehension strategy development
• Vocabulary building
• Timed practice under test conditions

Mathematical Reasoning:

• Mental math fluency (no calculator)
• Problem-solving strategies for unfamiliar questions
• Pattern recognition and algebraic thinking
• Multi-step word problem practice

Thinking Skills:

• Exposure to verbal reasoning question types
• Abstract pattern recognition practice
• Logical reasoning development
• Familiarization with unfamiliar formats

Writing:

• Practice both persuasive and narrative writing
• Develop efficient planning techniques
• Build strong paragraph and essay structure skills
• Timed writing practice with quick editing

Prepare for NSW Selective Success

EduCourse's NSW Selective preparation package provides everything needed to compete: diagnostic assessment identifying current performance across all four sections, 1000+ practice questions covering Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing, AI-powered writing feedback, full-length practice tests simulating exact test conditions and timing, detailed analytics revealing which sub-skills need development, and progress tracking showing improvement toward competitive placement scores. Join NSW families achieving offers to selective high schools. All for $199.