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Selective Schools / NSW
NSW Selective High School Placement Test 2026 Dates, Format and Preparation Guide
The Selective High School Placement Test decides entry into NSW academically selective high schools. It is a computer-based test of four skills — reading, mathematical reasoning, thinking skills and writing — and it rewards preparation that goes well beyond ordinary school work.
What is this exam?
NSW Selective High School Placement Test
The Selective High School Placement Test is the single test used to allocate places at NSW academically selective high schools. Around 15,000 students compete each year for a limited number of Year 7 places, so the test is highly competitive and the difference between an offer and a miss is often small.
Because every applicant sits the same computer-based test on the same day, preparation matters: the test rewards students who can read closely under time pressure, reason mathematically without a calculator, handle unfamiliar thinking-skills questions, and write a clear, structured response quickly.
Official date
Friday 1 or Saturday 2 May 2026 (allocated by school)
Make-up test
22 May 2026, for approved illness or misadventure only
Delivery
Computer-based at a public high school; laptops are provided.
Sections
Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.
Calculators
Not permitted in any section.
Key date timeline
Term 4 2025
Applications open
Parents apply online while the child is in Year 5. There is one application window each year.
Feb 2026
Applications close
Late applications are generally not accepted, so the deadline is firm.
Apr 2026
Test admission tickets issued
Sent about two weeks before the test with the test centre and login details.
1-2 May
Placement test
Students sit the computer-based test at an allocated public high school.
Term 3 2026
Outcomes released
Offers and placement outcomes are released to families later in the year.
Content map
What the four sections test
Reading
ComprehensionInferenceFiction and non-fictionPoetry
Mathematical Reasoning
Number and ratioMulti-step problemsNo calculatorLogic with maths
Thinking Skills
Logical reasoningPatternsCritical thinkingProblem solving
Writing
One timed taskStructureIdea developmentControl of language
Format and focus
How the test is built
Reading
Close reading across genres under time pressure
Multiple choice
Mathematical Reasoning
Worded, multi-step problems without a calculator
Multiple choice
Thinking Skills
Logic and critical-reasoning questions
Multiple choice
Writing
One extended written response, marked by assessors
1 task
Ace Achievers preparation pathway
Recommended Study Plan
Build the academic base early
Strengthen reading comprehension and mathematical reasoning a full year ahead. These two sections take the longest to move.
Train thinking skills and writing as their own skills
Thinking-skills logic and timed structured writing are not taught well in normal school work. Practise them deliberately.
Full timed practice and error review
Sit complete timed sections, then review every wrong answer by type. Reviewed practice beats volume.
Who should sit it?
The Selective test suits students who are consistently strong across reading and maths and who enjoy harder, unfamiliar problems. A place at a selective high school can be a strong fit for a child who is under-challenged at their current school.
It is not the right goal for every family. The test is competitive and the preparation is demanding, so it works best when the child is motivated and the timeline is realistic — ideally starting at least a year before the test.
Common mistakes parents should know
The most common mistake is starting too late. Reading and mathematical reasoning improve slowly, so a few weeks of cramming rarely changes the outcome. The families who do well usually begin in Year 5.
A second mistake is ignoring Writing and Thinking Skills because they feel harder to "study". Both are very trainable with the right structure, and both can be the difference between an offer and a near miss.
Internal resources
- Ace Achievers Writing Course to build the structured, timed writing the test rewards.
- Ace Achievers Maths Courses for mathematical reasoning and no-calculator problem solving.
- Scholarship & Selective Writing for exam-style writing practice and feedback.
- Opportunity Class (OC) Test Guide for families one stage earlier.
Questions parents ask
FAQ
When is the NSW Selective High School Placement Test in 2026?
The 2026 test is held on 1 or 2 May 2026, with a make-up test on 22 May 2026 for approved illness or misadventure.
What sections are in the test?
Four computer-based sections: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.
What year do students sit it?
Students sit the test in Year 6 to compete for a Year 7 selective place the following year. Applications are made the year before, in Year 5.
Can my child use a calculator?
No. Calculators are not allowed in any section, including Mathematical Reasoning.
When should preparation start?
Ideally about a year ahead, in Year 5, because reading and mathematical reasoning improve slowly.