OC & Selective Past Papers: Where to Find Them

Parents preparing for the Opportunity Class (OC) or Selective High School test almost always search for "past papers" first. Here's the honest situation — what officially exists, where to get it, and how to make it count.

Does the NSW Department of Education release full past papers?

No — full past OC and Selective test papers are not publicly released. Unlike some competitions, the NSW Department of Education keeps actual test papers secure. What it does publish is official sample tests for the current test format, and these are the single most reliable material you can use.

Where to find the official sample tests

The NSW Department of Education website (education.nsw.gov.au) has dedicated placement-test pages for both the OC and Selective tests, with free official practice / sample questions covering the real test areas:

• OC test — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, and Thinking Skills.
• Selective test — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and a Writing task.

Because the tests were redesigned in recent years (a more skills-based, "Cambridge-style" format), old third-party "past papers" can be misleading — they may reflect the previous style. Always start with the official NSW sample material so you know it matches the current test.

How to use the official samples well

• Use them for format familiarity first. The biggest early win is your child knowing exactly what each section looks like and how the multiple-choice answering works.
• Then do one under timed conditions. Real timing exposes pacing problems — especially in Thinking Skills and Reading, where time pressure is the main challenge.
• Review by test area, not just score. Sort mistakes into Reading / Maths Reasoning / Thinking Skills so you can see where the real gap is.
• Don't burn them too early. There's a limited amount of official material — save a clean run for closer to the test.

What to do between the official samples

Because the official samples are limited, the day-to-day preparation needs a large, varied supply of exam-style questions with full explanations — so your child keeps building the skill after the few official papers are done. That's exactly the gap regular practice fills.

PrepPath offers unlimited OC test practice and Selective test practice across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills — every question explained in full, with progress tracking and a readiness view so you can see which areas are strong and which need work. For a preparation plan, see How to Prepare for the OC and Selective Tests, and try some OC maths practice questions or Selective sample questions with worked solutions.

PrepPath is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the NSW Department of Education. This guide is general information only — always check the official NSW Department of Education website for the current test format, sample materials, key dates and rules.