The Selective High School Test: How It Works

Selective high schools are NSW public schools (fully or partially selective) for high-achieving students. Entry is competitive and based largely on the Selective High School Placement Test, run by the NSW Department of Education.

Who sits the Selective test, and when?

Students sit the Selective test in Year 6, to apply for entry into a selective high school in Year 7. Applications generally open early in the year, with the test held later — confirm the current dates on the NSW Department of Education website.

What does the Selective test assess?

The test covers four areas:

• Reading — comprehension and interpretation.
• Mathematical Reasoning — challenging multi-step problems.
• Thinking Skills — logic, patterns and deduction.
• Writing — a written response assessing structure, ideas and expression.

The reading, maths and thinking sections are multiple-choice; writing is marked separately.

How are places decided?

Placement uses the combined test result under the Department's current rules, and entry is highly competitive. The test rewards strong reasoning and clear writing — both of which improve with focused practice.

How can my child prepare?

Selective questions are pitched well above standard Year 6 work, so steady practice at the right difficulty is key — alongside regular writing practice, which is easy to overlook. PrepPath offers Selective test practice across all four areas, with a full explanation for every question and AI feedback on writing.