NSW Selective High School test practice and preparation
Help your Year 6 child feel confident and prepared for the NSW Selective High School placement test. AcePrep uses AI to find areas that need more practice and creates a personalised revision plan across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.
What is in the NSW Selective High School placement test
The Selective High School placement test is administered by the NSW Department of Education for high-potential Year 6 students seeking entry into Year 7 at one of the state's academically selective government high schools.
It is a computer-based test sat at an external test centre (usually a local high school). Computers are provided on the day. The test assesses Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing. Questions draw on concepts from the NSW curriculum that students learn at school. No special or extra knowledge is required.
AcePrep is built for NSW families, especially parents in Sydney and surrounding suburbs, preparing for the NSW Selective High School placement test. Familiarising your child with the test format and question types can help them approach test day with confidence.
Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing
The NSW Selective High School placement test has four components. AcePrep offers practice questions for Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing:
Reading
Comprehension across fiction, non-fiction, and poetry
Mathematical Reasoning
Problem-solving drawn from the NSW curriculum up to Year 6
Thinking Skills
Critical thinking and problem-solving — no prior knowledge needed
Writing
Extended response assessing written expression
Computer-based
Computers are provided at the test centre
Multiple-choice + Writing
No calculators allowed
Longer test session
Includes a break for students to eat
How AcePrep identifies your child's gaps
Adaptive online Selective practice tests for Year 6 students that pinpoint exactly where your child needs to improve.
Identify Knowledge Gaps
AI analyses your child’s answers across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing to highlight exactly which topics need more revision.
Selective-Style Practice Questions
Online Selective practice tests for Year 6 students, aligned to the NSW curriculum. Multiple-choice format mirrors the real NSW Selective High School placement test.
Track Progress Together
Students and parents get clear performance dashboards showing improvement over time, so you can focus revision where it matters most.
Timeline for preparing from Year 4 to Year 6
Many students who started with the NSW OC placement test in Year 4 continue their preparation journey towards the Selective High School test in Year 6. Building strong foundations early in Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills gives your child a head start.
If your child is beginning Selective preparation in Year 5 or Year 6, there is still plenty of time. AcePrep's AI tracks progress over time and highlights the specific topics that need the most attention — so every practice session counts.
A consistent routine of short, focused practice sessions — even just 20 to 30 minutes a few times a week — can make a real difference. AcePrep helps you see measurable improvement and focus revision where it matters most.
Frequently asked questions about the NSW Selective test
What is in the NSW Selective High School placement test?
The Selective High School placement test has four components: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. The first three sections are multiple-choice and the Writing component is an extended response. The test is computer-based and draws on concepts from the NSW curriculum that students learn at school.
When should my child start preparing for the NSW Selective test?
Many families begin Selective preparation in Year 4 or Year 5, building gradually over one to two years. Starting early gives students time to strengthen weaker areas across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing without last-minute pressure.
Does AcePrep cover the Writing component?
AcePrep currently focuses on the multiple-choice components: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. Writing support is on our roadmap. In the meantime, practising these three sections with AI-driven gap analysis can significantly improve your child’s overall test readiness.
How is the NSW Selective test different from the OC placement test?
The Selective High School test is for Year 6 students (entering Year 7) and includes a Writing component in addition to Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. The OC test is for Year 4 students (entering Year 5) and covers only the three multiple-choice sections. Both are computer-based and draw on the NSW curriculum.
Ready to try a free NSW Selective practice test?
Let your child get familiar with Selective-style questions and discover which areas could use extra revision. See your child's AI gap analysis after every practice session.
Start free NSW Selective practice testStudents who started with the NSW OC placement test often continue with Selective preparation. Explore OC test preparation