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About The Test

NSW Selective High School Placement Test

The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is used to identify high-potential and gifted students. These students are then offered a position at a Selective or Agricultural high school that provides an educationally enriched environment.

The tests were introduced to provide an opportunity for pupils with scholastic aptitude. Over 15,000 applications are made for just over 4000 selective places.

From 2025, the Selective High School Placement Test will move to computer-based tests. Learn more

NSW Selective High School Placement Test

Key Dates

The 2025 Selective High School Placement Test dates are 2-4 May 2025.

Applications for class entry in 2026 open from 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025.

Subjects

What's in the Test?

The NSW Selective High School Placement Test consists of four test papers containing questions from the four areas of Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. Victoria has selective entry to some schools, and while the Victorian Selective Entry High Schools Examination has a slightly different structure, it covers similar general content to the NSW test.

Section Questions Minutes Type Weighting
Reading 30 40 Multiple choice 25%
Mathematical Reasoning 35 40 Multiple choice 25%
Thinking Skills 40 40 Multiple choice 35%
Writing 1 30 Open response 15%

 

Reading

The Reading test questions assess various reading skills through a diverse range of texts.

The texts include different genres such as:

  • non-fiction
  • fiction
  • poetry
  • magazine articles
  • reports.
Thinking Skills

The Thinking skills test evaluates the student's critical thinking and problem-solving abilities through various question types.

No previous knowledge is required for this test.

Mathematical Reasoning

The Mathematical reasoning test assesses the student's ability to use mathematical understanding and knowledge to solve problems from a range of math topics.

Calculators are not used in the mathematical reasoning test (or any other test section).

Writing

The writing test consists of a topic which you must write about according to the instructions.

This test assesses the creativity of your ideas and your ability to write effectively for a purpose and audience. The test will also assess grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary.

Your writing must address the given topic, otherwise it will be marked lower, regardless of your fluency or creativity.

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How to Prepare for the Test

Know the Content

Familiarise yourself and your child with the subjects, type of questions and expected level of content.

Start Early

It's important to start revising early, allowing your child plenty of time to learn the content. 

Identify Strengths & Weaknesses

Identifying weak areas in your child's knowledge is essential for improvement. Revisiting tough topics allows them to gain a better understanding of the topic and build confidence knowing they have fewer weak areas!

Time Management

Even the most prepared students can be caught off guard by strict time limits. A great way to prepare is by simulating a real test environment. Use a timer to ensure time isn't wasted on tricky questions and your child isn't getting distracted!

Start preparing today!

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Selective Schools Test

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading Section
What kinds of questions will be in the test?

All tests, except Writing, use multiple-choice questions. This means you are given a question and have to choose the best answer from four or five possibilities. However, in the Selective Schools Test you will also have to do a cloze task and a matching task. The tests vary in the way you record your answers but most ask you to mark your answers on a separate answer sheet. You don’t have to write any words.

What kinds of texts will I have to read and understand?

All tests include a variety of types of texts. For example, you are likely to have to answer questions about narrative fiction, poems, factual descriptions, information reports, explanations, biographies, literary recounts and/or texts including some visual information.

What will the texts be about?

The texts are usually on a wide range of topics, including personal feelings and experiences, different cultures, animals and plants, history, the environment, science and technology, art and music, and family life.

Do I have to study these areas before the test?

No. The topics will be general interest and all the information you need to answer the questions will be in the texts. The questions test how you read, not how much you know. Sometimes, however, you will need to figure things out from the information in the text. 

What kinds of questions will I be asked?

The questions cover a range of reading skills and strategies. You will be familiar with most question types from classroom work and from other tests you have done.

Some questions will ask you to find particular facts. Others will ask you to work out the main idea or ideas.

Some questions will ask you to work out the meaning of a word or phrase. Others will ask you to draw a conclusion based on what you have read—the answer won’t be clearly given to you in the text and you will have to use the text to work out the answer (for example, to predict what is going to happen).

Sometimes the question might involve a personal judgement or evaluation. Some questions could ask you to look more at the way the text is written (for example, to identify the tone of a piece, or words that express emotion and opinion). 

Do I have to answer all the questions?

Yes, you should try to answer every question. However, it is quite possible that you will not have time to do them all. You will have to work quite quickly to read all the texts and answer all the questions. Many students don’t manage to do this.

Thinking Skills Section
How much time will I have?

The test time and paper length may vary from test to test and from year to year. Expect around 40 questions to answer in 40 minutes.

What kinds of questions will be in the test?

All tests use multiple-choice questions. This means you are given a question and have to choose the best answer from four or five possibilities. The tests vary in the way you record your answers but most ask you to mark your answers on a separate answer sheet. You don’t have to write any words.

What do I need to bring to the test?

As the tests are multiple choice, you will need soft leaded pencils and erasers to answer paper-based tests. Apart from this, you will not need to bring anything except your well-prepared self!

What topics will be covered in the test?

The tests include questions that involve both verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills (critical thinking and problem solving). You may be familiar with the topics covered in the test, although sometimes questions might involve something new or unusual.

Do I have to study these areas before the test?

No. The best preparation is to know what to expect on the day of the test and to practise the types of questions in the test.

What kinds of questions will I be asked?

You will be familiar with some question types from classroom work. Some of the questions will test your understanding of language and grammar and some will test your numeracy skills. The questions may be more difficult or of a type you haven’t seen before. You will need to be logical and think carefully about your answers.

Where can I do my working?

You will be able to write on the question booklet if you need to do some working.

Do I have to answer all the questions?

Yes, you should try to answer every question. However, it is possible that you will not have time to do them all. Some questions will take less than one minute to answer, while others will take longer. You will have to work quite quickly to answer all the questions. Many students don’t manage to do this.

Mathematical Reasoning Section
What kinds of questions will be in the test?

All tests use multiple-choice questions. This means you are given a question and have to choose the best answer from four or five possibilities. The tests vary in the way you record your answers but most ask you to mark your answers on a separate answer sheet. You don’t have to write any words.

What do I need to bring to the test?

As the tests are multiple choice, you will need pencils and erasers. Calculators, rulers and geometrical instruments are not allowed, so you need to be good at mental calculations and estimating length and angles.

What mathematics topics will be covered in the test?

The tests include questions involving Number, Measurement, Data, Patterns and Algebra, Space and Geometry, and Working Mathematically. This means you will be familiar with the topics covered in the test but the questions may be more difficult or of a type you may not have seen before. 

What kinds of questions will I be asked?

You will be given some information and asked one question about it. The information might be given in words or might involve a diagram, graph or table.

You will be familiar with most question types from classroom work and from other tests you have done, such as the NAPLAN tests.

Where can I do my working?

Most tests have a question booklet and a separate answer sheet. Many of the questions are so difficult you will need to write down some working to help you find your answer. You can use space on the booklet near the question. 

Do I have to answer all the questions?

Yes, you should try to answer every question. However, it is possible you will not have time to do them all. Some questions will take less than one minute to answer, while others will take longer. You will have to work quite quickly to answer all the questions. Many students don’t manage to do this.

Writing Section
How much time will I have?

The NSW Selective High School Placement Test gives you 30 minutes to write one piece, while the ACER Scholarship Tests give you 25 minutes per piece. Again, you need to find out about your test.

Whichever test you are doing, your usual method of preparing, drafting, revising and proofreading is not practical for these tests because there is not enough time.

How much should I write?

There is no set length but, as a general guide, aim to write about one and a half pages of an A4 booklet—about 200 to 250 words. The important thing is the quality of what you write, not the quantity.

How will I know what to write?

You will be given stimulus material to respond to. This might be words or pictures. For example, you might be asked to respond to a photograph, a drawing, a quote or comment, a question, or an extract from a story or other text.

Will I have a choice of what to write?

Generally there is only one question or topic. However, some questions give you a completely free choice of how to respond to the question—you can choose which type and form of text you write 
(e.g. a narrative, a diary, a description, a poem, a letter or an essay).

Other questions might tell you the way you should respond. You might be told to write a newspaper report or an advice sheet, for example. Some might suggest or tell you a type of text (e.g. an 
opinion or persuasive text), but will allow you to choose in which form to write that opinion (e.g. as a letter to a newspaper editor, as a speech to your classmates or as an essay).

There is never only one way to respond and so, in a way, you always have a choice of what to write.

You could write about something completely different from the next student and in a completely different way—and both of you could do well.

How will the markers judge my writing?

The markers are looking for clear, lively and interesting writing. They are looking for: 

  • the quality of your ideas—how well you develop something interesting from the question
  • the way you organise your ideas—how well you shape them to make a whole text
  • the language you use—how clearly and effectively you express yourself.

Try to make your writing as interesting as possible. Don’t try to rewrite something you have prepared or something you have copied or adapted from a book like this one, or from a website. The markers will pick up on this.

One more very important thing: if you are sitting a handwritten test, write legibly—that is, in a way that can actually be read! It does not matter how brilliant your ideas are if the markers cannot read your handwriting—they will not be able to give you a good mark. So, if you know your handwriting is not always clear, take time now to improve it. If you are sitting an online test, do all the things you would do normally to craft and check your writing. In this situation, the only thing you won’t have to worry about is your handwriting!