OC & Selective resources
A plain-English guide to the NSW OC Placement Test and Selective High School Test — what they cover, how placement works, and what the questions feel like.
How selective placement works
Places are offered in rank order from a combined score — the test, plus school assessment for the Selective test. The NSW Department of Education no longer publishes a fixed cut-off score: entry shifts each year with the number of applicants and places, and results are reported as performance bands rather than a single pass mark.
Because results come back as a band per section rather than a raw mark, the useful question isn’t “what score do we need?” — it’s “how consistently can my child handle exam-level questions across every section?”
Always confirm the current process, dates and eligibility on the official NSW Department of Education site.
NSW Department of Education — placement testWhat each test covers
Understanding the OC & Selective tests
New to these exams? See what each one tests at a glance — then try a real-style question yourself.
Opportunity Class (OC) Placement Test
Sat by Year 4 students for entry to an Opportunity Class in Year 5.
Opportunity Classes are two-year programs (Years 5–6) in selected public schools for academically high-potential students. Placement uses this computer-based test together with school performance.
How the test time is split
Explore each section
Tap a section to see what it really tests — and try a sample question.
Reading
Understanding what you read
Comprehension across many text types — fiction, poetry, non-fiction, reports and articles. It rewards careful reading, not memorised facts.
What does the passage suggest about Mrs Tran?
SampleRead this
The old lighthouse had not shone for thirty years. Even so, every evening Mrs Tran climbed its winding stairs to polish the great glass lens — just in case, she said, a ship ever lost its way.
Pick an answer
Section structure and timings are summarised from the NSW Department of Education. Question counts are indicative and can change year to year — always confirm the latest details on the official site. Sample questions are illustrative, not real test items.
Official source: NSW Department of Education — Placement testSee where your child is starting
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