NSW practice test bundles — which one does my child need?
Three NSW practice test bundles, three different year levels, three different purposes. Pick your child's current year below, and go straight to the right Selective practice test, OC practice test or NAPLAN practice test bundle.
OC practice tests
Our OC test bundle places Year 5 & 6 students into academically enriched Opportunity Classes at 88 primary schools across NSW.
- Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills
- No writing component
- Computer-based, sat over 1 day
Selective practice tests
Our Selective test bundle places Year 7 students into one of NSW's selective or partially selective high schools.
- Reading, Maths Reasoning, Thinking Skills, Writing
- Four equally weighted sections
- Computer-based since 2025
NAPLAN practice tests
Our NAPLAN test bundle is a national literacy and numeracy check-in — not a placement test, but a benchmark every NSW family sees.
- Reading, Numeracy, Writing, Language Conventions
- Online for most year levels
- Year 3 writing still on paper
| Year level | NSW test coming up | Start practising |
|---|---|---|
| Year 3 | NAPLAN practice tests (March) | NAPLAN practice → |
| Year 4 | OC practice tests (May) — sitting now for Year 5 entry | OC practice → |
| Year 5 | NAPLAN practice tests (March) + start Selective prep | NAPLAN · Selective |
| Year 6 | Selective practice tests (May) — sitting now for Year 7 entry | Selective practice → |
Many NSW families work through more than one test bundle across primary school. Reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills carry across Selective, OC and NAPLAN practice tests — online NSW test prep on one test bundle builds real skill toward the next.
Selective, OC and NAPLAN — test format in detail
Each NSW test bundle covers a different mix of sections and timing. Here's exactly what your child will face in each one, section by section.
NSW Selective Test
| Reading | 45 min · 17 Q |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 40 min · 35 Q |
| Thinking Skills | 40 min · 40 Q |
| Writing | 30 min · 1 task |
NSW OC Test
| Reading | ~40 min |
| Mathematical Reasoning | ~40 min |
| Thinking Skills | ~40 min |
| Writing | Not tested |
NAPLAN
| Reading | Online |
| Numeracy | Online |
| Language Conventions | Online |
| Writing | Y3 paper · others online |
How each NSW test is scored
The NSW Selective Test is scored across four equally weighted components — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing each contribute 25% of the total placement score. Raw results are standardised and scaled across test versions, then every student is ranked against all other applicants to determine placement offers. Selectivetrial's parent reports translate this into four performance bands so families can see roughly where a mock score sits:
OC scoring works the same way across its three components (no writing weighting). NAPLAN, by contrast, isn't ranked against other students at all — it reports each student against national proficiency standards, which is why it's a benchmark rather than a competitive placement test.
How Selectivetrial helps your child practise
Every NSW test bundle above runs on the same platform — built once, applied consistently across Selective, OC, NAPLAN and five other major exam pathways nationwide.
Real mock test timing
Time-scored Selective, OC and NAPLAN mock tests that mirror the actual on-screen format, building pacing and stamina before test day.
Criterion-by-criterion writing feedback
Every writing response is reviewed by a qualified Australian tutor with structured feedback on theme, structure and grammar.
Percentile rankings & analytics
Parent reports break performance down by topic and question type, with percentile rankings against thousands of NSW peers.
Unlimited attempts
Every practice test can be retaken as many times as needed, with step-by-step explanations after every attempt.
Choose your test bundle
Pick from Selective, OC, HAST, NAPLAN, ACER, Edutest, VIC Selective or ASET, and start on the free 3-day trial.
Practise timed mock tests
Complete full online NSW mock tests under real exam conditions, with unlimited attempts to build confidence.
Review with step-by-step explanations
Every question explained, writing marked criterion-by-criterion, and analytics that show exactly where to focus next.
Walk in exam-ready
By test day, your child has practised hundreds of real-style Selective, OC or NAPLAN questions with strong time management.
NSW Selective Test, OC Test and NAPLAN — the numbers
Here's what the competition actually looks like for each NSW test, based on the most recent NSW Department of Education intake figures.
Figures are approximate and change year to year — always confirm current intake numbers with the NSW Department of Education before relying on them for planning.
What's changing for 2027 entry
- Equal places for girls and boys. From the 2027 intake, coeducational selective high schools and OC classes will offer an equal number of places to girls and boys.
- Equity Placement Model. A share of Selective and OC places is reserved for under-represented groups — low socio-educational advantage, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and rural, regional or disability allocations.
- Computer-based testing continues. Both the Selective Test and OC Test are now fully computer-based, sat at designated test centres rather than on paper.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the OC Test and the Selective Test?
The OC Test is for Year 4 students seeking a Year 5 place in an Opportunity Class — an academically enriched stream within a regular primary school. The Selective Test is for Year 6 students seeking Year 7 entry into a fully or partially selective high school. OC has no writing section; Selective does.
Can my child prepare for more than one test bundle at once?
Yes — many families do, since NAPLAN, OC and Selective practice tests all draw on overlapping reading, reasoning and maths skills. Selectivetrial's 3-day free trial covers all eight test bundles we offer.
Is NAPLAN the same kind of test as OC or Selective?
No. NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy benchmark that all Australian students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit. OC and Selective practice tests are for competitive entrance exams that rank students against each other for a limited number of spots.
How early should we start online NSW test prep?
A 3–6 month runway of consistent, weekly timed practice is enough for most families; a 12-month window suits students building foundational skills from further behind.
Is there a fee to sit the Selective or OC Test?
No — both are administered by the NSW Department of Education as part of the public school placement process, so there's no test fee to sit them. That's different from privately administered tests like HAST or ACER Scholarship, where each school sets its own fee, typically $80–$150.
How many schools can my child apply to?
For the Selective Test, families can list multiple school preferences in ranked order on their application. For OC, applicants can list up to 4 school choices. Placement offers go out based on ranking against the preferences listed, so realistic ordering matters more than listing every school in the state.
What happens if my child doesn't get an offer?
Both Selective and OC operate a reserve list — a ranked waiting list for students who narrowly missed an offer. As places open up through declined offers, they're passed down the reserve list. Reserve movement is most active in the months right after results, and slows down significantly later in the year.
Do I need private tutoring, or is online practice enough?
It depends on the child. Structured online practice — timed mock tests, step-by-step explanations, and written feedback — covers the core preparation most students need. Families who want additional one-on-one instruction often pair online practice with occasional tutoring, particularly for Writing, but it isn't a requirement to sit any of these three tests.
How many practice tests should my child complete before test day?
There's no fixed number, but consistency matters more than volume — a weekly timed mock test across the 3–6 month preparation window, with review of every wrong answer, builds far more exam-day readiness than a last-minute cluster of tests. Unlimited attempts mean your child can keep retrying weak areas until the method is solid, not just the answer.
Not sure which NSW test bundle to start with?
Try 3 days of full access — free, no credit card — across Selective, OC, NAPLAN practice tests and every other exam we cover.
Claim your free trial →