NSW Selective High School Test

Selective high schools provide an educationally enriched environment for highly achieving, academically gifted students.

In the first week of July, the NSW Selective School Test results were delivered to the candidates by post or email.

Currently there are 21 fully selective high schools and 10 partially selective schools in NSW. According to a Department of Education and Training spokesperson, in March 2008 13,300 students set for the Test, competing for 3, 522 Year 7 places in selective high schools in 2009. In 2007 12, 834 students competed for 3,530 selective high school positions.

Selective High School Placement Test For Year 7

The selective high school testing subjects include:

• English (reading and writing): 2/3 of marks come from a reading/ comprehension test and 1/3 from a writing test;
• Mathematics: tests students’ abilities in reasoning and problem solving; and
• General Ability: similar to an IQ test.

Students are selected on their academic merits measured by their test results, together with the assessment in English and Mathematics based on their school work, which are provided by their primary schools . The total 300 “Profile Scores” are comprised of:

• English: 100 scores – 50 marks from the Test and 50 marks from the assessment provided by the student’s school;
• Mathematics: 100 scores – 50 marks from the Test and 50 marks from the assessment provided by the student’s school; and
• General Ability: 100 scores from the Test.

In the situation where some non-government schools are unable (or unwilling) to provide the required assessment in maths and English, 100% of the testing marks in English and mathematics would be counted towards the students’ total scores, ie. these students’ would be assessed purely on their Test performance.

Additionally, the way in which each government school assesses their students varies from school to school. You can enquire with individual schools about procedures and methods used for the assessment.

Selective High School Placement

After the Test, each student is ranked according to his/her Profile Scores and would receive

• an offer,
• a place on the waiting list of a school nominated by the student before the Test,
• an offer from a Selective School together with a place on the waiting list of another school, or
• a “unsuccessful” notification.

When the student first lodges an application, he/she is entitled to nominate 4 schools to attend. These can be changed even after the Test. Selective Schools are also ranked according to applicants’ demand (previous HSC results may influence this ranking).

The Minimum Scores for 2008 entry to selective high schools published by the NSW Department of Education and Training can be viewed as a general reference of the schools’ rankings.

If a student is successfully offered a place in the school of a higher ranking in the student’s list of choice, then the school of lower ranking in his/ her list would not be in a position to offer the student any placement.

When a student is placed on a waiting list of a particular school, the smaller the waiting list number is, the more likely the student will eventually secure an offer.

If you want to find out the details of your child’s Profile Score, click HERE to downloan the Request For Scores form.

Selective High School Entry for Years 8-12

If a student is unsuccessful in gaining a selective high school placement in Year 7, there are opportunities to enter a selective high school from Year 8 to Year 12. However, this usually depends upon:

• school’s placement availability;
• student’s assessment result.

Unlike the Year 7 centralized entry testing program, the selective high school placement in Years 8-12 vary from school to school. Students need to contact the individual schools for their assessment requirements and enrolment procedures.

Department of Education and Training’s webpage provides general information about Selective High School Years 8-12 Placement. To view the page, click HERE. On this page, you can also download application information and application form.

How to Apply For the Selective High School Entry Test in Year 6

Application package usually becomes available in October the year prior to the Test and the Test takes place in March. The process of application:

1. Obtain the application package from the school, from one of the DET offices, or download online.
2. Complete the application before the due date, attaching the required documentation with it.
3. Hand in the application pack to your child’s school principal who will sign it off and post it for you together with other applications from the same school.

Resources & Further Information about Selective High School Placement Test

• Department of Education & Training’s webpage on Selective High School Year 7 Placement Test provides general information for parents and students, Application Form to download.
• List of Selective High School in NSW can be found in Ourkidz Directory.
• Information Packege 2009 attached for your reference.
• Sample Test Paper with answers.
• Past test papers from 2001 to 2003.
• For Test preparation, please visit Ourkidz Tutoring & Coaching Directory.