How to prepare for the NSW Selective High School test

The NSW Selective High School Placement Test decides entry to academically selective high schools. It is competitive, but it rewards steady, well-structured preparation far more than last-minute cramming. Here is how the test works and how to help your child get ready — without the stress.

What is the NSW Selective test?

The Selective High School Placement Test is sat in Year 6 for entry into Year 7 at a selective or partially selective high school. It is a single, timed test made up of four assessments. Places are offered on a combined score, so no single section decides the outcome on its own — balance across all four matters.

What is assessed

• Reading — understanding, interpreting and comparing written passages, including inference and the writer’s purpose.
• Mathematical Reasoning — solving multi-step problems, not just arithmetic. Worded problems, patterns, measurement and logic.
• Thinking Skills — logic, critical reasoning, spotting assumptions and flaws in an argument. This section is unfamiliar to most children, so it benefits most from practice.
• Writing — one extended piece under time pressure, marked for ideas, structure, vocabulary and control of language.

A sensible preparation timeline

You do not need a year of tutoring. A realistic, low-pressure plan looks like this:

• 6–12 months out: build the habit of daily reading and short, regular practice. Focus on understanding, not speed.
• 3–6 months out: introduce each test area in turn. Spend the most time on Thinking Skills and Writing, which are the least familiar.
• 4–8 weeks out: start full, timed practice tests so the format and the clock stop being a surprise. Review every mistake together.
• Final week: ease off. Light revision, good sleep, and a calm reminder that one test does not define them.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Cramming content instead of building reasoning. The test rewards thinking, so drilling facts has limited payoff.
• Skipping timed practice. Many capable children lose marks simply to the clock. Practising under time removes that shock.
• Ignoring the Writing task. It is often the most improvable section, yet the easiest to neglect.
• Never reviewing mistakes. The learning happens when you talk through why an answer was wrong — not from the score itself.

How to help at home

Read together and ask “why do you think that?”. Play logic and strategy games. Keep practice short and frequent rather than long and rare. Praise effort and process, not just correct answers. Confidence and calm on test day are worth as much as content knowledge.

Frequently asked questions