The NSW Selective test in four parts: what each section tests and how to prepare
The Selective High School Placement Test has four tests: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. The test is taken on a computer, so practise some papers on screen. Reading and Writing reward careful close reading and clear expression; Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills reward method and logic more than memorised content. Each needs a different kind of practice, so treat them as four separate skills.
The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is really four tests in one sitting window, and each one measures something different. Knowing what each is looking for helps you practise the right thing instead of simply doing "more questions".
Reading: 17 questions, 45 minutes
What it tests: understanding of unfamiliar texts, including inference, vocabulary in context, purpose and tone. The department says texts include fiction and non-fiction such as poetry, magazine articles, reports and book extracts.
How to prepare:
- Read widely and variously: news features, fiction, science articles, poetry. Talk about what you have read.
- Practise the habit of finding evidence. For every answer, your child should be able to point to the line that proves it.
- Teach the elimination method: remove options that are too extreme, off-topic or unsupported before choosing.
- Time it. Spend about 2.5 minutes per question including reading, and flag long texts for a second look.
Mathematical Reasoning: 35 questions, 40 minutes
What it tests: applying number, algebra, geometry, measurement, data and probability to unfamiliar problems. The questions are worded to make students think, not recall.
How to prepare:
- Practise explaining solutions out loud. If your child can teach the method, they understand it.
- Build speed with mental arithmetic, fractions, percentages and ratio so that routine steps do not eat the time.
- Draw diagrams for geometry and word problems. Many wrong answers come from a picture that was never drawn.
- Aim to attempt every question. Mark and move on after about a minute and a half, then return.
Thinking Skills: 40 questions, 40 minutes
What it tests: reasoning that does not depend on a school syllabus: logical deduction, critical reasoning, patterns and sequences, spatial reasoning and number problem solving.
How to prepare:
- Learn the families of question: ordering puzzles, truth-teller and liar puzzles, number and letter sequences, nets and rotations, argument flaws. Once your child can name the family, they know the method.
- Work through solutions that explain why the wrong options are wrong. Thinking Skills traps are consistent and learnable.
- Do short timed bursts of 10 questions in 10 minutes. Speed comes from recognition, which comes from repetition.
Writing: one task, 30 minutes
What it tests: the ability to produce a well-structured piece of writing in response to a stimulus, in a stated or chosen genre.
How to prepare:
- Spend the first three or four minutes planning: purpose, audience, three or four ideas, and an ending.
- Write a strong first sentence and a deliberate last sentence, so the piece feels controlled from start to finish.
- Practise one genre at a time (narrative, persuasive, informative) and keep a list of strong verbs and linking phrases. Always check that your piece answers the topic you were given.
- Always leave two minutes to re-read for spelling, punctuation and missing words.
Putting the four together
A weekly rhythm that works: one reasoning test, one reading or writing task, a short maths session and a review session. Alternate hard and light days, and finish each session by reviewing what went wrong. For the official description of each test and current dates, see the NSW Department of Education.
Common questions
Which of the four tests is the hardest to prepare for?
Thinking Skills, for most students, because it is the least like school work. It rewards learning a small set of reasoning methods (deduction, patterns, spatial reasoning) and practising them under time pressure.
Can a student who is strong at maths still struggle with Mathematical Reasoning?
Yes. The test is about solving unfamiliar problems, not applying a single taught procedure. Students who rely on memorised steps can stall when the problem is worded differently.
How long should the writing task answer be?
There is no set word count, but the department expects no more than two pages. Focus on answering the topic given, a clear structure, a strong opening, controlled paragraphs and a deliberate ending, and leave a few minutes to proofread. A response that does not address the topic is marked lower however well it is written.
Are the tests the same every year?
The structure is stable but details can change, so always check the NSW Department of Education page for the current year.