NSW Selective Mathematical Reasoning free practice questions with answers
Read question 1 and its full worked answer from paper 1 of our 20-paper NSW Selective Mathematical Reasoning set, then download the 4-page PDF. These are original practice questions, not official past papers. Page updated 3 November 2026.
What is the value of 12 + 12 × (16 − 4) ÷ 2?
A 144
B 84
C 94
D 202
E 79
Correct answer: B — 84
- Brackets first, then multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction.
- Working: 12 + 12 × (16 − 4) ÷ 2 = 84.
- Why the other options are wrong:
- A (144): This works strictly left to right and ignores 'multiply and divide before add and subtract'.
- C (94): This is the correct answer (84) plus 10: an extra 10 was added at the end of the calculation (an off-by-10 error).
- D (202): This ignores the brackets, which must be done first.
- E (79): Check each step again: one operation was applied in the wrong order.
Work in the order: brackets, then × and ÷ (left to right), then + and − (left to right).
Your sample is downloading. Liked it? NSW Selective Mathematical Reasoning Paper 1 is the full paper: 35 multiple-choice questions (5 options each) with worked solutions in the same booklet, with a worked solution for every question.
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Questions about this sample
What is in the NSW Selective Mathematical Reasoning free sample?
The first 3 questions from paper 1 of the set, in the real exam layout, followed by the step-by-step worked answers. It is a 4-page PDF; this page shows question 1 with its answer.
How many full NSW Selective Mathematical Reasoning papers are there?
20 original papers for Year 6 students preparing for Year 7 selective entry. Each is 35 multiple-choice questions (5 options each) with worked solutions in the same booklet, with a worked solution for every question. Papers start at A$11.99 and download instantly as a PDF.
Are these official past papers?
No. The sample is taken from our own original practice paper and is not an official past paper or affiliated with any exam authority.