NSW Selective High School test format
The NSW Selective High School placement test (sat in Year 6 for Year 7 entry) has four parts: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. The first three are multiple choice and Writing is one extended task.
| Part | Our practice paper format | Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 17 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes (4 options each), a printed version of the computer-based test | 10 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 multiple-choice questions (5 options each) with worked solutions in the same booklet | 20 |
| Thinking Skills | 40 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes (4 options each, no calculator) | 20 |
| Writing | 1 stimulus-based writing task in 30 minutes | 10 |
How the parts differ
Reading tests comprehension of passages. Mathematical Reasoning is problem solving with no calculator. Thinking Skills mixes logic, patterns and critical thinking, and has no school-syllabus content. Writing asks for one piece of writing in response to a stimulus.
Placement depends on how a student ranks among all applicants, so steady timed practice across all four parts matters more than perfecting one.
Where official practice fits
The NSW Department of Education publishes free practice material for the test. Do that first, so your child sees the real layout. Then use extra papers for volume: every Test Papers Hub paper has different questions and a worked solution for each one, so the second and third attempt are not repeats.
Official sources
Practice papers for this exam
Questions
When is the test and when do applications open?
The department sets the dates each year. Check the official application page linked on this page and the dates box on each Selective collection page.
Is the test computer-based?
Parts of the test are taken on computer. Our Reading papers are printed versions of the computer-based format, so students practise the question style on paper.
Are your papers official past papers?
Our papers are original practice papers written to the published format. They are not official papers and are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any exam authority.