How to Prepare for the NSW Selective School Test: A Complete Study Plan
- Vivo Education
- Selective Tests
- 06 Jun, 2026
Preparing for the NSW Selective School Test can feel like a big task.
There are four test sections to understand, practice questions to complete, writing skills to develop and time limits to get used to. For parents, there is also the question of how much preparation is enough.
Should your child start six months before the test? Twelve months? Should they do a practice test every weekend? Is tutoring necessary? How do you know whether they are improving?
The good news is that preparation does not need to be complicated.
A good preparation plan starts by understanding the test, finding out where your child is now, working on areas that need attention and regularly reviewing mistakes.
This guide provides a practical approach to preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test. It covers what to do at different stages, how to structure weekly practice and how to help your child prepare without making the test the centre of family life.
Important: Test dates, procedures and requirements can change. Always check the current information from the NSW Department of Education for your child's test year.
Table of Contents
- What Does the NSW Selective School Test Include?
- When Should Your Child Start Preparing?
- Step 1: Understand the Test Before You Start Preparing
- Step 2: Start With a Diagnostic Test
- Step 3: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses
- Step 4: Build a Weekly Study Schedule
- Months 6 to 12 Before the Test
- Months 3 to 6 Before the Test
- Final 8 Weeks
- Final 4 Weeks
- The Final Week
- How Much Should a Child Practise?
- Why Reviewing Mistakes Matters More Than Simply Doing More Questions
- How to Track Progress
- When Should You Increase the Difficulty?
- When Should You Stop Increasing the Workload?
- Example Weekly Study Plans
- How to Prepare for Each Test Section
- How to Use Vivo Practice Tests Effectively
- Balancing Schoolwork and Selective Test Preparation
- What Should Parents Do on the Weekend Before the Test?
- What Should Students Do on Test Day?
- A Four-Stage Selective School Preparation Cycle
- Selective School Preparation Checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
What Does the NSW Selective School Test Include?
The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is computer-based and has four sections:
| Test section | Questions | Time | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 17, including 3 questions with multiple parts | 45 minutes | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 40 minutes | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Thinking Skills | 40 | 40 minutes | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Writing | 1 | 30 minutes | Open response | 25% |
Each section contributes 25% to the test.
The test is designed to assess students' abilities rather than their ability to memorise a particular set of facts. The NSW Department of Education says the questions draw on concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 6 and are reviewed so that students do not need additional knowledge specifically for the test.
The test is completed on computers provided by the Department at a test centre.
Students can use paper for working out and planning, but calculators and dictionaries are not permitted.
This means that preparation should focus on skills, familiarity with the test format and the ability to work through unfamiliar questions under time limits.
For a detailed explanation of the test structure, sections and what parents need to know, read our complete guide to the NSW Selective School Test.
When Should Your Child Start Preparing?
There is no official starting point that every student needs to follow.
Some children may benefit from a longer period of gradual preparation. Others may only need to become familiar with the test format and spend more time working on a few specific areas.
The NSW Department of Education also states that coaching or tutoring is not necessary for the placement test and provides free practice resources for students.
For parents, the most useful question is therefore not:
"How early can we start?"
A better question is:
"What does my child need to work on?"
Starting early can give your child more time to build skills gradually. It does not mean they need to spend hours every week doing test questions.
A sensible preparation plan can look like this:
- 6 to 12 months before the test: Understand the test and build general skills.
- 3 to 6 months before the test: Introduce regular, focused practice.
- Final 8 weeks: Increase timed practice and review weaknesses.
- Final 4 weeks: Practise the complete test experience.
- Final week: Reduce workload and focus on confidence, routine and readiness.
- Test day: Follow the test instructions and allow your child to work calmly.
The exact timing can be adjusted depending on your child's starting point.
Step 1: Understand the Test Before You Start Preparing
Before your child starts doing practice questions, make sure you understand what they are preparing for.
The current test has four sections:
- Reading
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Thinking Skills
- Writing
Each section has a different purpose and time limit.
Your child should know this before they start serious preparation.
They should also understand that the test is computer-based.
This matters because completing questions on a computer can feel different from working through questions in a workbook.
A student may be comfortable solving a problem on paper but take longer when reading the same problem on a screen.
The NSW Department of Education provides online computer-based practice tests specifically so students can become familiar with the test software, tools and timed format.
You can also access PDF practice tests and explanations.
Use the official NSW Department of Education practice tests
Step 2: Start With a Diagnostic Test
Before creating a study plan, find out where your child is now.
This does not need to be a formal assessment.
An official practice test or a suitable practice set can give you useful information about how your child approaches different types of questions.
The goal is not to decide whether your child is "good" or "bad" at the test.
The goal is to identify areas that need attention.
For example, your child might find:
- Reading questions comfortable but take too long.
- Mathematical Reasoning questions manageable but make calculation errors.
- Thinking Skills questions difficult when several conditions are involved.
- Writing ideas quickly but struggle to organise them.
- Some question types are easy while others take much longer.
These observations are much more useful than a single overall score.
What Should You Record?
After the diagnostic test, make a simple table.
| Area | What went well? | What needs work? |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Understands main ideas | Needs to work on inference |
| Mathematical Reasoning | Comfortable with calculations | Needs to slow down and check |
| Thinking Skills | Good with patterns | Finds multi-step problems difficult |
| Writing | Has creative ideas | Needs stronger structure |
Your table will be different from this example.
The important thing is to identify specific areas rather than writing something broad such as "needs to improve Reading".
Step 3: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses
Once you have completed some initial practice, look for patterns.
One mistake does not necessarily mean that a child has a weakness.
If your child gets one percentage question wrong, that does not mean they need weeks of percentage practice.
But if they repeatedly make mistakes with similar questions, that is worth investigating.
Look for three types of problems
Knowledge problems
Your child does not understand the underlying concept.
For example, they may not understand how to calculate a particular type of problem.
The answer is usually to review the concept and practise it.
Reasoning problems
Your child understands the mathematics or language involved but has trouble deciding how to use it.
The answer may be to practise more unfamiliar problems and discuss the thinking process.
Test technique problems
Your child knows how to solve the question but makes mistakes because of timing, rushing, misreading or poor checking.
The answer may be different again.
More content practice will not necessarily solve a timing problem.
This is why reviewing mistakes is so important.
Step 4: Build a Weekly Study Schedule
Once you know where your child needs help, create a simple weekly routine.
The schedule does not need to fill every afternoon.
A child preparing for a selective school test is still a primary school student. Schoolwork, sleep, exercise, friendships, hobbies and family time are important too.
A weekly plan might include all four test sections.
For example:
| Day | Focus | Suggested activity |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Reading | Reading questions and review |
| Tuesday | Mathematical Reasoning | Problem-solving practice |
| Wednesday | Thinking Skills | Logic and reasoning questions |
| Thursday | Writing | Writing prompt and review |
| Friday | Rest | No test preparation |
| Saturday | Timed practice | One timed section |
| Sunday | Review | Review mistakes or rest |
This is an example, not a required timetable.
If your child has a busy school week, you might reduce the amount of practice.
If your child has a particular weakness, you might give that area more attention.
The important thing is to have a plan rather than deciding what to do every day.
Months 6 to 12 Before the Test
If you are starting preparation many months before the test, there is no need to begin with intensive timed tests.
This stage should be about understanding the test and building skills.
Focus on Reading
Encourage your child to read regularly.
Reading different types of material can help your child become comfortable with different writing styles and topics.
You can include:
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- Newspaper or magazine articles
- Biographies
- Science and nature articles
- Historical material
- Poetry
Talk about what your child reads.
Ask questions such as:
- What is the main idea?
- Why do you think the author included this information?
- What does this word mean in this context?
- What evidence supports your answer?
- What can we work out even though the author does not say it directly?
The aim is to encourage deeper reading.
Build Mathematical Reasoning Skills
Continue with your child's normal school mathematics.
Then introduce problems that require them to apply what they know.
Encourage your child to explain how they reached an answer.
For example:
"What information did you use?"
"Why did you choose that operation?"
"Is there another way to solve it?"
This helps move the focus from getting an answer to understanding the reasoning behind it.
Develop Thinking Skills
Give your child opportunities to solve unfamiliar problems.
Puzzles, logic problems and pattern activities can be useful ways to encourage thinking.
The important part is not simply getting the answer.
Ask your child to explain their reasoning.
If they make a mistake, ask:
"Where did your thinking change?"
This can help them become more comfortable checking their own reasoning.
Start Writing Practice
Writing should not be left until the final few weeks.
However, you also do not need to ask your child to write a full timed response every day.
Instead, work on individual skills:
- Generating ideas
- Understanding a prompt
- Planning
- Organising paragraphs
- Developing ideas
- Using precise vocabulary
- Writing clear sentences
- Editing
The Selective Writing Test gives students 30 minutes to complete one response, so timed writing can be introduced later.
Months 3 to 6 Before the Test
At this stage, you can make preparation more structured.
Your child should now be familiar with the four sections and the general format.
The focus can shift towards:
- Regular practice
- Reviewing mistakes
- Timed sections
- Writing practice
- Identifying recurring weaknesses
- Becoming comfortable with computer-based testing
Use a Practice and Review Cycle
A useful cycle is:
Practise → Review → Identify → Improve → Retest
For example:
- Your child completes 20 Mathematical Reasoning questions.
- They make four mistakes.
- You review those four questions together.
- You identify that two mistakes came from rushing.
- One mistake came from misunderstanding the question.
- One mistake came from a mathematical concept.
- You work on those specific issues.
- A week or two later, you try similar questions again.
This tells you much more than simply saying:
"You got 16 out of 20."
The score is useful, but the reason behind the mistakes is more useful.
Final 8 Weeks
The final eight weeks are a good time to become more comfortable with timed work.
Your child does not need to complete a full test every day.
Instead, introduce timed sections regularly.
For example:
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 8 | Timed Reading and Mathematical Reasoning |
| Week 7 | Timed Thinking Skills and Writing |
| Week 6 | Review recurring weaknesses |
| Week 5 | Timed Reading and Mathematical Reasoning |
| Week 4 | Full practice test |
| Week 3 | Review weaknesses and another timed test |
| Week 2 | Final full practice and targeted review |
| Week 1 | Light review and test-day preparation |
This is only a sample structure.
If a full practice test leaves your child exhausted or stressed, you may need to reduce the frequency.
The purpose of timed practice is to help students become familiar with working under time pressure.
It should not become a source of constant anxiety.
Final 4 Weeks
By the final month, your child should already know the basic test format.
This is not the time to try to teach everything from scratch.
Instead, focus on:
- Familiarity
- Timing
- Reviewing mistakes
- Writing practice
- Test-day routines
- Confidence with the computer-based format
Practise the Actual Test Environment
The NSW Department of Education provides online practice tests that simulate the computer-based test.
These can help your child become familiar with:
- Reading questions on screen
- Using the test interface
- Working with the timer
- Answering multiple-choice questions
- Reviewing questions
- Moving through the test
Use these resources as part of preparation rather than relying only on printed worksheets.
Access the official Selective High School practice tests
The Final Week
The final week is not the time for a last-minute study marathon.
Your child cannot learn everything in a few days.
The focus should shift towards being rested, organised and familiar with the process.
Keep Practice Light
Short practice activities can be useful.
For example:
- A short Reading activity
- A few Mathematical Reasoning questions
- A small set of Thinking Skills questions
- One final Writing response if appropriate
There is no need to fill every day with full practice tests.
Review, Do Not Cram
Look back at common mistakes.
If your child regularly forgets to read the whole question before answering, remind them to slow down.
If they have trouble planning writing responses, practise a few short plans.
If timing has been a problem, complete a short timed activity.
The goal is to reinforce useful habits.
Protect Sleep and Routine
The NSW Department of Education encourages students to continue co-curricular activities, see friends, eat healthily and sleep well in the lead-up to the test.
This is useful advice for parents because the final days do not need to revolve entirely around test preparation.
A rested child is better placed to approach the test calmly than a child who has been studying late every night.
How Much Should a Child Practise?
There is no official number of practice hours that every student needs.
The NSW Department of Education states that only a small amount of preparation is needed and that coaching is not necessary.
That does not mean practice is useless.
It means preparation should be sensible.
A child may benefit from practice that helps them:
- Understand the test format
- Become familiar with question types
- Work within time limits
- Identify areas that need attention
- Review mistakes
- Become comfortable with computer-based testing
The right amount depends on the child.
If practice is helping your child learn and improve, it can be useful.
If practice is simply producing more and more questions without any review, it may be time to change the approach.
Why Reviewing Mistakes Matters More Than Simply Doing More Questions
Imagine two students.
Student A completes 500 questions but rarely reviews mistakes.
Student B completes 250 questions and carefully reviews every mistake.
You cannot determine from the number of questions alone which student will perform better.
The important question is what each student learned.
When reviewing a mistake, ask:
What happened?
Did the student misunderstand the question?
What should they have noticed?
Was there an important word, condition or piece of information?
What strategy could they use next time?
Can the student explain a better approach?
Can they solve a similar problem?
This last step is particularly useful.
If a student understands the explanation but cannot solve a similar question independently, they may need more practice.
How to Track Progress
You do not need a complicated spreadsheet.
A simple record can be enough.
| Date | Section | Activity | Result | Main issue | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 March | Reading | Practice set | 14/18 | Inference | Review inference questions |
| 12 March | Maths | Practice set | 16/20 | Rushing | Slow down and check |
| 15 March | Thinking | Practice set | 15/20 | Multi-step problems | Practise step-by-step reasoning |
| 17 March | Writing | Timed response | Reviewed | Structure | Improve paragraph planning |
The purpose of tracking is not to create pressure.
It is to answer a simple question:
"What should we work on next?"
Track More Than Scores
Useful things to record include:
- Accuracy
- Time taken
- Types of mistakes
- Questions that took too long
- Writing strengths
- Writing areas to improve
- Whether the student understood the correction
This gives you a much clearer picture of progress.
When Should You Increase the Difficulty?
Start with questions your child can understand.
Then gradually introduce more challenging or unfamiliar problems.
If every practice session is far too difficult, your child may spend most of the time feeling stuck.
If every question is easy, they may not be developing the ability to deal with unfamiliar problems.
A useful progression is:
Understand → Practise → Apply → Time → Challenge
For example, a student might first learn how to approach a particular type of problem.
Then they practise it without a time limit.
Later, they solve similar problems under a time limit.
Finally, they encounter the skill within a mixed practice set where they do not know what type of problem is coming next.
That last stage is important because the actual test does not tell students which strategy to use before each question.
When Should You Stop Increasing the Workload?
More preparation is not automatically better.
If your child is becoming tired, frustrated or constantly worried about the test, adding more questions may not help.
Watch for signs such as:
- Complaining about practice every day
- Difficulty concentrating
- Losing interest in activities they normally enjoy
- Staying up late to complete practice
- Becoming unusually upset about small mistakes
- Feeling that every practice test is a judgment of their ability
The NSW Department of Education has also cautioned that too much coaching can affect student wellbeing.
Preparation should fit into your child's life rather than take over their life.
Example Weekly Study Plans
Every child is different, so use these as examples rather than rules.
Light Preparation Schedule
This can suit a student who is beginning early.
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Reading | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Tuesday | Mathematics | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Wednesday | Rest | - |
| Thursday | Thinking Skills | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Friday | Rest | - |
| Saturday | Writing or reading | 30 minutes |
| Sunday | Family time or review | Optional |
The purpose at this stage is consistency.
Moderate Preparation Schedule
This can suit a student who is closer to the test.
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Reading practice | 30 minutes |
| Tuesday | Mathematical Reasoning | 30 minutes |
| Wednesday | Thinking Skills | 30 minutes |
| Thursday | Writing | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Friday | Rest | - |
| Saturday | Timed section | 40 to 45 minutes |
| Sunday | Review mistakes | 20 to 30 minutes |
Final Weeks Schedule
Closer to the test, the focus can move towards timed work and reviewing mistakes.
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday | Reading practice |
| Tuesday | Mathematical Reasoning |
| Wednesday | Rest |
| Thursday | Thinking Skills |
| Friday | Writing |
| Saturday | Timed section or full practice test |
| Sunday | Review or rest |
Again, there is no requirement to follow this exact schedule.
How to Prepare for Each Test Section
Reading Preparation
Focus on:
- Understanding the main idea
- Finding relevant information
- Making inferences
- Understanding vocabulary in context
- Comparing ideas
- Understanding the author's purpose
- Reading carefully under time pressure
A good reading habit is to ask your child to explain why an answer is correct.
Mathematical Reasoning Preparation
Focus on:
- Understanding mathematical concepts taught at school
- Applying mathematics to unfamiliar problems
- Identifying useful information
- Choosing an appropriate strategy
- Checking answers
- Working without a calculator
Do not focus only on speed.
Accuracy and understanding come first.
Thinking Skills Preparation
Focus on:
- Patterns
- Relationships
- Logic
- Deductions
- Problem solving
- Comparing possibilities
- Explaining reasoning
Encourage your child to try a different approach when their first idea does not work.
Writing Preparation
Focus on:
- Understanding the prompt
- Writing for the required purpose and audience
- Generating ideas
- Planning
- Organising ideas
- Developing the response
- Using clear and appropriate language
- Editing
Students should also practise writing within 30 minutes.
A Simple Writing Practice Method
Writing can feel difficult to improve because there is no simple right or wrong answer.
One useful approach is to separate the skills.
Practice 1: Ideas
Give your child a prompt.
Give them a few minutes to come up with possible ideas.
Do not worry about grammar yet.
Practice 2: Planning
Take one idea and create a simple plan.
For example:
- Opening
- Main idea 1
- Main idea 2
- Main idea 3
- Ending
The exact structure will depend on the task.
Practice 3: Writing
Write the response within the 30-minute time limit.
Practice 4: Review
Look at:
- Did the response answer the prompt?
- Is the main idea clear?
- Are the ideas developed?
- Is the writing easy to follow?
- Are there spelling or punctuation errors?
- Are there sentences that could be clearer?
This creates a repeatable writing process.
How to Use Vivo Practice Tests Effectively
Practice tests are most useful when they are part of a wider process.
Rather than treating each test as an event, use it as a source of information.
A useful process is:
Take a test → Check answers → Review mistakes → Identify patterns → Practise weak areas → Take another test
For example, if a student repeatedly loses time in Reading, the next practice session can focus on reading efficiently.
If Mathematical Reasoning mistakes are mostly caused by misreading questions, the next goal is careful reading rather than simply doing more mathematics questions.
If Writing responses contain good ideas but lack structure, the next practice session can focus on planning.
This is where timed practice and feedback become useful.
Vivo Education's practice resources can be used alongside a structured study plan to give students opportunities to practise under test conditions and review their performance.
You can explore Vivo Education's Selective test packs to find timed practice tests your child can use as part of their preparation.
Should Parents Give Their Child the Answers?
It is usually more useful to help your child understand the process than to immediately give them the answer.
If they get a question wrong, try asking:
"What did you think the question was asking?"
Then:
"What information did you use?"
And finally:
"Can you find another way to check your answer?"
This encourages your child to become more independent.
The goal is not for parents to solve every difficult question.
The goal is to help students develop habits they can use by themselves.
Balancing Schoolwork and Selective Test Preparation
Selective test preparation should sit alongside normal school learning.
Your child still needs to complete their schoolwork, participate in activities and have time to relax.
The NSW Department of Education specifically encourages students to continue co-curricular activities, see friends, eat healthily and sleep well in the lead-up to the test.
Regular school attendance also matters.
The Department states that parents should not take children out of school to prepare for the placement test. Too many unjustified absences can affect consideration for placement.
Preparation should therefore be something you add carefully to your child's existing routine.
What Should Parents Do on the Weekend Before the Test?
Keep things simple.
You do not need to spend the weekend completing multiple full practice tests.
Instead:
- Check the test information.
- Make sure you know the test centre.
- Check the Test Admission Ticket.
- Plan your travel.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Keep meals and routines normal.
- Do some light revision if your child wants to.
- Give your child time away from study.
The NSW Department of Education advises parents to plan travel to the test centre. The Test Admission Ticket provides the student's test location, date and time.
If you arrive late, your child will not receive extra test time.
What Should Students Do on Test Day?
The current Selective High School Placement Test is completed on computers at designated test centres.
Students should follow the instructions provided by the Department and on their Test Admission Ticket.
A few practical reminders can help.
Before leaving home
Make sure your child has:
- Their printed Test Admission Ticket
- The required items listed by the Department
- Appropriate food for the breaks
- Water if permitted under the current instructions
Check the current Department information before test day because requirements can change.
At the test centre
Your child should listen carefully to the test supervisors.
If they do not understand a procedure, they should ask.
During the test
Encourage your child to:
- Read questions carefully.
- Keep an eye on the time.
- Avoid spending too long on one question.
- Use paper for working when helpful.
- Check answers when there is enough time.
- Stay focused on the question in front of them.
What If My Child Finds a Question Very Difficult?
Every student will encounter questions they find difficult.
The goal is not to make every question feel easy.
Teach your child to recognise when they are spending too much time on one problem.
Depending on the section and test instructions, they can move through the test and return to questions when appropriate.
This is another reason timed practice can be useful.
Students can learn how to manage difficult questions without allowing one problem to consume too much of their available time.
A Four-Stage Selective School Preparation Cycle
If you want one simple system to use throughout preparation, use these four stages.
1. Baseline
Find out where your child is now.
Use practice questions or an official practice test.
2. Practise
Work on specific skills and question types.
Do not focus only on full tests.
3. Review
Look carefully at mistakes.
Ask why they happened.
4. Retest
After some targeted practice, try similar questions again.
Then repeat the cycle.
Baseline → Practise → Review → Retest
This keeps preparation focused.
It also gives your child a clear sense of what they are working towards.
Selective School Preparation Checklist
Use this checklist as you work through your preparation plan.
Understanding the Test
- We understand the four test sections.
- We know the time allowed for each section.
- My child understands that the test is computer-based.
- We have looked at the official practice resources.
- My child knows that calculators and dictionaries are not permitted.
Starting Preparation
- We have completed an initial practice activity.
- We have identified strengths.
- We have identified areas that need work.
- We have created a manageable weekly routine.
During Preparation
- My child practises all four test sections.
- We review mistakes.
- We keep track of recurring problems.
- We gradually introduce timed practice.
- My child practises writing within the available time.
- My child uses computer-based practice.
Final Weeks
- We have completed timed practice.
- We have completed at least some full practice tests.
- We have reviewed common mistakes.
- We know the test-day arrangements.
- We have checked the Test Admission Ticket.
- We have planned travel to the test centre.
- My child is getting enough sleep.
- We have kept preparation manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should my child start preparing for the Selective School Test?
There is no official preparation period that every student needs to follow.
Starting earlier can give students more time to become familiar with the test and gradually work on areas that need attention.
However, preparation does not need to be intensive for many months.
The NSW Department of Education states that only a small amount of preparation is needed and provides free practice resources.
How many hours a week should my child study?
There is no official number of hours that students are expected to study.
The right amount depends on the child, their existing skills and their school and family commitments.
Focus on useful practice rather than a target number of hours.
Should my child do a practice test every week?
Not necessarily.
Practice tests are useful, but reviewing mistakes and working on weaknesses are also important.
A practice test followed by no review may be less useful than a shorter practice session where your child carefully examines their mistakes.
Does my child need tutoring?
No.
The NSW Department of Education states that coaching or tutoring is not necessary for the placement test and does not recommend or endorse coaching.
The Department provides free practice resources to help students become familiar with the test.
What should my child read to prepare for the Reading Test?
Encourage your child to read a variety of material.
This can include fiction, non-fiction, articles, biographies, poetry and other age-appropriate texts.
The important thing is not simply the number of books your child reads.
Talk about what they are reading and encourage them to explain ideas, meanings and conclusions.
How can my child improve Thinking Skills?
Give them opportunities to solve unfamiliar problems.
Logic puzzles, patterns and reasoning activities can encourage children to think carefully about relationships and possible solutions.
Ask your child to explain how they reached an answer.
How can my child improve their Writing?
Practise the different stages of writing.
These include:
- Understanding the prompt
- Generating ideas
- Planning
- Writing
- Developing ideas
- Editing
Timed writing should also be introduced so that your child becomes comfortable completing a response within 30 minutes.
Should we focus more on one test section?
If your child has a clear weakness, it makes sense to spend additional time working on it.
However, remember that Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing each contribute 25% of the test.
A balanced preparation plan should therefore include all four sections.
Are practice test scores a prediction of the real test result?
No.
The NSW Department of Education states that practice and sample test results do not show how a student will perform in the actual test.
Use practice results to identify areas for improvement rather than treating them as a guaranteed prediction.
What is the best way to prepare for the final week?
Keep preparation light.
Review common mistakes, complete short activities if useful and make sure your child understands what will happen on test day.
Prioritise sleep, normal routines and wellbeing.
Can my child still do sport and other activities while preparing?
Yes.
The NSW Department of Education encourages students to continue co-curricular activities, see friends, eat healthily and sleep well in the lead-up to the test.
There is no need for selective school preparation to replace everything else in your child's routine.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for the NSW Selective School Test does not have to mean endless worksheets, daily full tests or long hours of study.
A better approach is to make preparation purposeful.
Start by understanding the test.
Then find out where your child is now.
From there, create a simple routine that covers Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.
As the test approaches, gradually introduce more timed practice and computer-based practice.
Most importantly, review mistakes.
A practice question is useful because of what your child learns from it. A wrong answer is not simply a mark lost. It can show you what to work on next.
The basic process is simple:
Baseline → Practise → Review → Improve → Retest
Keep repeating that cycle throughout preparation.
And remember that preparation is only one part of the process. Your child still needs time for school, family, friends, sport, hobbies, sleep and simply being a child.
The goal is to help your child walk into the test familiar with the format, comfortable with the types of questions and ready to do their best on the day.
Official NSW Department of Education Resources
For the latest information about the Selective High School Placement Test, use the NSW Department of Education's official resources:
- Selective High School Placement Test
- Selective High School Practice Tests
- Selective High School Application Process
- Get ready for the Selective High School Placement Test
For parents: Always check the Department of Education website for the current test dates, application requirements and test-day instructions for your child's year of entry.
