Preparation Guide for Selective/OC Exam
Here’s what you need to know for the upcoming exam!
Apr 26 2025
Test Admission Ticket
| Check List Category | Student Test Day Instructions |
|---|---|
| What to Wear | Students must wear their school uniform (sports uniform with the school emblem is fine. Let your child choose their preferred uniform (formal or sports). Pack a hat for breaks outdoors and a jacket if the weather is cool. |
| What to Bring | ● Two 2B pencils ● Eraser ● Pencil sharpener ● Printed Test Admission Ticket ● Clear water bottle |
| If Applicable, Also Bring: | ● Approved adjustments for disability (e.g., FM transmitters) ● EpiPen, asthma inhalers, diabetes medication, or other necessary medications ● Glasses ● Tissues ● A clear plastic bag for stationery (no pencil cases allowed) ● A quiet wristwatch (no noise, calculators, computing, internet connection, messaging, or malpractice features) |
| What NOT to Bring: | ● Pens ● Rulers ● Calculators ● Note paper ● Dictionaries or other books ● Smartwatches, phones, or other devices that compute, photograph, communicate, or make noise ● Pencil cases |
Frequently Asked Questions:
| Frequently Asked Questions | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Do we need exactly two pencils? | Two is just the minimum recommendation, so you won’t run out. Feel free to pack three or more pencils, just in case. |
| Do all stationery items have to be in a clear plastic bag? | Yes, all stationery items must be in a clear plastic (ziplock) bag. Following this rule avoids potential issues on test day. Pencil cases are not allowed to be brought. |
| Can they bring an insulated water bottle? | No. Use a small, clear water bottle (like those from major supermarkets), remove the label, and write your child’s name on it. |
| What if my child is sick and unable to attend the test day? | Obtain a doctor’s certificate and submit it through the application dashboard by the specified cut-off date (for a make-up test on 19th May). For more information, see Illness or misadventure |
| What is the duration of the test? | OC Exam timetable 8:00 am Students arrive 8:30 am Reading Test (30 minutes) 9:00 am Short break (students remain seated or use the bathroom) 9:10 am Mathematical Reasoning Test (40 minutes) 9:55 am Short break (students remain seated or use the bathroom) 10:05 am Thinking Skills Test (30 minutes) 10:40 am End of Thinking Skills Test 10:55 am Parent pick-up time |
| Selective Exam Timetable 12:00 pm Students arrive 12:30 pm Reading Test (40 minutes) 1:10 pm Short break (students remain seated or use bathroom) 1:20 pm Mathematical Reasoning Test (40 minutes) 2:10 pm Longer Break (students can leave the room or use bathroom) 2:40 pm Thinking Skills Test (40 minutes) 3:25 pm Short break (students remain seated or use bathroom) 3:35 pm Writing Test (30 minutes) 4:10 pm End of the Writing Test 4:20 pm Parent pick-up time | |
| Are snacks allowed? | Yes, for the selective school test, students may bring a substantial snack to eat during the longer break between tests. However, for the OC test, snacks are not permitted as the breaks are shorter. |
| Is a wristwatch necessary? | A wristwatch is not essential, as the test screen will display the time. However, you may provide a quiet one, ensuring it does not produce noise or include features such as calculators, computing capabilities, internet access, messaging, or any other functions that could lead to malpractice. |
| Is there an online practice test available? | Yes, new online practice tests are now accessible. Encourage your child to familiarize themselves with the test sections by visiting the relevant test page provided below. -> Selective School Exam Practice Test -> OC Exam Practice Test |
| Do students need to bring a computer? | No, a Windows laptop with a trackpad and a separate mouse will be provided by the department for each student. Students are not permitted to bring their own computer equipment. |
| Do students need to submit their answers for each test? | No, students’ answers are automatically saved and submitted when the time for each test component ends. There is no ‘submit’ or ‘finish’ button. |
| Can students track their word count for the Selective Writing test? | No, the test software does not include a word count functionality for the Writing test. |
| Are working-out papers provided? | Yes, each student will receive two A3 sheets of paper for working out at the beginning of the test. |
| How many students applied for the 2025 test?* | Selective School Exam: 17,559 students applied for one of 4,248 places (excluding Aurora College). OC Exam: 13,110 students applied for one of 1,840 places (excluding Aurora College). |
| What if something goes wrong during the test? | Ensure your child knows they should not hesitate to raise their hand if they face any issues, such as a problem with computer hardware or software. There’s no need to panic—help will be provided once they signal for assistance. |
Dear Parents and Carers,
Greetings to you all. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the constant support you give your children in their studies.
The ASAT results have now been released. ASAT is a practice exam designed to replicate the conditions of the OC and Selective High School Placement Tests, giving students invaluable, hands-on experience before the real event. Thanks to your strong support, our cohort is large and the data are meaningful; however, we wish to emphasise that ASAT scores are reference data only and should never be regarded as definitive.
We are aware of recent discussions such as “Which organisation’s predictions are more accurate?” or “Does ASAT truly align with the real test results?”
This year’s exams involve numerous variables: three separate test days, first-ever computer-based testing (CBT), and complex interactions between student scores, school choices, and allocation procedures.
Given these factors, any forecast may fit some students yet cannot be a perfect match for everyone. At Pre-Uni New College, we openly acknowledge these limitations. ASAT is provided as a learning experience to guide students and families; it is not a fortune-telling tool for school placement. We ask for your understanding that its purpose is to build exam readiness and offer broad guidance, not to predict placements with absolute certainty.
Regardless of your child’s ASAT outcome, what matters most is that they enter the real tests in the best possible condition, minimise errors, and perform to their full ability. While practice questions play an important role, the greatest support comes from your warm encouragement and the confidence you instil in them. Considering the pressure young students already face, parental reassurance is more vital than ever.
The 2025 cohort will be the first to sit the exams in CBT format. For many children, an unfamiliar computer interface and travelling long distances to test centres can heighten anxiety. Both the Selective High School and Opportunity Class tests are, by nature, competitive selection processes, so not every student will achieve his or her preferred outcome. Nevertheless, we believe that the preparation journey itself will provide valuable skills that benefit students well beyond these exams.
Having overseen ASAT in CBT form ourselves, we understand just how challenging it is to manage every possible variable. To those who have never run such a test, it may appear straightforward, but in reality it is far from simple. For that reason, we earnestly hope that no unexpected technical issues arise in the NSW OC or Selective exams, so that all students can be assessed fairly and without external disruption. We trust the DoE NSW will do everything possible to ensure a smooth testing experience.
With only one week remaining, please remind your children:
“Don’t worry, you can do it—remember that we love you, believe in you, and are always here with a big hug.”
Encourage plenty of rest and healthy routines so they arrive at the exam room calm and confident.
Our shared goal is to help every student demonstrate their abilities in a safe, equitable environment. Thank you once again for your steadfast support and encouragement. We wish your children every success and a bright future ahead.
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