Selective High School Placement FAQ
Everything you need to know
Apr 29 2026
Confused about the Selective High School Placement Test?
Many parents have questions regarding the application process, selection criteria, and important dates.
This FAQ page provides clear, concise answers based on official information from the NSW Department of Education. Our goal is to help you navigate the placement journey and find everything you need regarding Selective High School entry in one place.
| Q1. Can parents wait inside the school grounds, and can students meet parents during breaks? |
| A. No. Parents must leave the school grounds after drop-off and return for pickup. The school premises are off-limits during the test. If pickup time changes, parents will be notified by SMS. |
| Q2. Will the writing format or text type be the same on both days? |
| A. The department does not reveal test questions or text types. Students should carefully read the question to determine the best text type. The way the topic is set up is intended not to advantage or disadvantage students on either day. |
| Q3. How is test time allocated, are there breaks, and when does the test finish? |
| A. The department directs families to the official test page for details about time allocation, break times, break length, and finish time. |
| Q4. Will all students sitting on the same day get the same test paper? |
| A. Yes. All students sitting the test on the same day will do the same test. |
| Q5. If a child gets extra time, do they still get the normal breaks between tests? |
| A. Yes. Students who have extra time still get the rest breaks between tests. For accommodation requests, families should submit an enquiry through the application dashboard. |
| Q6. What device is provided? Can students bring their own mouse or keyboard? |
| A. A Windows laptop with trackpad is provided, along with a separate corded mouse. Students cannot bring their own computer equipment. There will not be a separate keyboard; students use the laptop keyboard and trackpad. |
| Q7. Can an allocated test date be changed to the preferred date? |
| A. Preferred dates are not guaranteed. In exceptional circumstances, families should contact the Selective Education Team through the application dashboard and provide supporting evidence. |
| Q8. Why 2B pencils, and is HB allowed? |
| A. A reply states that wooden HB pencils will be fine to bring. Another official reply on the same thread confirms the standard requirement is 2 x 2B wooden lead pencils, plus an eraser, sharpener, Test Admission Ticket and clear water bottle. |
| Q9. Does writing need a heading? What is assessed? Is the writing test online? |
| A. No specific marks are allocated for having or not having a heading. Writing is assessed on how students choose, develop and organise ideas, communicate clearly, use language effectively, and stay on topic. All parts of the test, including writing, are done online. |
| Q10. If a student gets logged out during the writing test, is the work saved? |
| A. Student work is automatically saved every 30 seconds. If a student has a problem, they should raise their hand and staff will help. Parents can also submit an illness/misadventure request if something goes wrong. |
| Q11. Where can the medication consent form be found? |
| A. It should be attached in a message on the application dashboard. If it is not there, families should message the Selective Education Team through the dashboard. |
| Q12. Will students on the second day have an advantage over the first day? |
| A. The writing test question will be different on each day. The department does not reveal details about questions. There are different versions of the tests so students can sit on different days, and measures are in place so there is no advantage based on test day. |
| Q13. If two students have exactly the same score and one spot remains, how is the place decided? |
| A. The department says it would be very rare, but if it happened they would use data from the students’ test performance to fairly rank them based on academic merit. |
| Q14. If one child ranks a school #3 but scores higher, and another ranks it #2 but scores lower, who gets the offer? |
| A. Offers are based on test performance across all school choices. In the example given, the higher-scoring child would receive the offer, even if that school was their third choice. |
| Q15. Does the Test Admission Ticket need to be printed in colour? |
| A. No. Black-and-white printed tickets will be accepted. |
| Q16. Do classroom assignment number or school marks affect the result? |
| A. Placement is based on how the child performs in the placement test only. School marks are not counted. |
| Q17. If a child is sick and misses the test, is the make-up test harder? |
| A. Families can submit an illness or misadventure request. If approved, the child can sit the make-up test. The make-up test will not be any harder than the other tests. The request must be submitted within 5 business days after the test in the application dashboard. |
| Q18. Will it be a problem if the Test Admission Ticket has no child photo? |
| A. No. Photos are optional, so there is no problem if the photo is not on the ticket. |
| Q19. Can students bring food or a lunch box because the test runs from about 10 to 2? |
| A. Yes. Students should bring a substantial snack for the longer break. It can be packed in a lunch box and left in the bag until they are told to get it. |
| Q20. How much paper is provided for working out? |
| A. At the start of the test, each student receives two blank A4 sheets to use across all test sections. If they need additional paper, they should raise their hand and ask for more. |
| Q21. If a student gets an offer and the family later moves area, can the student transfer to another selective school, or must they sit the exam again? |
| A. Students cannot transfer between selective high schools. If a family moves, they can apply directly to another selective high school through the Years 8-11 application process. |
| Q22. We received a test admission ticket without the student’s photo. Is that okay? |
| A. Yes. Uploading a photo for the Test Admission Ticket was optional, and the ticket will be accepted without a photo. |
| Q23. Must the photo be shown on the Test Admission Ticket if it was not uploaded? |
| A. No. Uploading a photo for the Test Admission Ticket was optional and the ticket will be accepted without it. |
| Q24. Does DOE provide a mouse? Is paper provided for maths working? Is the mouse wired? |
| A. A laptop and mouse are provided. Students may use either the mouse or the laptop trackpad. Each student gets two A4 sheets at the start and can ask for more if needed. The mouse is connected by cable. |
| Q25. Is the writing part done on paper or on computer? |
| A. All parts of the test, including the writing task, are done online. |
| Q26. Is this model of watch allowed during the test? |
| A. No. Watches, phones, or any devices that can compute, take photos, communicate, or make noise are not allowed. |
| Q27. Is there any disadvantage if a school is listed as the 3rd choice? |
| A. No. Children are considered for all school choices based solely on test performance. A child is not disadvantaged because a school is listed 3rd. |
| Q28. Did all parents receive the trial SMS shown in the dashboard message? |
| A. No. The trial SMS was sent to a random number of parents. If the department needs to contact a family during placement tests, it will text the Parent/Carer 1 mobile number listed in the application. |
| Q29. Do we need to glue a student photo on the ticket and the action plan? |
| A. No. Uploading a photo for the Test Admission Ticket was optional and there is no need to stick a photo to the ticket. |
| Q30. Can students highlight text in the reading test? How much working paper is provided? |
| A. Students cannot highlight text in the computer-based test, but they can use the Flag button to mark questions for review. Each student receives two blank A4 sheets across all sections and can ask for more. |
| Q31. My child is left-handed and finds a mouse hard to use. Will a laptop or touchpad be available? |
| A. A laptop and mouse will be provided, and the child can use either the mouse or the laptop trackpad to navigate the test. |
| Q32. If students finish early, can they go back and review answers? Can they return to earlier reading questions after moving on? |
| A. Students can review or change answers within the current test section using the progress summary grid. They cannot return to previous test sections once those sections are finished. |
| Q33. Can children bring their own keyboard and mouse, especially for writing? |
| A. A laptop and mouse will be provided for each child. Students only need to bring the items listed on the official checklist. |
| Q34. Until when can school preferences be updated in the selective application form? Can choices still be changed after the exam? |
| A. 5 June 2026 is the last day to update or change school choices. |
| Q35. Is Sydney Girls intake 150 or 180? |
| A. DOE confirmed the intake enrolment figure for Sydney Girls High School is 180 and said the school would be contacted to update its website. |
| Q36. Will the four exams be on one day or two days? Can a child bring food such as gum or a lollipop? |
| A. The placement test is held on one day and there will be a break. Students should bring a substantial healthy snack for the break. No eating is allowed during the test. |
| Q37. If we accept an offer from choice 3, do we drop off reserve lists for choices 1 or 2? |
| A. A family may accept an offer and remain on a reserve list for a higher-choice school until the reserve decision date. If a higher-choice offer comes later, they can accept it and decline the lower-choice offer. |
| Q38. Is there a page where we can see available Year 7 seats for each selective school? |
| A. Yes. The Selective High Schools page lists all schools and the number of Year 7 places available in the ‘Find a selective high school’ section. |
For more detailed information about the Selective High School Placement Test,
Please visit the official NSW Department of Education page.
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