OC & Selective English: Reading and Writing preparation
English in the NSW tests means Reading (in both the OC and Selective tests) and Writing (Selective only). Reading is multiple choice on fiction, non-fiction and poetry; Writing is one 30-minute task. Here is what each tests, practice with answers, and how to improve.
The Reading test: what it asks
| OC test (Year 4) | Selective test (Year 6) | |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 14 (3 with several parts) | 17 (3 with several parts; 38 answers) |
| Time | 40 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Texts | Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, articles and book extracts | |
Almost every reading question is one of four kinds: literal (the answer is in the text), vocabulary in context, inference (reading between the lines) and main idea. Inference questions cost the most marks. Our guide to the four kinds of reading question shows how to attack each one.
The habit that lifts reading scores: go back to the text for every answer and point to the words that prove it. If you cannot point to the proof, choose again.
Reading practice: a poem
Poetry questions worry many children, but they ask the same four kinds of question. Try this one — about five minutes.
Reading practice: a gap-fill question
A gap-fill question (the Selective Reading test includes several multi-part questions like this — the Department’s practice tests show the current layouts). Three sentences have been removed. Choose the sentence (A–D) that fits each gap. One sentence is not needed.
Honeybees tell each other where to find food by moving. [1] The direction of the dance shows the other bees which way to fly, measured against the position of the sun. [2] A longer waggle means that the food is further away. [3]
- A returning forager performs a “waggle dance” on the honeycomb.
- The length of each waggle run, meanwhile, signals distance.
- Bees that watch the dance closely then leave the hive to find the food themselves.
- Honey was a popular sweetener long before sugar was common.
Show answers
1 – A, 2 – B, 3 – C. Gap 1 needs the dance to be introduced before “the direction of the dance” is mentioned. Gap 2 leads into “a longer waggle”, so it must be about length and distance. Gap 3 finishes the sequence: other bees act on the message. Sentence D is true-sounding but off topic — gap-fill questions nearly always include one sentence like this.
The Selective Writing test
The OC test has no writing test. The Selective test has one: a single task in 30 minutes, worth 25% of the result. The Department says it is marked on the creativity of the ideas and how well the writing suits its purpose and audience, as well as text structure, grammar, punctuation, style and vocabulary — and that responses should be no longer than two pages.
A 30-minute plan that works
- 5 minutes — plan. One idea the reader will not expect; an ending you know before you start; three or four paragraph jobs.
- 20 minutes — write. Start close to the action, vary sentence lengths, and show feelings through what characters do.
- 5 minutes — check. Dialogue punctuation, paragraph breaks, one or two stronger word choices.
Practise with these prompts
- Story. “The door had been locked for as long as anyone could remember. This morning, it was open.” Write a story that begins or ends with these words.
- Persuasive. Should every student be allowed to drop one school subject they never want to study again? Write to persuade your principal.
- Open choice. Write about a time when something small turned out to matter a great deal. You may write a story, a diary entry or a reflection.
Then check the piece against our Selective writing checklist.
Building English skills before Year 4 and Year 6
- Read widely and daily — including non-fiction and poetry, which children often skip.
- Talk about vocabulary in context: “what does sprawled tell us that grew does not?”
- Read on a screen sometimes: both tests are sat on a computer.
- Write little and often, with feedback — a paragraph rewritten well teaches more than a page written once.
Our live one-to-one classes cover Reading for the OC exam and Reading and Writing for the Selective exam, with feedback on every writing piece.
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Questions parents ask
Is there a writing test in the OC exam?
No. The OC test has Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. Writing is only in the Selective test.
How is the Selective writing test marked?
According to the NSW Department of Education, on the creativity of the ideas and how well the writing suits its purpose and audience, as well as text structure, grammar, punctuation, style and vocabulary. Responses should be no longer than two pages.
What kinds of texts are in the Reading test?
Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, articles and extracts from books. Some Selective questions have several parts, such as putting removed sentences back into a text.
How can my child get faster at reading questions?
Speed comes from knowing the question types and going back to the text efficiently, not from skimming. Timed practice on a screen in the final months helps too.
What does “OCSC” mean?
Some families use “OCSC” as shorthand for the NSW OC (Opportunity Class) and Selective tests together. They are two separate tests run by the NSW Department of Education: the OC test in Year 4 for Year 5 entry, and the Selective High School test in Year 6 for Year 7 entry.
Is Mathkari affiliated with the NSW Department of Education?
No. Mathkari Concepts is an independent tutoring provider. Facts about the tests on this page come from the Department’s published information, and every practice question here is our own original material.
Sources
- Selective high schools and opportunity classes: placement test (NSW Department of Education)
- Get ready for the Opportunity Class Placement Test (NSW Department of Education)
- Get ready for the Selective High School Placement Test (NSW Department of Education)
- Opportunity class practice tests (NSW Department of Education)
- Selective high school practice tests (NSW Department of Education)
- Applications to open for 2027 selective school entry (NSW Government, ministerial release)
Mathkari Concepts is an independent tutoring provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NSW Department of Education. All practice questions on this page are original Mathkari material.
Free Reading practice papers
Every paper is attempted online and marked the moment you finish — nothing to download. The first three questions are open to everyone.
- OC Practice Mock 1 — Mathematical Reasoning (Year 3, early preparation)Year 3 · 35 questions · 40 min · free, marked instantly
- OC Practice Mock 1 — Reading (Year 3, early preparation)Year 3 · 23 questions · 40 min · free, marked instantly
- OC Practice Mock 1 — Thinking Skills (Year 3, early preparation)Year 3 · 30 questions · 30 min · free, marked instantly
- Selective Practice Mock 1 — Mathematical Reasoning (Year 5, early preparation)Year 5 · 35 questions · 40 min · free, marked instantly
- Selective Practice Mock 1 — Reading (Year 5, early preparation)Year 5 · 38 questions · 45 min · free, marked instantly
- Selective Practice Mock 1 — Thinking Skills (Year 5, early preparation)Year 5 · 40 questions · 40 min · free, marked instantly