Free guides for parents

Straight answers about the NSW selective tests, and the methods we actually teach in class. No sign-up, no email, nothing gated. Written by the teachers who run the classes.

Applying this year? Start here

Key dates, and how to apply Applications open in November and close in February — and late applications are not accepted. The full yearly cycle, the five-step online application, and the mistakes that cost a place before the test. A 6-month OC study plan November to May, month by month: Thinking Skills first, the clock from month three, and the wrong-answer book that does most of the work. How OC and Selective scores work Test-only placement, equal section weighting, no penalty for guessing, the 20% equity placement model and reserve-list bands — in the Department's own words. Free 30-minute OC sample paper Nineteen questions across all three sections at the real pace, with an explanation for every answer and a guide to reading the result.

NSW selective tests

What's actually on the NSW Opportunity Class test Three sections, 79 questions, 110 minutes, computer-based. The official figures, what each section really measures, and where children lose marks they needn't. The NSW Selective test, section by section Four components, 93 questions, each worth exactly 25% — including Writing, which is the cheapest quarter of the mark to improve.

Free practice tests and subject pages

Free OC practice test12 OC-style questions, marked instantly, with worked answers. Free Selective practice testYear 6 mock questions, writing prompts and a marking checklist. OC & Selective mathsMathematical Reasoning topics, worked examples and practice. OC & Selective EnglishReading question types, practice texts and Selective writing.

How the hard question types are solved

Logical deduction, solved properly Thinking Skills grid questions are a procedure, not a puzzle. The elimination method worked through, plus why "must be true" is a different question from "could be true". The four kinds of reading question Literal, vocabulary in context, inference and main idea — and why inference is where a reading score gets capped. Worked from a real passage.

Maths method

Cancel before you multiply Pair a top with a bottom, never two tops. Why it works, the mistake nearly every child makes, and why it matters when you have 70 seconds a question.

Live classes, real teachers

One-to-one and small-group online classes in Maths and English for Grades 1–10, taught live on a shared whiteboard — not recorded videos. Homework is set after every class and corrected by the teacher with written feedback, practice tests come back with instant results, and parents get a WhatsApp update after every class so you always know what was set and what's still pending.

Classes are scheduled in your time zone, wherever you are — Australia, India, the UK or the US.

The first lesson is a demo class.

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Put the guides into practice — free papers online

Every paper is attempted online and marked the moment you finish — nothing to download. The first three questions are open to everyone.

Free OC practice tests → Free Selective practice tests → Free NAPLAN practice tests →