When a selective school test is coming up, it’s easy to feel that you should be doing more: more practice papers, more tutoring, more weekends of study. The education departments that run these tests say the opposite. Here’s how to prepare for a selective school test calmly, using the departments’ own advice, the free official practice tests, and a few simple steps for test day.
What the departments say about coaching
This is the question parents ask most, so it’s worth hearing the answer in the departments’ own words.
- NSW: “It is important to know that coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary. The test will not need your child to know any new or special knowledge. So, extra paid coaching outside of school will not give your child an advantage.” The Department adds that “there is no credible research that shows coaching helps a child gain entry”, and that “too much coaching can harm their wellbeing.”
- Victoria: ACER, which runs the exam for the Department, says there is “no need” for children to revise for it. Its sample questions are there to show the style and format.
- Western Australia: “The test identifies a student’s potential, rather than their acquired knowledge. We do not endorse or recommend any form of private professional coaching or tutoring services”.
So the aim is not to cram. It’s to make sure your child knows what to expect, feels comfortable on the day, and keeps enjoying school and life in the meantime. WA’s test handbook puts it well: “It may be useful to do a small amount of preparation for the test so that you know what to expect on the day and can feel comfortable and ready,” but “don’t feel pressured to over-prepare as this can have the opposite effect.”
The tests at a glance
| Test | When | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Selective High School Placement Test | Year 6, on computer | Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing |
| NSW Opportunity Class Placement Test | Year 4, on computer | Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills |
| Victorian selective entry exam | Year 8, on paper | Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning, Reading and Verbal Reasoning, and Writing |
| WA Academic Selective Entrance Test (ASET) | Year 6, on paper | Reading comprehension, writing, quantitative reasoning and abstract reasoning |
Each test has its own guide: the NSW selective school test, the NSW OC test, Victoria’s selective entry exam and WA’s ASET.
What a small amount of preparation looks like
- Learn the format together. Read the official page with your child: how many sections, how long each one is, and whether it’s on a computer or on paper. Knowing the shape of the day takes away a lot of the worry.
- Try the free official practice tests. NSW has free online practice tests that “simulate the actual placement tests”, ACER publishes sample questions for Victoria, and WA’s ASET handbook explains each part. One or two calm tries are plenty. Older NSW PDF tests come from the paper version, so they don’t match the current format.
- Don’t read too much into practice scores. NSW says “selection committees do not consider performance on sample or practice tests”, and WA says it won’t consider practice test scores either. A practice score isn’t a prediction.
- Read widely, for pleasure. Every one of these tests includes reading. Novels, non-fiction, magazines and the news all build the vocabulary and stamina that help.
- Write for fun. The NSW selective test, Victoria’s exam and WA’s ASET all include writing. Short pieces, like a story, a letter or a diary entry, written now and then, are better than drills.
- Play with maths. Puzzles, card games, board games and real-life problems keep your child thinking flexibly with the maths they already know.
- Keep life normal. NSW asks parents to “support your child to continue co-curricular activities, see friends, eat healthily and sleep well in the lead-up to the test.”
Don’t take your child out of school
School matters more than study. NSW says parents “must not take their child out of school to prepare for the placement tests”, and that poor attendance can be reported to the selection committee. A normal week at school is part of good preparation.
Protecting your child’s wellbeing
These tests are designed to be hard. ACER says of Victoria’s exam: “It is not unusual for candidates to only answer half the questions correctly and many do not finish.” Telling your child this beforehand can stop a tricky question from turning into panic.
ACER’s advice for parents is simple too: “don’t place unnecessary pressure to perform on them; it may create anxiety and affect their results”. A few things help:
- Talk about both outcomes. Many children who sit these tests don’t get a place. In NSW, the Department says about a quarter of students gain a selective high school place. Make sure your child knows a “no” is fine, and that you’re proud of them for having a go.
- Watch for stress. Trouble sleeping, tummy aches or tears are signs to ease right off.
- Teach a calm-down trick. Slow breathing, counting to five, or skipping a hard question and coming back later all help in a test room.
Test day: what to know
- NSW: children sit the test on Department computers at a local test centre. They don’t bring a computer or mouse, they get two A4 sheets for working out, and calculators aren’t allowed.
- Victoria: the exam is on paper, and ACER’s checklist asks for two blue or black pens. The whole session takes about four hours.
- WA: the ASET is four paper tests, with answers shaded in an answer booklet. WA says “we do not deduct points for incorrect answers”, so it’s worth having a go at every question.
If your child is sick on the day
Don’t send a sick child to the test. Each state has a way to sit it another day, but you need to act quickly:
- NSW: lodge an illness or misadventure request within five business days after the test. Approved students can sit the make-up test.
- Victoria: your child shouldn’t attend if unwell. Apply for an alternative date with ACER’s Illness/Misadventure Form by the deadline, which in the 2026 round was three days after the exam.
- WA: email the Department within 48 hours of the original test date to ask for another date. If your child became unwell during the test, you can ask for a review within 7 days.
Adjustments for disability or medical conditions
All three states make arrangements for students who need them, but you must ask early, usually by the day applications close. NSW says parents of students with disability or medical conditions can request reasonable adjustments, such as extra time, magnification, large-print or braille papers, or specific seating. In Victoria, special arrangements such as wheelchair access or materials for students with vision impairment are organised where required. In WA, the deadline for adjusted testing requests for the 2028 intake is 6 pm Friday 5 February 2027.
Last checked 17 October 2026. Rules and dates change each year, so always confirm on your state’s official page.
Is a selective school right for my child?
Before any preparation, ask whether your child wants this. A selective school suits some children beautifully and others not at all. Think about travel, friendships, interests outside school and how your child copes with pressure. Selective schools aren’t the only path to a great education, and many local schools have strong programs for keen learners. Our state-by-state guide to selective schools has questions to talk through together.
Questions parents ask
Does my child need coaching for the selective school test?
The NSW Department says coaching or tutoring “is not necessary” and won’t give your child an advantage. WA doesn’t endorse coaching, and ACER says there is no need for children to revise for Victoria’s exam.
How should I prepare my child for the selective school test?
A small amount: learn the format and timing together, try the free official practice tests once or twice, keep reading and writing for fun, and keep school, friends and sleep normal.
Do practice test scores count?
No. NSW and WA both say practice test results aren’t considered for placement. Treat practice as a way to get familiar with the format, not a prediction.
What if my child is sick on the day of the selective test?
Keep them home. In NSW, lodge an illness or misadventure request within five business days, and approved students sit the make-up test. In Victoria and WA, apply quickly for an alternative date.
Can my child get extra time or other adjustments?
Yes, if they have disability or a medical condition. Ask in the application, because requests usually close when applications close. Adjustments can include extra time, large print or specific seating.
Should my child miss school to study for the selective test?
No. NSW says parents must not take their child out of school to prepare, and poor attendance can be reported to the selection committee.
Sources
- Selective high school practice tests, NSW Department of Education
- Placement test, NSW Department of Education
- Application process, NSW Department of Education
- Selective high schools and opportunity class placement procedures, NSW Department of Education
- Victorian Selective Entry High Schools, Australian Council for Educational Research
- Selective entry high schools, Victorian Government
- Gifted and Talented, Department of Education Western Australia
- ASET Handbook, Department of Education Western Australia
