Is the NSW selective test computer-based?

Yes. The Selective High School Placement Test moved to a computer-based format in 2025 and has stayed computer-based. Students sit it on laptops provided by the NSW Department of Education, mostly at local public high schools, with two A4 sheets for working out.

Can my child practice the computer-based test format at home?

Yes. Online practice platforms like EduSpark replicate the computer-based test experience with on-screen questions, click-to-select answers, countdown timers, and question navigation. Try 1 free paper per subject at eduspark.com.au.

Is reading on screen harder than reading on paper?

Many students find long passages harder to follow on screen, especially if they rarely read on a device. Regular screen reading and timed on-screen practice help, and this matters most for the Reading section (30 questions in 45 minutes).

What device does my child need for the NSW selective test?

None. Students do not bring a device: the Department provides a laptop and mouse, plus paper for working out. Calculators, phones and smart watches are not allowed. Practising on any laptop or desktop at home builds the on-screen skills needed.

Should I still use paper practice books if the test is computer-based?

Paper books can supplement content knowledge, but they cannot replicate the screen-reading, timer management, and digital navigation skills the CBT format requires. Use both, but prioritise computer-based practice for realistic exam simulation.

NSW Selective Test Is Computer-Based — What to Expect & How to Prepare

Yes — the NSW Selective High School Placement Test is computer-based. Since the May 2025 tests, students sit it on laptops provided by the Department of Education, answering every multiple-choice question on screen and typing the writing task. From 2026 the tests are held mostly in local public high schools, one session per day. The best way to prepare is to do some of your practice on a computer, with a timer, before test day.

Here’s what changed, what test day involves, what tends to catch students out, and how to get ready for the on-screen format.

What changed, and what happened in 2025

The test used to be pen and paper. In 2025 it moved to a computer-based format, developed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment and delivered by Janison. The first computer-based tests (2–4 May 2025) were disrupted on the first day at some large venues, and the Department moved later sessions to smaller venues. An independent review followed. Its recommendations, accepted in August 2025, included smaller venues in local schools, a single session per day, and direct Department management of test logistics. A separate review found the different test versions were of equal difficulty.

The 2026 tests (1–2 May) were computer-based under the new arrangements, and from 2026 the tests are held only in NSW. The next test is expected around May 2027; check the Department’s placement test page for confirmed dates. For the wider picture, see our NSW selective test hub.

What test day involves

Equipment is provided. Students use a Department laptop and mouse. They don’t bring their own device.
Working paper is provided. Students get two A4 sheets for working out and can ask for more. Calculators, rulers, dictionaries, phones and smart watches are not allowed.
Venues are local schools. Most test centres are public high schools, and students are allocated one based on their primary school’s location.

The four sections

Section	Questions	Time	Answer format
Reading	30	45 minutes	A–D; sentence placement A–G
Mathematical Reasoning	35	40 minutes	A–E
Thinking Skills	40	40 minutes	A–D
Writing	1 task	30 minutes	Typed response

Maths and Thinking Skills questions often include diagrams, tables and charts shown on screen. Reading passages are also on screen, so longer texts may need scrolling.

See the real interface first

The Department publishes free online practice tests that run in the same computer-based style, with a countdown timer (which can be hidden) and feedback on each answer. This is the most reliable way to see what the screens look like, so have your child try at least one. The older PDF practice tests are still available, but the Department notes they don’t reflect the current format.

What catches students out on screen

Reading long texts on screen. Many students find it harder to stay focused on, and remember, a long passage on screen than on paper, especially if they rarely read on a device. With 30 Reading questions across several texts in 45 minutes, that matters.
No underlining on the passage. On paper, students circle key words and scribble notes. On screen they can’t, although they can jot paragraph numbers or key points on the working paper.
An on-screen countdown. Some students check the clock constantly or panic when single-digit minutes appear. Students who have practised with an on-screen timer tend to treat it as a tool, not a threat.
Scrolling between passage and questions. Moving back and forth, finding your place again and holding details in your head is a different skill from flipping a page, and it improves with practice.
Clicking too fast. It’s easy to move on before an answer is selected, or click the wrong option. A quick check for unanswered questions before time runs out catches most of these.

How to prepare for the computer format

Do part of your practice on a computer

Paper workbooks still build the maths, reading and reasoning skills. But clicking answers, reading on screen and pacing against an on-screen timer are separate skills, and they only develop with on-screen practice. A reasonable target is for at least half of the practice papers in the final 4–6 weeks to be done on a computer.

Build screen-reading stamina

Have your child read stories and articles on a screen for 30 minutes or more at a time. E-books, ABC Kids News and other age-appropriate long-form writing all work. The aim is not speed but sustained comprehension: reading a passage on screen and keeping the key details without re-reading it several times.

Practise with a timer on screen

Use timed online papers, or at least a visible on-screen timer, so the countdown feels normal by test day.

Reading strategies that don’t need a pen

Skim first. Spend 15–20 seconds getting the structure and topic of the passage, then read the questions, then read closely for the answers.
Keep a mental (or paper) map. “The statistics are in paragraph 3” is quicker to use than re-reading the whole text.
Let the question guide re-reading. Go straight to the relevant part of the passage instead of starting from the top each time.

Paper books vs online practice

Feature	Paper books	Timed online papers
Matches the on-screen test	No	Yes — click to select, read on screen
Timer	Self-timed (easy to go over)	Enforced countdown
Marking	By hand	Instant
Explanations	Often an answer key only	Depends on the platform — look for worked explanations
Good for	Learning concepts and question types	Full timed simulations and pacing

Most families use both: books for building skills, and on-screen papers for realistic timed practice. For a comparison of what’s available, see our guide to NSW selective practice papers.

What EduSpark’s practice looks like

EduSpark has 90 timed, on-screen NSW Year 7 papers across Thinking Skills (40 questions / 40 minutes), Mathematical Reasoning (35 / 40) and Reading (30 answers in 45 minutes, like the real test). You can move between questions, papers submit when time runs out, marking is instant, and every question has a worked explanation. The first paper in each subject is free, or you can try 5 sample questions without signing up.

EduSpark doesn’t mark writing. For that section, see our NSW selective writing tips and practise typing a response in 30 minutes.

Tips for test day

Arrive at the time on the admission ticket. Late arrivals can still sit the test but finish at the same time as everyone else.
Don’t get stuck. If a question is taking well over a minute, make a best guess, note the number on your working paper and come back if time allows.
Use the working paper. It’s there for maths working, thinking skills diagrams and notes on reading passages.
Check for blanks with a few minutes left. Make sure every question has an answer selected.
Answer every question. Marks are not deducted for wrong answers, so a guess is always better than a blank.
Expect small differences. The real screens won’t look exactly like any practice platform. Clicking an answer, moving between questions and watching the timer work the same way.