Selective Test Practice for Year 6 Students

Selective test practice for Year 6 students is for the NSW pathway: families apply between November of Year 5 and February of Year 6, the student sits the Selective High School Placement Test in Year 6 (early May in 2026; the 2027 date is not yet announced), and Year 7 entry follows the next year. The short version: a few hours a week of timed, on-screen practice across all four sections, with homework coming first.

This is not OC. Opportunity Class is sat in Year 4 for Years 5–6 placement — OC vs selective, can Year 5 sit OC.

What Year 6 students actually sit (NSW)

Four computer-based sections: Reading (45 min), Mathematical Reasoning (40 min), Thinking Skills (40 min) and Writing (30 min), per the NSW Department of Education’s example timetable. The Department does not publish how the sections are weighted, so treat all four as important. More detail in how many questions and test length.

A Year 6-friendly practice rhythm

• Term time: roughly 4–8 hours/week total, homework first — fitting practice around homework.
• One timed block per week (a full section or full mock later in the year), then same-day review.
• Short mid-week drills on 2–3 weak topics only — weak-topic plan.
• CBT rehearsal so navigation is automatic — computer-based format.

What not to do in Year 6

• Swap in VIC ACER Year 9 papers as your default bank.
• Treat OC past papers as “easier selective” — different pathway.
• Stack daily full mocks in Term 1 and burn out before May.
• Ignore Writing until the last fortnight.

Victorian note

Victoria’s government selective entry exam is for Year 9 entry (sat in Year 8), not a Year 6 sitting. Year 6 VIC families usually focus on foundations or scholarship/EduTest pathways if relevant — Melbourne selective guide.

Practice starting point

Start with the three official NSW practice tests. EduSpark adds 1 free paper per subject for Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills (we don’t mark Writing), and 5 sample questions with no signup. See also NSW practice papers and the full NSW selective test guide.