Agricultural high school, day places for boys and girls · Carlingford

James Ruse Agricultural High School Entrance Exam 2027

James Ruse Agricultural High School in Carlingford is a selective agricultural high school with day places for boys and girls. Year 7 places are filled through the NSW selective test sat in Year 6; places in Years 8 to 11 start with an EduTest exam.

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Quick facts

School
Agricultural high school, day places for boys and girls[1]
Location
Felton Road, Carlingford[1]
Year 7 places
60 for boys and 60 for girls[1]
Years 8–11
EduTest exam, then application and interview by invitation[2]
Next Year 7 test
Expected May 2027 (estimate)[3]

How entry to James Ruse works

  • Numbers are limited by accommodation to 120 in each of Years 7 and 8, with an increase in Years 9, 10 and 11. Students are not admitted into Year 12.[4]
  • Years 8 to 11 use a three-stage process: an academic entrance exam conducted by EduTest, then an application and assessment (by invitation only), then an interview with the Principal and/or senior staff (by invitation only).[2]
  • For the 2027 intake, applications ran from Wednesday 17 June to Friday 24 July 2026, and the EduTest exam was on Saturday 15 August 2026.[2]
  • The school says its process is different from other selective high schools: the Department’s Years 8 to 11 application form is not required, and applications are by invitation after EduTest results are reviewed.[2]

Year 7 entry: the same process for every selective high school

  • For Year 7 entry, parents apply at the end of Year 5 or the beginning of Year 6, and the student sits the placement test in Year 6.[1],[3]
  • Places are offered on test performance and the order of the family’s school choices. The Department says there are no set minimum entry scores: the level needed depends on how many students apply, how they perform and how many places are available.[5]
  • Up to 20% of places at each school are held for students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, students from rural and remote locations, and students with disability.[5]
  • Years 8 to 11 work differently: each selective school manages its own vacancies, assessments and placement decisions, some schools use a placement test, and families apply the year before, with a separate application for each school.[6]
  • For 2027 entry, Baulkham Hills, James Ruse, North Sydney Boys, North Sydney Girls, Sydney Girls and Chatswood high schools shared one EduTest exam for Years 8 to 11, sat once. Each school receives the results and runs its own review.[7]

The Year 7 entrance exam format

James Ruse uses the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, sat in Year 6.

TestTime
Reading45 min
Mathematical Reasoning40 min
Thinking Skills40 min
Writing30 min
  • Times from the Department of Education’s example test-day timetable, which also has breaks between the tests. Students take the test on computers provided by the department.[3]
  • Students sit the test on one day only. In 2026 it ran on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 May, with a make-up test on Friday 22 May.[3]

Key dates

Official dates for the next round are not all published yet. Estimates are marked.

Year 7 applications
For 2027 entry they closed on 20 February 2026. Dates for 2028 entry are not yet published[8],[9]
Year 7 test
Expected May 2027 (our estimate; the 2026 test was on 1–2 May)[3]
Year 7 outcomes
In 2026, expected on 19 August[9]
Years 8–11 entry
For 2027 entry, applications ran 17 June to 24 July 2026, with assessments in August and September[6]

How to practise for the James Ruse entrance exam

Timed practice papers, marked instantly, with an explanation for every question. There are 90 NSW Selective Test papers in all, including one free paper in every subject.

In the examPractise with
ReadingNSW Reading papers, in the official 4-part structure
Mathematical ReasoningNSW Mathematical Reasoning papers
Thinking SkillsNSW Thinking Skills papers
WritingNot covered: we do not mark writing
EduTest (Years 8 to 11 entry)EduTest papers in verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, reading and maths, written at Year 8 level for Year 9 entry

Our NSW papers follow the question styles of the Cambridge-written test and stay within the Stage 3 syllabus it is based on. Harder papers add reasoning steps, not high-school topics.

Applying for a later year? Our EduTest practice tests (40 papers) are written for Year 8 students sitting for Year 9 entry. There is also a free EduTest practice test.

Try 5 questions nowNo account needed. See the answer and explanation after each one.Sit a full paper freeOne free timed paper in every subject, with results and explanations. No card needed.All NSW Selective Test practice testsSubjects, difficulty levels and prices. Pay once for 12 months, 7-day money-back guarantee.

More about James Ruse

James Ruse vs Baulkham Hills — NSW Selective School ComparisonJames Ruse vs Baulkham Hills: size, HSC results, agriculture, music, the daily trip and how to order your selective school choices.

Other schools that use the same Year 7 test

North Sydney Boys entrance examNorth Sydney Girls entrance examSydney Boys High entrance examSydney Girls High entrance examBaulkham Hills entrance exam

Questions about the James Ruse entrance exam

What test do you sit to get into James Ruse?

For Year 7, the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, sat in Year 6: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing, on computer. For Years 8 to 11, an entrance exam conducted by EduTest, followed by an application and an interview for shortlisted students.

How many students get into James Ruse in Year 7?

The Department of Education lists 60 places for boys and 60 for girls. The school says numbers are limited to 120 in each of Years 7 and 8.

What score do you need to get into James Ruse?

The NSW Department of Education says there are no set minimum entry scores. The level of test performance needed depends on how many students apply, how they perform, how many places there are and how many offers are declined, so it changes every year.

When is the James Ruse entrance exam?

The Year 7 test is held in May of Year 6. In 2026 it ran on 1–2 May, so we expect May 2027 (not yet announced). For Years 8 to 11 entry in 2027, the EduTest exam was on Saturday 15 August 2026.

Sources

Official pages only, checked 30 September 2026. EduSpark is not connected with James Ruse Agricultural High School, ACER, EduTest or the Department of Education. Check the official pages before applying.

  1. [1]NSW Department of Education: Selective high schools (list, type and number of Year 7 places)
  2. [2]James Ruse Agricultural High School: Enrolment pathways (Years 8–11)
  3. [3]NSW Department of Education: Selective high school placement test (timetable, test dates)
  4. [4]James Ruse Agricultural High School: Enrol
  5. [5]NSW Department of Education: Placement outcomes (how offers are made)
  6. [6]NSW Department of Education: Years 8 to 11 applications
  7. [7]Baulkham Hills High School: Enrol
  8. [8]North Sydney Boys High School: Enrol
  9. [9]NSW Department of Education: Application process and key dates

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