Selective & Scholarship Prep

Selective High School & Scholarship Preparation

Comprehensive preparation for NSW Selective High School entry and academic scholarship tests. Built by teachers who know the exam inside out.

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About the Exam

What is the Selective High School Placement Test?

The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is a competitive exam sat by Year 6 students in Term 1 of Year 6. It determines entry into NSW's 50+ selective high schools — some of the highest-ranking schools in Australia.

The test covers four areas: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing. Students are scored and ranked statewide. School preferences are submitted before results are released.

Many scholarships at independent schools use a similar format — our prep applies directly to ACER scholarship tests and other competitive entry examinations.

Quick Facts

Selective Test at a Glance

  • Sat by Year 6 students (Term 1)
  • Statewide competitive ranking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Mathematical Reasoning
  • Thinking Skills
  • Written Expression (Writing)
  • 50+ selective schools in NSW
  • Also covers ACER scholarships
What We Cover

Four comprehensive subject areas

Practice tests match the exact format, difficulty, and timing of the real selective exam.

📖

Reading Comprehension

Challenging passage-based questions testing deep inference, critical analysis, vocabulary, and author's craft across a range of text types.

  • Literary & factual texts
  • Implicit meaning / inference
  • Vocabulary in context
  • Critical analysis questions
🔢

Mathematical Reasoning

Advanced problem-solving covering the full Year 6 curriculum and beyond. Emphasis on multi-step reasoning, not just arithmetic recall.

  • Fractions, decimals, percentages
  • Algebra & patterns
  • Statistics & data
  • Advanced geometry
🧠

Thinking Skills

Non-verbal and abstract reasoning tasks designed to test raw cognitive ability, independent of prior curriculum knowledge.

  • Abstract pattern sequences
  • Matrices & spatial reasoning
  • Verbal & logical deduction
  • Complex analogy problems
✍️

Written Expression (Writing)

Graded writing prompts across narrative and persuasive genres, with detailed marking rubrics aligned to the selective exam criteria.

  • Narrative writing prompts
  • Persuasive / argumentative
  • Marking rubric feedback
  • Vocabulary & structure coaching
Where Our Students Get In

NSW's top selective schools

Our students have earned places at NSW's most competitive schools.

James Ruse Agricultural HS North Sydney Boys HS Sydney Girls HS Baulkham Hills HS Hornsby Girls HS North Sydney Girls HS Gosford HS Penrith HS Girraween HS Hurlstone Agricultural HS Caringbah HS Fort Street HS Normanhurst Boys HS
Sample Question

Reading Comprehension example

Reading · Hard Question 8 of 40
"The old lighthouse had stood for one hundred and twelve years without complaint. Its keeper, a man whose name the locals had long since forgotten, oiled its gears each evening with the same unhurried devotion a surgeon might bring to sutures."

What does the comparison to a surgeon primarily suggest about the lighthouse keeper?

A He was trained as a medical professional before becoming a lighthouse keeper.
B He performed his duties with precise, careful, and dedicated attention. ✓
C He found his work painful and difficult, like surgery.
D He oiled the gears quickly and efficiently to save time.
✓ Correct: B. The simile compares the keeper to a surgeon — a profession defined by meticulous care and precision. The key word is "devotion," reinforcing his dedication. Options A and C misread the comparison; D contradicts "unhurried."
Student Stories

Real results from real students

★★★★★

"My daughter's confidence went from 0 to 100 in 6 weeks. The practice tests are almost identical to the real exam. She got into James Ruse — we couldn't be more proud."

M
Meera P.
Parent · James Ruse Agricultural HS
★★★★★

"The analytics showed us exactly where my son was losing marks. After targeting those areas his score jumped 18% in three weeks. He got into Baulkham Hills!"

D
David H.
Parent · Baulkham Hills High School
★★★★★

"The Writing component coaching was exceptional. My daughter went from a B to an A+ in written expression. Her teacher noticed the improvement too!"

L
Lin C.
Parent · Sydney Girls High School
★★★★★

"Every question came with a clear explanation. My son didn't just get right answers — he understood why. James Ruse was the result. Couldn't be happier."

N
Nadarajah B.
Parent · James Ruse Agricultural HS

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