The 2026 Parent's Guide to the NSW Opportunity Class (OC) Test: All Your Questions Answered
Written by Tian Shou, a father of three who has been in your shoes. As a tutor and self-taught educator, I've spent years navigating the OC, Selective, and private school entrance processes. My passion is to demystify these tests and share effective, low-stress strategies that have helped students succeed. My goal is to empower you, the parent, to become the best possible support for your child's unique learning journey.
This guide is your single source of truth. We will break down exactly what the Opportunity Class Placement Test for 2026 entry involves, discuss why your child's school day isn't enough to prepare them, and explore the most effective paths for OC test preparation.
What is the Opportunity Class (OC)?
The Opportunity Class (OC) is a two-year program for academically gifted and talented students in Years 5 and 6, situated within designated NSW public schools. Its purpose is to provide a more challenging and advanced curriculum for students who would benefit from learning with peers of similar abilities.
Placement into these classes is determined by the Opportunity Class Placement Test, a competitive exam sat by students in Year 4. Think of an Opportunity Class as a specialized learning environment designed to nurture high-potential students through tailored teaching methods and materials.
The Core Challenge: Why School Isn't Enough for OC Preparation
Your child’s teacher is a hero, managing a classroom with a wide range of learning needs. The standard curriculum is designed to ensure all students meet a foundational level of knowledge.
However, this is where a gap for gifted learners can emerge. The educational framework of Bloom's Taxonomy helps to understand this difference:
- Lower-Order Thinking Skills (Remembering, Understanding): Much of classroom time focuses here, on learning facts and basic concepts.
- Higher-Order Thinking Skills (Applying, Analysing, Evaluating, Creating): This is the realm of critical thinking, where students must figure out how to solve a problem, not just recall an answer.
The NSW OC test is specifically designed to assess these higher-order thinking skills. It won't ask "What is 5 x 4?". Instead, it will present complex, multi-step problems that require strategic thinking. Due to large class sizes and the need to cater to all students, the public school system has limited resources to consistently teach at the "Analysing" and "Evaluating" levels required for the OC test. This is a systemic limitation, not a failing of individual schools.
What's Actually on the OC Test for 2026 Entry?
A significant change is the move to a computer-based test, which will be held over several days. The test consists of three multiple-choice sections:
- Thinking Skills: This abstract section assesses critical thinking, problem-solving, and pattern recognition through logic puzzles that require no prior knowledge, only raw analytical ability.
- Reading: Moving beyond simple comprehension, this section tests a student's ability to infer an author's intent, identify themes, and draw logical conclusions from complex texts.
- Mathematical Reasoning: Instead of rote memorisation, this section features multi-step mathematical problems set in real-world contexts, requiring students to first devise a strategy and then perform the necessary calculations.
A Crucial Note on "Entry Scores" and "Ranks"
The NSW Department of Education no longer publishes minimum entry scores for OC placements. This practice was discontinued because the required score for any given school varies each year. Therefore, any website claiming to have "2025 entry scores" is using outdated or unofficial data.
The best available indicator of competitiveness is a school's overall academic performance. For this guide, we have compiled the table below which includes the number of available places and organises schools into tiers based on their general performance and demand, which can serve as a helpful, albeit unofficial, guide.
Central Hub: Your Essential OC Links & Key Dates
Bookmark this page for easy access to the most important official resources.
Key Dates for Year 5 Entry in 2026
- Applications Open: 7 November 2024
- Applications Close: 21 February 2025
- OC Placement Test: 2-4 May 2025
- Placement Outcomes Released: Term 3, 2025
Official Resources
NSW Opportunity Class Schools: Placements & Links for 2026 Entry
The following table lists NSW public schools with Opportunity Classes. The "Tier" is an unofficial guide based on historical demand and performance. The number of places can change; some schools reduced their intake for 2025 to accommodate new classes elsewhere.
| School Name | Region | Placements (2025) | Unofficial Tier | School Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artarmon Public School | Northern Sydney | 30 | 1 | Link |
| Beecroft Public School | Northern Sydney | 30 | 1 | Link |
| Chatswood Public School | Northern Sydney | 30 | 1 | Link |
| Epping Public School | Northern Suburbs | 30 | 1 | Link |
| Ermington Public School | Parramatta | 30 | 1 | Link |
| Hurstville Public School | St George | 60 | 1 | Link |
| Matthew Pearce Public School | The Hills | 30 | 1 | Link |
| North Rocks Public School | The Hills | 60 | 1 | Link |
| St Ives North Public School | Northern Sydney | 30 | 1 | Link |
| Woollahra Public School | Eastern Suburbs | 30 | 1 | Link |
| Ashfield Public School | Inner West | 30 | 2 | Link |
| Balgowlah Heights Public School | Northern Sydney | 15 | 2 | Link |
| Blacktown South Public School | Blacktown | 15 | 2 | Link |
| Caringbah North Public School | Sutherland | 15 | 2 | Link |
| Hornsby North Public School | Northern Suburbs | 15 | 2 | Link |
| Kingswood Public School | Penrith | 15 | 2 | Link |
| Lindfield East Public School | Northern Suburbs | 15 | 2 | Link |
| Summer Hill Public School | Inner West | 30 | 2 | Link |
| Waitara Public School | Northern Suburbs | 60 | 2 | Link |
| Alexandria Park Community School | Inner City | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Blacktown West Public School | Blacktown | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Brookvale Public School | Northern Beaches | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Casula Public School | Liverpool | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Colyton Public School | Penrith | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Earlwood Public School | Canterbury | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Georges Hall Public School | Bankstown | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Greystanes Public School | Cumberland | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Holsworthy Public School | Liverpool | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Leumeah Public School | Campbelltown | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Maroubra Junction Public School | Eastern Suburbs | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Miranda Public School | Sutherland Shire | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Newbridge Heights Public School | Liverpool | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Penrith Public School | Penrith | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Picnic Point Public School | Bankstown | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Ryde Public School | Ryde | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Smithfield Public School | Fairfield | 30 | 3 | Link |
| St Clair Public School | Penrith | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Sutherland Public School | Sutherland | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Toongabbie Public School | Parramatta | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Wahroonga Public School | Northern Suburbs | 15 | 3 | Link |
| Wilkins Public School | Inner West | 30 | 3 | Link |
| Wollongong Public School | Wollongong | 45 | Regional | Link |
| Alstonville Public School | Richmond Valley | 15 | Regional | Link |
| Bathurst West Public School | Bathurst | 30 | Regional | Link |
| Dubbo West Public School | Dubbo | 30 | Regional | Link |
| Goulburn West Public School | Goulburn | 15 | Regional | Link |
| Tamworth Public School | Tamworth | 30 | Regional | Link |
| Aurora College (Virtual) | Rural and Remote | Not specified | Regional | Link |
Note: This table is for informational purposes. Parents should verify all details on the official school and Department of Education websites.
The Parent's Dilemma: How to Bridge the Learning Gap
So, how do you provide the OC test preparation your child needs? Most parents find themselves facing three options.
Option 1: The DIY Parent-as-Teacher
The instinct to teach your child is powerful. However, parents often encounter two roadblocks:
- Time Restriction: It requires hours each week to research, find materials, create questions, and teach.
- Expertise Burden: Becoming an expert in the test's specific format is a steep learning curve.
Option 2: Traditional Tutoring Centres
This is a common choice, but it has drawbacks:
- Prohibitive Cost: Can cost thousands, making it inaccessible for many.
- Rigid and Inefficient: A one-size-fits-all curriculum can lead to boredom.
- Logistical Nightmare: Adds travel and scheduling pressure to your week.
Option 3: The Smart, Balanced Approach with FunThinkers
We built FunThinkers to address these limitations by combining the best of both worlds:
- Affordable and Accessible: High-quality preparation at a fraction of the cost of traditional tutoring.
- Personalised and Adaptive: Our platform identifies and targets your child's specific weaknesses, making learning efficient and engaging.
- Saves Time and Reduces Stress: No driving, no research. Real-time analytics let you track progress easily. You can finally be their supporter, not their taskmaster.
- It's Fun! Gamified learning, rewards, and streaks keep kids motivated and foster a love for problem-solving.
Your Next Step on the Path to Success
Preparing for the OC test isn't about pressure. It's about giving your child the tools and confidence to unlock their potential.
Stop wondering and start discovering. The best way to begin is by understanding your child's unique learning profile.