Every year, parents searching for selective test changes want the same thing: a clear, honest account of what is different and what it means for their child. The internet is full of confident claims about "new" formats and shifting rules — many of them wrong. This guide sticks to what has actually been confirmed and, just as importantly, tells you where to check the year-specific detail yourself.
The single biggest shift in recent years is real and verifiable: the NSW Selective High School Placement Test is now a computer-based test, sat at approved test centres rather than on paper at your child's own school. If your child is preparing for 2027 entry, this is the format to prepare for.
What the test looks like now
The current test has four sections, delivered on-screen:
- Reading — 45 minutes
- Mathematical Reasoning — 40 minutes, 35 questions
- Thinking Skills — 40 minutes, 40 questions
- Writing — 30 minutes
Students may not use a calculator or a dictionary. The multiple-choice sections are answered on-screen, and the Writing section is typed rather than handwritten.
That last point matters more than it first appears. A child who has only ever drafted essays by hand is now being asked to plan, write and revise a full response using a keyboard, on a screen, against the clock. It is a genuinely different skill, and it is one you can practise well in advance.
What has actually changed — and what has not
It is tempting to frame each year as a fresh upheaval. In reality, the important story for most families is stability, not change.
The move to a computer-based, four-section test is what recent cohorts have already sat. It is not a rumour or a pilot — it is the established format. So when you read a headline promising "big changes to the selective test," the useful question is not "what is new?" but "is the four-section computer-based format still what my child will face?" For 2027 candidates, the honest answer based on the confirmed format is: prepare for exactly that.
We are deliberately not listing specific "changes for 2026" or "2027" here, because we cannot verify granular year-by-year policy tweaks — and inventing them would do you a disservice. Test timing, question counts, and section structure can be refined by the Department, so the only reliable source for the current year's detail is the official page (linked at the end of this article). Treat any blog, tutoring centre, or forum post that quotes precise new percentages or rule changes with healthy scepticism unless it points you back to that official source.
Placement, competition and equity
Selective entry remains highly competitive, and placement is not decided by the test score alone in every case. The NSW Department of Education reserves a portion of places under equity provisions, recognising that not every capable child sits the test on a level playing field. This is a long-standing feature of the system rather than a new development.
We are not going to quote a specific figure for how many places are reserved, or the exact criteria, because those details are set by the Department and can be updated. What families should take from this is simpler: a strong test performance is central, but the allocation process has more moving parts than a single ranked list, and the authoritative description lives on the Department's own website.
What this means for 2027 families
If your child is aiming for 2027 entry, your preparation plan writes itself once you accept the confirmed format:
Prepare for the computer-based test specifically. Reading questions on a screen, scrolling through a passage, and selecting answers with a mouse or trackpad is not identical to working on paper. Time spent in a realistic on-screen environment pays off. Our selective practice tests are built to mirror the on-screen, timed multiple-choice experience so the format feels familiar on the day.
Practise typing the Writing section. Thirty minutes is not long to plan, write and check a response — and it is even shorter if your child is hunting for keys. Build typing stamina and get comfortable drafting straight onto a screen. Our selective writing resources focus on structuring a strong response quickly under exam conditions.
Cover all four sections deliberately. Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills each reward a particular kind of careful, logical work rather than rote recall. Balanced coverage across Reading, Maths, Thinking Skills and Writing beats over-drilling a single favourite area. Our full selective preparation hub maps out each section.
Build exam habits, not just knowledge. No calculator, no dictionary, a ticking clock, and an unfamiliar test centre all add pressure. The more your child rehearses those exact conditions, the less the environment costs them on the day.
A word on trustworthy information
The most valuable habit you can model for your child during selective preparation is checking the source. Preparation providers — us included — can tell you how to get ready, but only the NSW Department of Education can tell you the definitive rules, dates and section details for the year your child is sitting.
Before you lock in a study plan, read the official placement test page in full, and re-check it as your test date approaches in case any detail has been updated. Everything in this article reflects the confirmed four-section computer-based format; anything year-specific should be confirmed against the source below.
Official reference: NSW Selective High Schools placement test.
Last verified: July 2026. Confirm year-specific details with the NSW Department of Education.