NSW Selective — Past Papers
NSW Selective Test Past Papers: Free Samples & Alternatives
If you are searching for NSW Selective test past papers, the honest answer is that none are published. The NSW Department of Education does not release full past papers for the Selective High School Placement Test. Instead it publishes one set of free official sample questions and a practice test covering Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. Below we link to that official sample, explain why full past papers do not exist, and show how full-length mock tests in the real computer-based format give your child the repeated practice the single official set cannot.
Why there are no official past papers
The Department of Education does not publish full past papers for the Selective High School Placement Test. Real test papers are kept confidential to protect test security, so questions cannot be reused or leaked in advance. On top of that, the test moved to a computer-based format, so any older paper-based materials would no longer reflect what your child actually sits. The only material the Department releases is a single set of official sample questions and a practice test.
The official NSW sample tests
The one official resource is the Department of Education’s sample questions and practice test, published here: NSW Selective high school practice tests. It shows the on-screen test interface and gives sample questions for each section. It is worth working through carefully, but it is limited: there is only one set, so once your child has seen it there are no further official questions to practise on. That is why families need additional full-length practice beyond the official sample.
How full-length mocks fill the gap
Because the official sample is a single set, the practical alternative to past papers is full-length mock tests that copy the real conditions. FunThinkers mocks replicate the same four sections, on-screen timing and multiple-choice answering as the real test, so your child can practise the full sitting more than once. Here is the structure each mock follows:
| Section | Time | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | 45 min | 17 questions (about 38 answers) |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 40 min | 35 questions |
| Thinking Skills | 40 min | 40 questions |
| Writing | 30 min | — |
Sat on a computer at a test centre. No calculator and no dictionary. Working out is done on paper with a 2B pencil. There are 10-minute breaks between sections and a longer break in the middle of the test.
You can sit these on the practice tests page, with an instant marked report after each attempt.
How the test format has changed
The current Selective test is computer-based with four sections: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. This on-screen format replaced older paper-based versions of the test. That is the core reason older past papers would not help even if they were available — the sections, timing and question style would not match what your child sits today. Practise against the current format instead, using the official sample plus full-length mocks.
Practise in the real Selective format
Sit a full-length mock in the same four-section format and get an instant, marked report.
Start 3 free practice testsFrequently asked questions
Are there official NSW Selective past papers?
No. The NSW Department of Education does not release full past papers for the Selective High School Placement Test. It publishes one set of official sample questions and a practice test instead.
Where can I get free Selective sample questions?
The Department of Education publishes free sample questions and a practice test on its Selective high school practice tests page. Beyond that single official set, families use full-length mock tests for more practice.
Do old past papers still match the current test?
No. The test is now computer-based with four sections — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing — sat in Year 6 for Year 7 entry. Older paper-based materials do not match the current format, timing or question style.
How many practice tests should my child do?
Practise full-length mocks spread out rather than crammed — one every week or two in the months before the test, reviewing every wrong answer, is far more effective than sitting many in a row.
Source: NSW Department of Education — Selective High School Placement Test. Last verified: July 2026.