The OC Test and Selective Schools in NSW: How Placement Works
Written by
BestSchools Team
Opportunity classes and selective high schools are NSW public schools. Entry is by academic merit.
As of 20 October 2026, the dates below are the ones the NSW Department of Education has published for entry in 2027. If you are choosing a secondary school more broadly, start with the secondary school choice guide.
What is the OC test in NSW?
The OC test is the Opportunity Class Placement Test. An opportunity class is a Year 5 and Year 6 class in a NSW public school for students placed through this process.
The department's outcomes page, opens in a new tab says the OC test has three parts: reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills. Students sit it on a computer provided by the department. There is one test on each test day, and each student attends one day only.
The placement test page, opens in a new tab says there are several versions of the test, including a make-up test. Some questions are shared across versions so results can be compared. Those shared questions do not change the final score on their own.
How selective high school placement is different
Selective high schools place students into Year 7, and some later years, by academic merit. The Selective High School Placement Test has four parts: reading, mathematical reasoning, thinking skills and writing.
The placement procedures, opens in a new tab cover opportunity classes in Years 5 and 6, and selective classes, selective high schools, agricultural high schools and Aurora College for Years 7 to 11. They do not cover gifted programs that a school runs on its own, or sport and performing arts programs. Those sit under the gifted and talented programs guide.
Parents can apply if the child is in a NSW public school, a non-government school, home schooling, an interstate school or an overseas school. The application process page, opens in a new tab says the student and family must be living in NSW by the start of the entry year. Visa conditions can apply if the student is not an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen.
From 2026 the tests are held only in NSW. A child who is interstate or overseas has to come back to sit. If they cannot, they will not be considered.
Dates for entry in 2027
These dates are from the department's application process and placement test pages. They are for students who were already in the 2026 test cycle, for school in 2027. As of 20 October 2026, the test days and the expected outcome days have passed.
| Step | Selective high school, Year 7 in 2027 | Opportunity class, Year 5 in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 1 to 2 May 2026, one day only | 8 to 9 May 2026, one day only |
| Make-up test | 22 May 2026 | 22 May 2026 |
| Last day to change school choices | 5 June 2026 | 5 June 2026 |
| Outcomes expected | 19 August 2026 | 9 September 2026 |
| Outcomes appeal deadline | 26 August 2026, 11:59 pm | 16 September 2026, 11:59 pm |
| Reserve decision date | 3 December 2026, 3:00 pm | 3 December 2026, 3:00 pm |
The department says a student who misses the make-up test cannot be placed. Offers are based on academic merit. The performance report does not show a percentage of correct answers or a placement rank. It shows where the child sat against other candidates that year, in four bands: top 10%, next 15%, next 25%, and lowest 50%.
What is not published yet for 2028 entry
The key-date tables checked for this guide are labelled entry in 2027. Dates for Year 5 opportunity class entry in 2028, or Year 7 selective entry in 2028, were not in those tables on 20 October 2026.
The department says dates can change and asks families to use the current key dates page. Do not copy the 2026 test days forward. Applications for the 2027 entry cycle had already closed when this page was checked.
Test centres are mostly local public high schools, based on the child's primary school. The placement portal, opens in a new tab is where a submitted application, messages and the test admission ticket are handled.
NSW
Look at NSW secondary schools while you wait on dates
Selective placement is one public pathway. Compare it with other NSW secondary schools you can actually reach.
A selective place is still a school choice. Visit, ask about travel and support, and keep a non-selective option open. NSW school year levels explains the years around the test. If a school uses its own scholarship test as well, that is a different process, covered in the scholarship guide.
Official sources
- NSW Department of Education, Placement test, opens in a new tab
- NSW Department of Education, Application process, opens in a new tab
- NSW Department of Education, Outcomes, opens in a new tab
- NSW Department of Education, Selective high schools and opportunity class placement procedures, opens in a new tab
- Selective high school and opportunity class placement portal, opens in a new tab
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