Before you start
The NSW Selective High School placement test assesses reading, mathematical reasoning, thinking skills and writing, and is sat in Year 6 for entry into Year 7. Before building a study plan, confirm this year's actual test date and any recent format changes on the NSW Department of Education website — the plan below counts backward from test day, so the exact dates depend on that.
Twelve weeks is a guide, not a rule. A child who's already a confident, wide reader may need less; a child just starting out may want to begin a few weeks earlier. What matters more than the exact number of weeks is a steady, low-stress rhythm.
The 12 weeks
Get comfortable with each section
Untimed practice across reading, maths reasoning, thinking skills and writing. The goal is understanding the question types and building confidence, not speed yet. Talk through wrong answers together rather than just marking them.
Build accuracy, then start timing
Keep practising all four areas, now introducing loose time limits per section. Rotate which subject gets extra attention based on what's feeling shakiest. Keep up normal reading and everyday maths outside of "test prep" too.
Simulate the real thing
Move to full-length, properly timed practice papers under exam-like conditions — quiet room, no interruptions, the actual time limits. Review mistakes afterwards, focusing on patterns rather than any single question.
Ease the intensity
Cut practice volume noticeably. One lighter timed paper or a few targeted sections is enough — this week is about consolidating, not cramming in new content.
Protect sleep and routine
Little to no formal practice in the final days. Focus on sleep, normal routine, and reassurance. A well-rested child who's done the work over 12 weeks will do better than an exhausted one who crammed the night before.
A sensible weekly rhythm
Within any given week, little and often beats one long marathon session. A workable rhythm for most families is three to four short sessions a week (20–40 minutes each) rather than daily grinding, with at least one full rest day and normal after-school life left intact. Mix subjects rather than drilling one area for a whole week — interleaved practice (a bit of reading, a bit of maths reasoning, a bit of thinking skills) tends to stick better than blocks of one thing at a time.
Signs to ease off
- Your child is anxious, tearful or reluctant before sessions — that's a signal to shorten or pause, not push through.
- Sleep, appetite or mood outside study time are noticeably affected.
- Accuracy is dropping despite more practice — often a sign of fatigue rather than a knowledge gap.
A Selective placement is one path among several good ones, and the process works best when a child stays curious and well, not just well-drilled.
This plan is general guidance, not a guarantee of any outcome. SparkIQ isn't affiliated with NESA, ACARA or the Department of Education, and its practice material is original, exam-style content, not real past papers.
Official sources
For this year's exact test date, eligibility, application windows and format, go to the source:
- education.nsw.gov.au — search "Selective High School placement test" for the current page.