Do opportunity class schools charge fees?

NSW public primary schools with opportunity classes are free to attend. Schools may still ask for contributions towards materials, excursions and sport.

What happens if there is no offer?

Your child stays where they are. Every NSW public school offers high potential and gifted education, and a child can still be considered for a selective high school later.

How many schools can we list?

Up to four, in order of preference. List only schools you would genuinely like your child to attend.

It can be. Opportunity classes are in selected schools, so check travel before you list a school.

Should we apply for the OC? Questions to ask before you decide

Checked 19 October 2026 by XReady

Two brass keys on a booklet in amber light.

In short

Nobody can promise a place, and the Department lists no cut-off score. The best question is whether the program suits your child, not whether they can win a spot. Think about their wellbeing, the commute and what other support is available locally.

There is no single right answer to whether you should apply. This page offers questions, not a verdict.

What a place involves

An opportunity class is a two-year program for Years 5 and 6 (external link) in a selected public primary school. The class is a mix of children who each qualified through the same test. Parents cannot apply for Year 6 only (external link), so a place is a commitment to two years, often at a school that may be some distance from home.

Questions to ask

Does the program suit your child? Some children thrive on pace and depth. Others do better with friends, familiar routines and a local school that already knows them.
How would a change of school affect them? Think about friendships, travel time and how tired they get.
Why are we applying? If the honest answer is that other families are, pause. The Department reminds families that the test is not a measure of how well a child is doing at school.
Can the family handle the logistics? Check the school's location and hours against yours.
What would we do if there is no place? Talk about this with your child beforehand, so that any outcome is manageable.

The facts to weigh

The Department says about one in eight students gain a place (external link). Offers depend on test performance and your order of school choices, so you could receive a place at your second choice but not your first. Reserve lists can bring later offers (external link), but they are not guaranteed. There is no published cut-off score (external link), and no practice result can predict an outcome.

If the answer is no, or not now

Opportunity classes are one of several ways the Department supports high potential and gifted students. Every NSW public school takes part in its own program (external link), and you can ask your local school what it offers. A child who does not attend an opportunity class can still be considered for a selective high school later through a separate test, covered in the Selective test explained.

If you decide to apply

Read the OC test explained for the timeline and the OC test format for the sections. Keep preparation light, and see preparing without coaching. If your child enjoys puzzles, the free form 1 OC sample papers are a gentle way to try the style.

Checked 19 October 2026 against the NSW Department of Education pages above. Applying late is not possible, so note the dates when the Department publishes them.

Common questions

Do opportunity class schools charge fees?: NSW public primary schools with opportunity classes are free to attend. Schools may still ask for contributions towards materials, excursions and sport.
What happens if there is no offer?: Your child stays where they are. Every NSW public school offers high potential and gifted education, and a child can still be considered for a selective high school later.
How many schools can we list?: Up to four, in order of preference. List only schools you would genuinely like your child to attend.
Is it a big commute?: It can be. Opportunity classes are in selected schools, so check travel before you list a school.

Sources, checked 19 October 2026

NSW Department of Education: Opportunity classes (Year 5-6) (external link) NSW Department of Education. Checked 19 October 2026.
NSW Department of Education: Outcomes (external link) NSW Department of Education. Checked 19 October 2026.
NSW Department of Education: Application process (external link) NSW Department of Education. Checked 19 October 2026.

Not affiliated with ACARA or the NSW Department of Education.