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OC test 2027: dates, the family decision and a plan to May

Checked 19 October 2026 by XReady

A row of twelve blocks, one glowing in warm amber light.

In short

A child sitting the OC test in May 2027 is in Year 4 and applying for Year 5 entry in 2028, so families of children now in Year 3 are in this round. The Department had not published the 2027 test or application dates on 19 October 2026, so this page gives the usual timing with its source. The decision to apply is a family one, and the plan below is built around it.

Which test is "2027"?

Rounds are named for the year a child starts. A child sitting the OC test in May 2027 is in Year 4 and applying for Year 5 entry in 2028 (external link). Parents apply at the end of Year 3 or the start of Year 4, so a child who is in Year 3 right now is in this round, and the application will come around the time they finish Year 3. The round that just finished was for Year 5 entry in 2027.

What is confirmed and what is not

As at 19 October 2026 the Department had not published the application dates or test days for the 2027 test. Its application process page (external link) shows key dates only for the round already under way. It does say that placement tests are held in May and taken on a computer (external link), with a make-up test later in May. The last round gives the usual rhythm:

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, so the decision is about two years of a child's schooling, often at a school away from home. Some classes are composite, with 15 Year 5 and 15 Year 6 children in one room. A family can list up to four schools (external link), and the Department lists 1,840 Year 5 places across NSW including 100 at Aurora College, which delivers opportunity classes online for rural and remote students. There is no attendance fee, though schools may ask for payments for materials and excursions.

The odds, honestly

The Department's own figure is that about one in eight children who sit the test gain a place. Offers follow test performance and the order of your choices, and a child on a reserve list for a higher choice may get a later offer. The Department's reserve bands (external link) run from A, an estimate of an offer by the end of September, to D, by the end of December, while band E means an offer is unlikely. A child who holds no accepted offer can remain on a reserve list to the end of Term 1 in Year 6. All of that is a guide to the process and says nothing about any child's ability.

A test for a nine-year-old

The test is 110 minutes of multiple choice across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills, on a computer. For a child this age, comfort with the room and the screen matters. The Department offers social stories (external link) showing a large or small test room, and free online practice tests. See the OC test format for the sections.

Between now and May

Our suggestion; the Department says coaching is not needed.

  • November 2026. Talk it over as a family. The Department's page on what an opportunity class involves (external link) is a good start, and our should we apply guide has questions to ask. Look at the schools and the travel.
  • December 2026. Holidays. Read together and play puzzle and board games.
  • January 2027. If you are applying, a few relaxed puzzles at most. The free 5-question quiz and the OC practice papers on the samples page show the style of questions.
  • February 2027. Submit the application before the closing date, and list only schools you would be happy with.
  • March and April 2027. Try the Department's online practice test once, with paper beside the computer. Keep evenings free and bedtimes steady.
  • Early May 2027. Follow the test day checklist.
  • September 2027. Outcomes are expected, based on last year.

Next

The OC test explained and the OC test format cover the rest.

Checked 19 October 2026. The 2027 OC dates are not yet published; the timing above is from the 2027-entry round.

Common questions

When is the OC test in 2027?
Not published on 19 October 2026. The Department says placement tests are held in May, and the last OC test ran on 8 and 9 May 2026.
Which children sit it in 2027?
Children in Year 4 in 2027, applying for Year 5 entry in 2028. Parents apply at the end of Year 3 or the start of Year 4.
How many schools can we list?
Up to four, in order of preference. List only schools you would genuinely like your child to attend.
How long can a child stay on a reserve list?
Until the end of Term 1 in Year 6, provided no offer has been accepted.
Can a child join in Year 6 only?
No. It is a two-year program and parents cannot apply for Year 6 only.

Keep reading

Sources, checked 19 October 2026

Not affiliated with ACARA or the NSW Department of Education.