The NSW OC test explained: Year 5 opportunity classes for parents
Checked 19 October 2026 by XReady
In short
The Opportunity Class Placement Test is a computer-based test sat in Year 4 for entry to a two-year opportunity class in Years 5 and 6. For 2027 entry the Department lists 1,840 places across NSW. The Department neither recommends nor endorses coaching.
Opportunity classes are full-time classes for high potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 6 (external link). They run in selected NSW public primary schools, and Aurora College offers an online version for students in rural and remote areas. To be considered for one, a child sits the Opportunity Class Placement Test.
Who sits it
Parents apply when their child is at the end of Year 3 or the start of Year 4 (external link), and the child sits the test in Year 4. The result is used for entry into Year 5 the following year. Families whose children attend public schools, non-government schools or study at home can all apply. For Year 5 entry in 2027, students were usually born between 1 January 2016 and 31 July 2017 (external link).
Because the program runs for two years, there is no application for Year 6 alone. A child who misses out at Year 5 can still be considered for a selective high school later, through a separate test and application. See the Selective test explained.
How the test works
The test is on a computer at a local test centre, usually a public high school. It has three multiple-choice sections: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. There is no writing section and no calculator. The OC test format shows how many questions and minutes each section has.
For the 2027-entry round, the main test days were Friday 8 and Saturday 9 May 2026 (external link), each student attending one day only, with a make-up test on 22 May 2026. The Department had not published the dates for the next round on 19 October 2026, so check its application page before planning.
How places are offered
The Department says offers depend on test performance and the order of the school choices a family lists. An application allows up to four school choices (external link). At first release, a child can receive an offer from only one school, the highest choice they qualify for. Reserve lists can lead to later offers but never guarantee one. The Department lists no minimum score, because the level needed depends on how many students apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined.
In the Department's own words, about one in eight students gain a place (external link). That is a fact about the process and says nothing about any child's ability.
The Equity Placement Model can hold up to 20 per cent of places (external link) for under-represented groups: lower socio-educational advantage backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, rural and remote families, and children with disability. From 2027, each opportunity class also reserves fixed numbers of places for girls and for boys.
Coaching
On coaching, the Department takes a clear line: it neither recommends nor endorses it (external link), and says paid extras outside school will not hand a child an edge. The questions draw on concepts children learn at school. Preparing without coaching has calm ideas for families who want to do something.
Next
Decide whether to apply with should we apply to the OC. If you would like your child to try the style of questions first, the free form 1 sample papers are OC practice with no pressure attached.
Checked 19 October 2026. Plans, numbers and dates can change; confirm on the NSW Department of Education pages above.
Common questions
- What is an opportunity class?
- A class for high potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 6, run in selected NSW public primary schools, and online through Aurora College for rural and remote students. It is a two-year program.
- When does my child sit the OC test?
- In Year 4, in May. Parents apply from November to February, when the child is at the end of Year 3 or the start of Year 4.
- Is this the same test as Selective?
- No. They are separate tests with separate applications. The OC test is for Year 5 entry and the Selective test is for Year 7 entry.
- How many Year 5 places are there?
- For 2027 entry the Department lists 1,840 Year 5 places across NSW, including 100 at Aurora College.
- Can my child join only for Year 6?
- No. It is a two-year program for Years 5 and 6, and parents cannot apply for Year 6 only.
Keep reading
- OC test format: three sections, minutes and what is allowedThe three sections of the NSW Opportunity Class test, their questions and minutes, how they are weighted, and what children can use on the day.
- Should we apply for the OC? Questions to ask before you decideA calm way to decide whether to apply for NSW opportunity classes: what a place involves, the facts to weigh, and alternatives if you do not.
- Preparing for the OC and Selective tests without coachingA calm, low-pressure way for NSW families to help a child get ready for the OC or Selective test, using the Department's free resources.
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: Opportunity class practice tests (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.
- NSW Department of Education: Outcomes (external link) NSW Department of Education. Checked 19 October 2026.
- NSW Department of Education: Applications to open for 2027 selective school entry (external link) NSW Department of Education. Checked 19 October 2026.
- NSW Department of Education: Placement test (external link) NSW Department of Education. Checked 19 October 2026.
Not affiliated with ACARA or the NSW Department of Education.