Preparing for the OC and Selective tests without coaching
Checked 19 October 2026 by XReady
In short
The NSW Department of Education says coaching is not necessary and that too much can harm wellbeing. A small amount of well-aimed practice, regular school attendance, good sleep and familiarity with the computer test are enough for most families. Keep it short, kind and varied.
The Department publishes a clear message for families: the test needs no special or extra knowledge, and paid coaching gives no advantage (external link). The questions draw on concepts children meet at school (up to Year 4 for the OC (external link) and up to Year 6 for Selective (external link)). So preparation, if you do any, is about familiarity and calm.
What helps
Regular school. Attendance is the Department's first request (external link). A routine, a full week of learning and time with friends are the best foundation.
Reading and talking. Read together most nights. Ask your child what they think the writer meant, and how they know. For Selective, encourage a little typing practice, because the writing task is typed.
Puzzles and thinking games. Logic puzzles, patterns, spot-the-difference, building with blocks and board games all build reasoning. They count as preparation, and they are fun.
Everyday maths. Cooking, shopping, timetables, maps and measuring all ask children to apply maths to new situations, which is what the maths reasoning section does.
Sleep, food and play. Co-curricular activities, friends, healthy food and sleep matter more than another worksheet.
A small plan
This is our suggestion, not the Department's.
- Look first. Spend a short session on the Department's practice tests (external link) with your child, untimed, and notice what is hard. Ask "how did you work that out?" in a curious voice.
- Short and often. Ten to fifteen minutes on most days beats a long weekend session.
- Bring the clock in slowly. Start untimed, then try small timed sets. Teach one habit: if stuck for about a minute, pick the best answer so far and move on.
- Try the screen. Use the Department's online practice test (external link) once so the software and timer are familiar, with paper beside the computer for working.
- Keep a tiny error log. Note whether marks are lost to reading the question, the content, the reasoning or the clock. The pattern tells you what to do next.
- Lighten up near the day. In the last week, do a few things your child does well and talk about what will happen.
What to avoid
- A full practice paper every week.
- Comparing your child's practice results with other children.
- Treating a practice score as a prediction. It cannot be one.
- Letting your child see worry. Children read faces.
Test day
Use the test day checklist, and see the OC test explained or the Selective test explained for the format. XReady offers OC and Selective practice for families who want it, and the form 1 free sample is a gentle place to begin.
Checked 19 October 2026 against the NSW Department of Education pages above.
Common questions
- Does my child need coaching?
- The Department neither recommends nor endorses coaching, says paid coaching gives no advantage, and warns that too much can harm a child's wellbeing.
- How much practice is enough?
- The Department says only a small amount is needed. Our suggestion is ten to fifteen minutes on most days for a few weeks, plus one gentle rehearsal on a screen.
- Does school attendance matter?
- Yes. The Department asks for regular attendance in the lead-up, and says the selection committee may not place students who are away too often without a good reason.
- What are the free resources?
- The Department's Student Resource Hub, online computer-based practice tests, older PDF practice tests with explanations, and short videos and social stories about test day.
- Is it fine to use practice papers from elsewhere?
- Yes, as optional practice, but none is the real test and none can predict a result. Keep scores to yourself.
Keep reading
- The NSW OC test explained: Year 5 opportunity classes for parentsWhat the NSW Opportunity Class test is, who sits it in Year 4, what a place involves, and how many Year 5 places exist for 2027 entry.
- The NSW Selective High School Placement Test: a parent's guideWhat the NSW Selective test is, who sits it in Year 6, what it decides, how many Year 7 places exist for 2027 entry, and what to do first.
- OC and Selective test day checklist for parentsWhat to bring, what to leave at home, when to arrive and what to do if your child is sick on the day of the OC or Selective placement test.
Sources, checked 19 October 2026
- NSW Department of Education: Selective high school practice tests (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.
Not affiliated with ACARA or the NSW Department of Education.