Our editorial standards
Advice about a child’s exam is high-trust content, so here — plainly and honestly — is who makes Hootbrook’s learning content, how every question is checked, and the commitments we hold ourselves to.
Last reviewed: 30 August 2026.
How we make and check our content
Five commitments sit behind every page and every practice question on Hootbrook.
Who writes and reviews it
Every page and every question is written and reviewed by the Hootbrook education team — the educators and specialists who build the learning program. We publish under our team name rather than inventing a single celebrity expert, because the work is genuinely a team effort and honesty matters more than a famous byline.
How we make the questions
Questions are written to match the current official test formats — Opportunity Class (OC), Selective High School, NAPLAN and the main scholarship tests. Before a question is used, it is checked to have a single correct answer and a clear, worked explanation that teaches the method. They are illustrative exemplars we wrote — never real, recent or leaked past papers, which NSW does not release.
Our accuracy commitment
Facts such as dates and test formats are taken from official sources — the NSW Department of Education, ACARA and ACER — and every page carries a “last reviewed” date so you can see how current it is. When we find an error, we correct it, and we welcome corrections from parents and teachers.
Coaching-neutral, always
NSW Education does not endorse coaching and says there is no credible research that it helps. So we never promise a place or a score, and we never sell the idea that a shortcut exists. We frame everything as familiarity with the question styles, confidence, and steady practice — the honest goal is a calm, well-prepared child.
Wellbeing first
Content is written to be calm and age-appropriate. We never shame a child for a wrong answer, we keep sessions short and unhurried, and we build in encouragement so practice stays something a child can enjoy rather than dread.
An honest note
There are no real OC or Selective past papers for sale — the NSW Department of Education does not release them, so be wary of anyone claiming otherwise. Our questions are exemplars written in the current official format. Practice like this builds familiarity and confidence with the question styles; it can’t promise a place, and no program can. Hootbrook is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NSW Department of Education, ACARA or ACER.
Tell us and we’ll fix it
If you spot a factual mistake, an unclear explanation, or an answer you think is wrong, we want to hear about it. Email support@hootbrook.com and we’ll review it and correct the page if needed. Every reported defect makes the next child’s practice better.
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