The OC test, explained
The Opportunity Class (OC) test is a NSW placement test. Children sit it in Year 4 for entry into an Opportunity Class in Year 5 — a two-year program for Years 5 and 6. Here’s exactly what’s on it, when it happens, and how to prepare calmly and honestly.
- Yr 4 → 5
- Sat in Year 4, for entry in Year 5
- 3 sections
- Reading · Maths Reasoning · Thinking Skills
- On screen
- Computer-based · no writing task
Written and reviewed by the Hootbrook education team · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Quick answer
The OC (Opportunity Class) test is a placement test run by the NSW Department of Education. Any eligible NSW student sits it in Year 4 to compete for a place in an Opportunity Class — a two-year primary program for Years 5 and 6. It is a highly competitive, computer-based test of three multiple-choice sections — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills — with no writing task.
What is the OC test?
Opportunity Classes are for academically capable and highly motivated students in NSW government primary schools. They bring together children with similar ability for the last two years of primary school — Years 5 and 6 — so the pace and depth can be lifted.
Places are offered on the OC Placement Test, which children sit in Year 4. Any eligible NSW student can apply, whether or not their current school has an Opportunity Class. It is one of the most competitive selections in NSW primary schooling: far more children sit than there are places, and offers go to those who score among the very top.
To see which schools have an Opportunity Class and how many Year 5 places each one offers, browse our list of NSW OC and selective schools.
The timeline
- 1
Year 4 — apply
Applications open while your child is in Year 4. You apply online through the NSW Department of Education.
- 2
Year 4 — sit the test
The OC Placement Test is usually held around the middle of the year, on a computer, in three sections.
- 3
Later that year — offers
Placement outcomes are released later in the year, with a review process for families who wish to use it.
- 4
Year 5 — start
Successful students begin their Opportunity Class in Year 5, and stay through Year 6.
Exact dates change every year. For the current year’s timeline, eligibility and how to apply, always check the official NSW Department of Education page.
What’s on the test
The OC test has three multiple-choice sections, all done on a computer. There is no writing task — that belongs to the Selective test in Year 6. Tap any section for a full guide with sample questions.
Reading →
Short passages followed by multiple-choice questions that test understanding, inference and how words are used in context.
Mathematical Reasoning →
Word problems that reward clear thinking over speed — number, measurement, patterns and logic applied to real situations.
Thinking Skills →
Puzzles in critical and logical reasoning — spotting assumptions, drawing conclusions and working things out step by step.
Sample questions in the real format
Six exemplars we’ve written across the three OC sections. Choose an answer to see how each one is worked out. These are illustrative examples in the current test format — not real NSW past papers, which are never released.
The sample questions below are shown in English — the OC test itself is sat in English.
A gardener plants a row of trees. The first tree goes in, then every tree after it is planted 4 metres past the one before. How far apart are the first and the sixth tree?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — here's the idea.
Count the gaps, not the trees. Between the 1st and 6th tree there are 5 gaps (not 6), and each gap is 4 metres, so 5 × 4 = 20 metres. Mixing up gaps and objects is the classic 'fence-post' slip these questions look for.
A recipe uses 3 cups of flour to make 12 muffins. Using the same recipe, how many cups of flour are needed to make 20 muffins?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — here's the idea.
First find one muffin's share: 3 ÷ 12 = ¼ cup each. Then 20 × ¼ = 5 cups. (Or scale up: 12 muffins to 20 is ×⁵⁄₃, so 3 × ⁵⁄₃ = 5.) Finding the 'per one' amount is the reliable move for these.
“By the time Maya reached the top of the hill, her water bottle was empty and her legs ached. But when she turned around, the whole valley lay below her, gold in the late sun. She forgot the climb at once.” How does Maya most likely feel at the end?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — read the last line again.
“She forgot the climb at once” tells us the view replaced her tiredness — the mood turns from ache to wonder. Regret, the walk home and boredom are never mentioned, so the text doesn't support them. Inference questions reward the reading the words actually back up.
“The old bridge was rickety, swaying with every gust of wind, and no one trusted it to hold their weight.” In this sentence, the word rickety most nearly means —
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — use the clues around the word.
The surrounding clues — “swaying with every gust” and “no one trusted it to hold their weight” — point to weak or unsteady. When a word is unfamiliar, the nearby words usually pin down its meaning.
Four friends finished a race. Ada finished before Ben. Cara finished after Ben. Dev finished before Ada. Who finished first?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — line them all up first.
Chain the clues into one order: Dev before Ada, Ada before Ben, Ben before Cara → Dev, Ada, Ben, Cara. Dev is first. Building the full order before choosing keeps these puzzles from tripping you up.
Sam says: “Every time I wear my red socks, our team wins. So if I wear them on Saturday, we'll win.” Which statement, if true, would most weaken Sam's argument?
Choose an answer to see how it’s worked out.That's it.
Close — look for what breaks the link.
Sam assumes the socks cause the wins. If the team also wins wearing other socks, the socks clearly aren't what makes the difference — that breaks the cause-and-effect Sam is relying on. The other options don't test whether the socks actually matter.
How to prepare
There are no shortcuts and no secret tricks — but there is a calm, honest way to build real readiness over time.
Little and often. Short, regular sessions build more than the occasional long cram — and they keep a Year 4 child calm rather than anxious.
Understanding, not tricks. Thinking Skills can’t be memorised. Practise reasoning your child can explain back to you, not shortcuts to guess an answer.
Practise in the real format. Working through questions in the OC format, on a screen, and with gentle time limits makes test day feel familiar.
Read widely. Strong reading quietly lifts every section. Ten minutes of real reading a day does more than any single worksheet.
Start from the truth. A free assessment finds your child’s actual level in each area, so time goes to the gaps that matter — not what they already know.
Protect wellbeing. Sleep, breaks and a calm attitude carry more weight on the day than one more practice paper. Preparation should build confidence, not fear.
A note on past papers
The NSW Department of Education does not release recent OC test papers. Be wary of anyone selling “real past papers”. Every question your child sees on Hootbrook is written by educators in the current test format and checked before it is used — so your child practises the real thing, not a leak.
OC or Selective — which is which?
They’re often confused. The OC test is sat in Year 4 for a place in an Opportunity Class in primary school (Years 5–6). The Selective High School test is sat in Year 6 for a place in a selective high school in Year 7 — and it adds a typed writing task.
OC test — frequently asked
What is the OC (Opportunity Class) test?
The OC test is a placement test run by the NSW Department of Education. It is used to offer academically capable students a place in an Opportunity Class — a two-year program in a NSW government primary school for Years 5 and 6.
What year do you sit the OC test?
Children sit the OC test in Year 4, for entry into an Opportunity Class in Year 5. Any eligible NSW student can apply — you do not need to already attend a school that has an OC class.
What is on the OC test?
Three multiple-choice sections, done on a computer: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. There is no writing task in the OC test.
Is there a writing task in the OC test?
No. The OC test has no writing task. A typed writing task is part of the Selective High School test in Year 6 — not the OC test.
Can I get real OC past papers?
No. The NSW Department of Education does not release recent OC test papers, so be cautious of anyone selling ‘real past papers’. The best preparation is genuine practice in the current test format — which is exactly what Hootbrook provides.
How competitive is the OC test?
It is highly competitive: far more children sit the test than there are places, and offers go to students who score among the very top. Steady, calm preparation over time helps more than last-minute pressure.
When is the OC test held and how do I apply?
Applications usually open while a child is in Year 4 and the test is typically held around the middle of that year, with offers later on. Exact dates change every year — always check the official NSW Education page for the current year’s timeline.
See where your child stands today
Start with the free assessment. It finds your child’s true level across every OC section, so preparation begins from the truth — not a guess.