OC vs Selective: which, when & how they differ
They’re easy to mix up, but they’re different opportunities at different stages. The OC test is sat in Year 4 for a primary-school class; the selective test is sat in Year 6 for high school. Here they are, side by side — including whether your child can do both.
Written and reviewed by the Hootbrook education team · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
The one-line difference
OC (Opportunity Class) is for the last two years of primary school — you apply in Year 4, and successful children start in Year 5.
Selective is for high school — you apply in Year 6, and successful children start in Year 7. The selective test also adds a typed writing task, which the OC test does not have.
OC and Selective, compared
The facts that matter most when you’re deciding what applies to your child, and when.
| OC (Opportunity Class) | Selective high school | |
|---|---|---|
| What it leads to | A place in an Opportunity Class — a primary-school class for Years 5 and 6 | A place at a selective high school from Year 7 |
| School stage | Primary school (Years 5–6) | High school (Year 7 onward) |
| Year you apply & sit the test | Year 4 | Year 6 |
| Year your child starts | Year 5 | Year 7 |
| How long the placement lasts | Two years (Years 5 and 6) | The rest of high school (Years 7–12) |
| Test sections | Reading · Mathematical Reasoning · Thinking Skills | Reading · Mathematical Reasoning · Thinking Skills · Writing |
| Writing task? | No writing task | Yes — one typed Writing task |
| How it’s done | On a computer · all multiple choice | On a computer · multiple choice plus typed writing |
| How places are decided | An overall placement score — no fixed pass mark | An overall placement score that differs by school and year |
| Run by | NSW Department of Education | NSW Department of Education |
Exact dates change every year. For the current year’s timeline, eligibility and how to apply for either, always check the official NSW Department of Education page.
How they fit into your child’s years
Read top to bottom, the two opportunities line up neatly across primary and early high school.
- Yr 4
OC — apply & sit the test
You apply online and your child sits the OC Placement Test: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills.
- Yr 5
OC — start (if offered)
Successful children begin their Opportunity Class, and stay through Year 6.
- Yr 6
Selective — apply & sit the test
You apply online and your child sits the Selective test: the same three sections plus a typed Writing task.
- Yr 7
Selective — start (if offered)
Successful children begin at a selective high school for the rest of their secondary schooling.
Can my child do both?
Yes. Because they happen at different year levels, a child can sit the OC test in Year 4 and the selective test in Year 6. The two are judged completely separately.
That means an OC place is not a shortcut into a selective school, and missing out on the OC does not shut the door — the selective test is a fresh, independent opportunity in Year 6. Plenty of children take just one of the two, and that is completely fine.
Which should we focus on?
Usually your child’s year level decides it for you. If they’re in Year 4, the OC test is the one in front of you. If they’re in Year 6, it’s the selective test — including the writing task, which needs its own practice.
The good news is that the core skills overlap: reading closely, reasoning through maths, and thinking clearly help in both. Building those steadily over time serves whichever test your child sits — and serves their schooling either way.
Read the full guide for each
Each test has its own guide with the sections in detail, free sample questions and an honest way to prepare.
OC vs Selective — frequently asked
What is the difference between OC and selective?
An Opportunity Class (OC) is a primary-school class for Years 5 and 6; you apply and sit the test in Year 4, and it lasts two years. A selective high school is for Year 7 onward; you apply and sit that test in Year 6. The selective test also includes a typed writing task, which the OC test does not.
Which test does my child sit first?
The OC test comes first, in Year 4. The selective high school test comes later, in Year 6. They are two separate opportunities at two different stages of school.
Can my child sit both the OC and the selective test?
Yes. They happen at different year levels, so a child can sit the OC test in Year 4 and, later, the selective test in Year 6. Sitting one does not stop them sitting the other.
Does getting into an OC guarantee a selective place later?
No. The two are decided separately. An OC place does not guarantee a selective place, and not getting an OC place does not prevent a child from applying for, or winning, a selective place in Year 6.
Is the OC test easier than the selective test?
They are pitched at different ages, so it is not really a matter of easier or harder. The OC test is for Year 4 students and has three multiple-choice sections. The selective test is for Year 6 students and adds a typed writing task, so it covers more.
If my child missed OC, is it too late for a selective school?
Not at all. The selective test is a fresh opportunity in Year 6, judged on its own. Many children who did not sit or did not get an OC place go on to selective high schools.
Are both OC and selective schools free?
Yes. Both are part of the NSW public (government) school system, so there are no tuition fees and no cost to apply or sit the tests.
See where your child stands today
Whichever test is next, start with the free assessment. It finds your child’s true level across the shared skills, so preparation begins from the truth — not a guess.