Which test is right for my child?
OC, Selective, NAPLAN, scholarship — it’s a lot to untangle. Answer two quick questions and we’ll point you to the pathway that fits your child’s year, with the right free guide and practice. It’s guidance about timing and goals, never a judgement of ability — and a child can suit more than one.
- 2 questions
- A short, honest quiz
- 4 pathways
- OC, Selective, NAPLAN, scholarship
- Free
- No sign-up, no payment
Written and reviewed by the Hootbrook education team · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Find the right test for your child
Tell us your child’s year and what you’re aiming for. We’ll match you to the pathway that fits and link the free guide and practice for it — no sign-up needed.
Step 1 of 2
What’s your child’s current school year?
The four NSW pathways at a glance
Prefer to read it? Here’s the same guidance in plain text. Each pathway is separate — your child can be eligible for more than one.
Opportunity Class (OC)
A place in a NSW public-primary opportunity class for Years 5 and 6. The OC placement test is sat in Year 4, for entry in Year 5. Relevant if your child is currently around Year 3 or 4.
See the OC test guide or try free OC practice.
Selective High School
A place in a NSW public selective high school from Year 7. The Selective High School test is sat in Year 6. Relevant if your child is currently around Year 5 or 6.
See the selective test guide or try free selective practice.
NAPLAN
A national snapshot sat by every student in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It is not selective and not pass/fail — it simply shows how your child is tracking against national standards.
See the NAPLAN guide or try free NAPLAN practice.
Private-school scholarship
Independent and private schools run their own scholarship tests — commonly ACER, EduTest or AAS — at a range of year levels, including entry to high school. Dates and formats vary by school.
See the scholarship guide.
How the years line up
A quick way to see what’s relevant for your child right now.
Year 2 or below
Still early for the selective tests. NAPLAN begins in Year 3. This is a great time to build the underlying reasoning the OC and selective tests reward.
Year 3 or 4
The OC test — sat in Year 4 for an opportunity class in Year 5 — is the nearest public-school opportunity. NAPLAN is sat in Years 3 and 5.
Year 5 or 6
The Selective High School test — sat in Year 6 for a selective public high school in Year 7 — is the public-school pathway now. NAPLAN is sat in Years 5 and 7.
Year 7 or above
The OC (Year 5 entry) and selective (Year 7 entry) public-school windows have passed. NAPLAN continues in Years 7 and 9, and private-school scholarships can apply at high-school year levels.
An honest note
This tool is guidance based on your child’s year and your goal — not advice about their ability, and not a promise of a place. Eligibility for the OC and selective tests depends on year level and NSW rules, which can change, so always confirm dates and details with the relevant school or the NSW Department of Education. Hootbrook is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NSW Department of Education. Last reviewed: 30 August 2026.
Explore every pathway
Free guides and practice for every part of NSW test preparation.
Choosing a test — frequently asked
Which test is right for my child?
It depends mainly on your child’s year and what you’re aiming for. The OC test is sat in Year 4 for a NSW public opportunity class in Year 5; the Selective High School test is sat in Year 6 for a NSW public selective high school in Year 7; NAPLAN is a national check everyone sits in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9; and private schools run their own scholarship tests (ACER, EduTest, AAS) at various levels. A child can be eligible for more than one.
What year is the OC test for?
The OC placement test is sat in Year 4, for entry to an opportunity class in Year 5. So it is relevant when a child is currently around Year 3 or 4.
What year is the selective school test for?
The Selective High School Placement Test is sat in Year 6, for entry to a selective public high school in Year 7. So it is relevant when a child is currently around Year 5 or 6.
Is NAPLAN a selective test?
No. NAPLAN is a national snapshot sat by every student in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It is not selective and not pass/fail — it simply shows how your child is tracking against national standards.
What is a scholarship test?
Independent and private schools offer scholarships through their own entrance tests — commonly ACER, EduTest or AAS — at a range of year levels, including entry to high school. Dates and formats vary by school, so check each school directly.
Can my child sit more than one of these?
Yes. The pathways are separate, and a child can be eligible for several — for example, sitting the OC test in Year 4 and the Selective test in Year 6, while also sitting NAPLAN along the way. Eligibility depends on year level, not ability, and no test result is guaranteed.
Start from where your child really is
Whichever pathway fits, the free assessment finds your child’s true level across reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills — so preparation begins from the truth, not a guess.