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Parent's Guide

OC & Selective key dates: how the cycle works

The exact dates shift each year, but the rhythm doesn't. Here's the annual NSW placement cycle — apply, test, offers — with the latest confirmed dates as a worked example.

Free 8-minute readiness check

The yearly cycle

1 · Applications open

Spring (the year before entry)

Parents apply online through the NSW Department of Education. You nominate school preferences during this window.

2 · The placement test

Autumn (entry year minus one)

Your child sits the computer-based test. Selective is sat in Year 6; the OC test is sat in Year 4.

3 · Offers & outcomes

Late winter

Results and any placement offers are released. Outcomes are reported in performance bands, not raw marks.

Worked example — 2027 entry (most recent cycle)

Applications6 November 2025 – 20 February 2026
Selective test sat1–2 May 2026
Results releasedlate August 2026

Dates for the 2028-entry cycle are confirmed by the NSW Department of Education in late 2026.Dates for the cycle you're applying to should always be confirmed on the official source below.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

When do OC and Selective applications open?
Applications open in spring of the year before entry and close a few months later. For the most recent cycle, the Selective application window ran 6 November 2025 – 20 February 2026.
When is the Selective test sat?
The Selective High School Placement Test for 2027 entry was sat on 1–2 May 2026, with results released in late August 2026.
When will the next year’s dates be confirmed?
Dates for the 2028-entry cycle are confirmed by the NSW Department of Education in late 2026. Always check the official NSW Department of Education page for the exact dates of the cycle you are applying for.
Are OC and Selective on the same timeline?
They follow the same shape — apply, test, offers — but they are separate processes for different year levels (OC for Year 5 entry, Selective for Year 7 entry). Confirm each on the official site.

Make the months between count

Start with a free 8-minute readiness check, then build a short daily routine well before test day.

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Source: NSW Department of Education · education.nsw.gov.au