Thinking skills
Critical thinking and problem solving: evaluating arguments, spotting assumptions, logic and spatial puzzles.
Selective School Tutoring for the NSW and Victorian Tests
1:1 online coaching for thinking skills, mathematical reasoning, reading and writing, matched to the exact test your child will sit.
The selective test rewards reasoning, not memory
Selective school tests are designed to find strong thinkers, not children who've memorised content. That's why capable students can be caught out by thinking skills puzzles, time pressure or a writing prompt they didn't expect. Selective school exam preparation works best when it teaches a clear method for each question type, then builds speed with realistic practice.
Mathematical reasoning
Applying maths to unfamiliar problems, often beyond the school syllabus for their year.
Reading
Fiction, non-fiction and poetry, with inference and cloze-style questions under time pressure.
Writing
Planning and writing a strong piece to an unseen prompt, fast.
NSW vs Victoria: the tests compared
| NSW Selective High School Placement Test | Victorian Selective Entry High Schools exam | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry year | Year 7 (test in Year 6) | Year 9 (exam in Year 8) |
| Most recent test | 1 to 2 May 2026 (2027 entry) | 20 June 2026 (2027 entry) |
| Format | Computer-based, at local test centres in NSW | Paper-based, run by ACER |
| Sections | Reading 45 min, Mathematical Reasoning 40 min, Thinking Skills 40 min, Writing 30 min | Maths and Quantitative Reasoning 60 min, Reading and Verbal Reasoning 55 min, Writing 40 min |
| Worth knowing | From 2027 entry, places are split equally between boys and girls in co-ed selective schools and OC classes | Applications for 2027 entry ran from 2 March to 24 April 2026 |
Sources: NSW Department of Education placement test pages; ACER Victorian Selective Entry High Schools site. Always check official dates for your intake.
How we prepare your child
Diagnose
A selective-style mock shows strengths and gaps across every section.
Match
Your child works with a tutor who specialises in the NSW or Victorian format.
Personalise
A plan counts down to test day, starting with methods and building to full timed tests.
Review
Regular mocks and parent-teacher meetings show progress against the level selective schools need.
- 1:1 live online classes, no travel
- Thinking skills taught as clear, repeatable methods
- Writing marked with detailed feedback
- Timed practice tests in the right format (on screen for NSW, paper for Victoria)
- An adaptive question bank and a 24/7 AI tutor between classes
Questions parents ask
Find out how ready your child is
Book a free selective school class. A short diagnostic shows exactly which sections need work and how much time your child needs.
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