OC decisions are out See OC results 2026

OC to Selective — Start Here

Updated:

Reading time: 3–4 minutes

Your child has been through OC preparation. Now you're thinking about selective high school. This guide covers everything you need to know about the transition: what's different, what carries over, when to start, and how to plan the next two years.

Core areas

OC results: while you wait, and after

  • If your child gets an offer
  • If your child doesn't get an offer
  • Either way, here's your next move

What changes between OC and Selective

  • Four components instead of three
  • Year 6 content, not Year 4
  • Stamina and time pressure

The preparation timeline

  • Term-by-term from Year 5 to test day
  • What to focus on at each stage
  • How to build toward May of Year 6

What changes in each subject

  • Maths: bridging Year 4 to Year 6
  • Reading: longer passages, harder inferences
  • Thinking Skills: multi-step reasoning

Writing: the new component

  • What the writing task actually involves
  • What examiners are looking for
  • How to build writing skills over time

Featured from the blog

Next steps

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