When is the 2026 selective test?

For Year 7 entry in 2027, the Selective High School Placement Test is scheduled for Friday 1 – Saturday 2 May 2026. Students attend one allocated test day only.

When do applications close?

Applications for Year 7 entry in 2027 closed on 20 February 2026.

When is the make-up test?

The selective make-up test is scheduled for Friday 22 May 2026 for students with approved illness or misadventure.

Can school choices be changed after the test?

For this cycle, the last day to change school choices is 5 June 2026.

When are outcomes expected?

Placement outcomes are expected on 19 August 2026. The last day to submit an outcomes appeal is 26 August 2026 at 11:59 pm. The reserve decision date is 3 December 2026 at 3:00 pm.

NSW Selective Test Dates & Timeline (2027 Entry)

Updated: 13 Aug 2026

Reading time: 4–5 minutes

group icon Who this is for: Parents of Year 5 and Year 6 students applying for Year 7 selective high school entry in 2027.

Key facts (TL;DR)

Applications opened: 6 November 2025.
Applications closed: 20 February 2026, which was also the last day to request reasonable adjustments.
Test dates: Friday 1 – Saturday 2 May 2026. Students attend one allocated test day only.
Make-up test: Friday 22 May 2026 for approved illness or misadventure.
School choices: the last day to change school choices is 5 June 2026.
Outcomes: placement outcomes are expected on 19 August 2026. Appeals close 26 August 2026 at 11:59 pm. The reserve decision date is 3 December 2026 at 3:00 pm.

1. Key dates at a glance

Applications open: 6 November 2025
Applications close: 20 February 2026
Last day to update details: 13 March 2026
Test Admission Tickets expected: 17 April 2026
Selective High School Placement Test: 1–2 May 2026
Illness/misadventure request deadline for main test: 8 May 2026
Make-up test: 22 May 2026
Illness/misadventure request deadline for make-up test: 29 May 2026
Last day to change school choices: 5 June 2026
Placement outcomes expected: 19 August 2026
Outcomes appeal deadline: 26 August 2026, 11:59 pm
Reserve decision date: 3 December 2026, 3:00 pm

Always confirm dates with the NSW Department of Education before making decisions.

2. Complete 2026 selective timeline

6 November 2025 — Applications open. Parents can submit applications through the online application system.
20 February 2026 — Applications close. Late applications are generally not accepted; this is also the reasonable adjustment request deadline.
13 March 2026 — Last day to update details. Parents can update details such as current school in the application dashboard.
17 April 2026 — Test Admission Tickets expected. Check details carefully when released.
1–2 May 2026 — Selective High School Placement Test. Students attend one allocated test day only.
8 May 2026 — Illness/misadventure deadline. This applies to the main test.
22 May 2026 — Make-up test. For students with approved illness or misadventure.
29 May 2026 — Illness/misadventure deadline for the make-up test. This applies to the make-up test only.
5 June 2026 — Last day to change school choices. This is the final preference adjustment point.
19 August 2026 — Outcomes expected. Parents receive placement outcomes and performance report information in the application dashboard. This is an expected date and can still move.
26 August 2026, 11:59 pm — Outcomes appeal deadline. Last day for parents to submit an outcomes appeal.
3 December 2026, 3:00 pm — Reserve decision date. Families with an accepted offer who are also on a higher-choice reserve list must decide by this time.

3. Preparation timeline

6+ months before

Take a diagnostic across the key sections.
Identify reading, maths, thinking skills and writing gaps.
Start small weekly writing practice.

3–6 months before

Build a regular weekly practice rhythm.
Use targeted mini-tests and section tests.
Review mistakes carefully rather than only chasing more questions.

Final 1–3 months

Increase timed digital practice.
Practise writing under 30-minute conditions.
Use simulations sparingly to build stamina without burning out.

Final week

Light review only.
Check test-day logistics.
Prioritise sleep, calm and confidence.

4. Application checklist

When applications are open, parents usually need to prepare:

student details and current school details
residency and enrolment eligibility information
selective high school preferences
reasonable adjustment documentation, if relevant
any relevant illness, misadventure or application updates through the official process

5. Official resources

Use Sharp Minds Club for parent-friendly guidance and practice planning, but always treat the NSW Department of Education as the source of truth for dates, applications, test tickets and placement outcomes.

FAQs

When is the 2026 selective test?

For Year 7 entry in 2027, the Selective High School Placement Test is scheduled for Friday 1 – Saturday 2 May 2026. Students attend one allocated test day only.
When do applications close?

Applications for Year 7 entry in 2027 closed on 20 February 2026.
When is the make-up test?

The selective make-up test is scheduled for Friday 22 May 2026 for students with approved illness or misadventure.
Can school choices be changed after the test?

For this cycle, the last day to change school choices is 5 June 2026.
When are outcomes expected?

Placement outcomes are expected on 19 August 2026. The last day to submit an outcomes appeal is 26 August 2026 at 11:59 pm. The reserve decision date is 3 December 2026 at 3:00 pm. Always confirm on the NSW Department of Education website, as expected dates can still move.

How Sharp Minds Club helps

Selective study plans that line up with the months remaining before the test.
Timed practice to build confidence before the May test window.
Writing routines that begin well before test week.
Parent dashboards to help adjust practice based on real performance.

Related guides & next steps

If this page helped, here's where to go next.

Start selective preparation

Sources & acknowledgements

NSW Department of Education — Placement test dates and logistics: education.nsw.gov.au/.../placement-test
NSW Department of Education — Application process key dates: education.nsw.gov.au/.../application-process

We align our guidance with NSW Department of Education information and official placement-test resources. Content is reviewed for accuracy, updated when test information changes, and written for NSW families preparing for selective high school entry. Questions? Contact us.

Author: Mina Radhakrishnan — Founder, Sharp Minds Club; Cornell University (BA Computer Science). University of Toronto Schools (UTSD, OSSD).

Goldman Sachs IB Technology; Google Product Manager; Uber Employee #20 & first Head of Product; former founder/CEO of :Different; advisor and product mentor to leading venture firms and startups. Sat the PSAT, SAT and GMAT with top-tier scores. NSW parent of 2.