How to Register for the NSW Selective School Test 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Register for the 2026 NSW Selective High School Placement Test online through the NSW Department of Education portal. Applications close 20 February 2026 with no late entries. Your child must be in Year 6 in 2026 for Year 7 entry in 2027. Gather citizenship documents, your child's Student Registration Number, and three ranked school preferences before you start.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Before you register, confirm your child meets the NSW Department of Education criteria for Year 7 selective high school entry in 2027.

Your child is eligible if they meet all of the following:

• Currently in Year 6 (or equivalent) at the time of the test
• An Australian citizen or permanent resident, or holds an eligible visa category
• Enrolled in a school in NSW (government, Catholic, or independent), or home-schooled in NSW
• Not already placed in a selective high school through a previous application cycle

Students in interstate or overseas schools may apply under certain conditions. From 2026, the test is only held in NSW — students outside NSW must travel to an allocated test centre. Check the official DoE page for visa subclasses and disability adjustment requirements.

Roughly 17,000 students apply each year for about 4,248 places across 47 selective and partially selective schools. For the full selective school overview, see our selective school preparation hub.

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Step-by-Step Registration Walkthrough

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Registration is completed entirely online through the NSW Department of Education portal. There is no paper application. Use a reliable email address — all test booking, results, and offer correspondence goes to the address you provide.

How to Register: Complete Step-by-Step Process

1. 1.Check eligibility

   Confirm your child is in Year 6, holds eligible residency or citizenship status, and is enrolled in a NSW school. Review the Department of Education eligibility criteria on their website.

2. 2.Gather required documents

   Collect your child's SRN, date of birth, citizenship or visa documentation, and your own contact details. If applying for equity consideration or disability adjustments, prepare supporting documents.

3. 3.Research selective schools

   Review the list of 47 selective schools across NSW. Consider location, transport, and school type (fully or partially selective). Decide on your top three preferences before you start the application.

4. 4.Access the online application portal

   Visit the NSW Department of Education's Selective High Schools page. Create a parent/carer account or log in to your existing account. Applications opened 6 November 2025 and close 20 February 2026.

5. 5.Complete student details

   Enter your child's full legal name, date of birth, gender, current school, and Student Registration Number (SRN). Double-check every field — errors in names or SRNs cause processing delays.

6. 6.Enter parent/carer details

   Provide your full name, residential address, phone number, and email address. The email you provide receives all correspondence about the application, test details, and results.

7. 7.Select school preferences (up to 3)

   Nominate up to three selective schools in your preferred order. Your first preference is the school you most want your child to attend. You can update preferences until 5 June 2026.

8. 8.Declare equity considerations (if applicable)

   If your child qualifies for equity consideration, complete the relevant section and upload supporting documentation (for example, Centrelink statements or a Health Care Card).

9. 9.Review and submit

   Carefully review every section before submitting. Check names, dates, SRN, school preferences, and contact details. Once submitted, you will receive a confirmation email.

10. 10.Save your confirmation

    Save or print the confirmation email and any reference number provided. You will need this for test booking and any amendments to your application.

The test is computer-based (Cambridge Assessment), with four equally weighted components over about 155 minutes. For component detail, see our NSW selective test format guide. For a structured prep plan, see preparation strategies, the Selective Ultimate Pack, and our sample reasoning paper.

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Required Documents and School Preferences

Gather everything before you open the portal. Missing details mid-application increases the risk of errors or an incomplete submission.

Registration Document Checklist

• Child's full legal name (as it appears on official documents)

• Child's date of birth

• Child's current school name and address

• Child's Student Registration Number (SRN) — available from their current school

• Parent/carer contact details (name, address, phone, email)

• Proof of Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible visa status

• Any relevant medical or disability documentation (if requesting test adjustments)

• Equity consideration documentation (if applicable)

• Up to 3 selective school preferences (decided in advance)

How school preferences work

You nominate up to three selective schools in ranked order. The placement system uses a merit-based allocation combined with your preference list:

• Your child receives a single test score that applies to all three preferences
• The system attempts placement at Preference 1 first, then Preference 2, then Preference 3
• If your child's score does not meet the cut-off for any nominated school, they will not receive a selective placement

List your genuine first choice as Preference 1. Consider a realistic spread across competitiveness levels and daily travel time. Of the 47 schools, 25 are fully selective and 22 are partially selective — cut-off scores differ between these types.

You can change school preferences after submitting until 5 June 2026 through the application dashboard.

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Key Deadlines and What Happens Next

The following dates are sourced from the NSW Department of Education application process page for Year 7 entry in 2027 (test held in 2026). Check that page for any updates.

2026 Selective Test Registration Timeline

1. Applications Open

   6 November 2025

   • Register on the online portal
   • Complete all application sections

   Gather citizenship/residency documents · Research and select school preferences

2. Applications Close

   20 February 2026

   • Submit application before this strict deadline
   • Last day to request reasonable adjustments

   No late applications accepted · Save confirmation email and dashboard access

3. Last Day to Update Details

   13 March 2026

   • Finalise application details including current school

   Review and update details through application dashboard

4. Selective High School Placement Test

   1–2 May 2026

   • Child sits the placement test (allocated one test day only)

   Arrive at allocated test centre with Test Admission Ticket · Make-up test available 22 May 2026 for approved illness/misadventure

5. Last Day to Change School Choices

   5 June 2026

   • Finalise school preference selections

   Update preferences through application dashboard if needed

6. Placement Outcomes Released

   Late August 2026

   • Receive results and respond to any offer

   Check email and application dashboard · Accept or decline placement offer by specified deadline

After registration, you receive a confirmation email, then test venue and session details closer to 1–2 May 2026. Results and offers follow in late August 2026. While you wait, a free mock test helps your child practise timed Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing under computer-based conditions.

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Common Registration Mistakes to Avoid

• Missing the deadline — late applications are generally not accepted; set reminders well before 20 February 2026
• Incorrect student details — typos in name, date of birth, or SRN cause delays; cross-check against official documents
• Unreliable email address — all correspondence goes to the email you provide; check spam folders for DoE messages
• Rushed school preferences — research schools, travel time, and fully vs partially selective types before nominating
• Skipping equity eligibility — families who qualify but do not apply miss a meaningful pathway
• No confirmation saved — keep your confirmation email and reference number immediately after submitting

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FAQ

Is there a fee to register for the NSW Selective School Test?

No. Registration and sitting the NSW Selective High School Placement Test is free through the NSW Department of Education.

Can my child apply if they attend a private or Catholic school?

Yes. The test is open to students from all school sectors — government, Catholic, and independent schools, as well as home-schooled students in NSW.

What if I miss the registration deadline?

Late applications are generally not accepted. Contact the DoE directly if you have exceptional circumstances, but there is no guarantee a late application will be processed.

Can my child apply for more than three schools?

No. The application allows a maximum of three school preferences in ranked order.

What if my child is offered their second or third preference?

You can accept or decline any offer. Accepting a lower-preference offer does not always prevent waiting-list movement for a higher preference — check the Department's policies for the current cycle.

Does my child need to prepare for a specific test format?

The test is computer-based, developed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. It includes multiple-choice components and a typed writing task. The Department recommends 30–35 words per minute for the Writing component. See our test format guide and preparation strategies for detail.

How are students with disabilities accommodated?

Students with disabilities can request adjustments during registration. Supporting documentation from medical professionals or the child's school may be required. The last day to request reasonable adjustments is 20 February 2026.

Register early, then benchmark readiness

Submit your application before 20 February 2026, then use a free mock test to see how your Year 6 student handles the four computer-based components.

Try a free selective mock testView selective courses