If your child is already in Year 6...
The preparation window is short.
Once the test has been completed in May, you cannot go back and prepare for that test.
If your child is sitting the test this year, Term 1 is the time to start.
Year 6 Selective School PreparationYour child is in Year 6. The Selective Test is coming.
If your child is currently in Year 6 and intends to sit the Selective High School Placement Test, now is the time to prepare.
The test is held in early May, which means Term 1 is the final major preparation window before your child sits the test.
- METS + Selective Placement
- 4.5 hours each week
- Free METS trial
Your Child is in Year 6. The Selective Test is Coming.
If your child is currently in Year 6 and intends to sit the Selective High School Placement Test, now is the time to prepare.
The test is held in early May, which means Term 1 is the final major preparation window before your child sits the test.
There is no need to panic, but there is also no reason to wait. The earlier your child starts, the more time they have to build their skills, become familiar with the test and learn from their mistakes.
Free trial available for METS only.
Year 6 Selective at a glance
- Test held in early May
- Term 1: the final major preparation window
- METS: 3 hours per week
- Selective Placement Class: 1.5 hours per week
- 4.5 hours of Selective preparation each week
- 70% of our students offered a Selective place
What is a Selective High School?
Selective high schools are public high schools that provide an academically challenging environment for students who meet the required academic merit for placement.
Students apply for Year 7 entry while they are in Year 5 or Year 6, then sit the Selective High School Placement Test during Year 6. Applications generally open towards the end of Year 5, close in February of Year 6, and the test is held in May. Results are released later in the year.
The Selective School Timeline:
- Applications openYear 5, around November
- Applications closeYear 6, around February
- PreparationYear 6, Term 1
- Selective Placement TestYear 6, early May
- Test completedYear 6, Term 2
- Placement outcomesAround August
Important: exact dates change each year, so always check the latest information from the NSW Department of Education.
What is in the Selective High School Placement Test?
The current Selective High School Placement Test is computer-based and consists of four sections. It is designed to assess skills such as reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, critical thinking, problem solving and written expression.
Reading
17 questions in 45 minutes.
Mathematical Reasoning
35 questions in 40 minutes.
Thinking Skills
40 questions in 40 minutes.
Writing
1 task in 30 minutes.
The four sections are equally weighted.
Want to see what the test looks like? The NSW Department of Education provides Official Selective Practice Tests so parents and students can become familiar with the test format.
How We Prepare Year 6 Students for the Selective Test
For Year 5 students, there is more time to gradually build their skills before moving into intensive Selective preparation.
Year 6 is different. If your child is already in Year 6 and preparing to sit the Selective Test, we recommend joining both METS and the Selective Placement Class immediately.
Foundation first. Test preparation alongside it.
- 1METS: build the academic foundation
- 2Selective Placement Class: prepare specifically for the test
They have different purposes, and your child needs both.
METS: Build the Academic Foundation
METS is our 3-hour weekly program covering:
- Mathematics
- English
- Thinking Skills
Students continue developing the knowledge, comprehension, problem-solving and reasoning skills that underpin the Selective Test.
METS gives students the opportunity to learn and strengthen the underlying skills, rather than simply completing test questions.
Free trial available for METS only.
Selective Placement Class: Prepare for the Test
The Selective Placement Class is an additional 1.5-hour weekly class specifically focused on Selective Test preparation.
Students practise:
- Reading
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Thinking Skills
- Writing
- Timed questions
- Selective-style questions
- Practice papers
- Test strategies
- Working under exam conditions
Students don't just complete questions. They learn how to approach unfamiliar problems, manage their time, recognise question patterns and review their mistakes.
METS + Placement Class = 4.5 Hours Each Week
For a Year 6 student preparing for the Selective Test, we recommend both programs from the beginning of Term 1.
METS, 3 hours/week: build the academic skills and foundations. Selective Placement, 1.5 hours/week: apply those skills specifically to the Selective Test.
This gives students time to:
- 1Learn
- 2Practise
- 3Make mistakes
- 4Understand
- 5Improve
- 6Practise again
That's much more useful than trying to cram everything into the final few weeks before the test.
Why Start Now?
Selective preparation isn't just about knowing the answers. Students need time to become comfortable with:
- 1Unfamiliar questions
- 2Different ways of thinking
- 3Timed conditions
- 4Reviewing mistakes
- 5Building confidence
- 6Applying skills under pressure
That process takes time. If your child is already in Year 6, there are only a limited number of weeks before the test.
Don't wait until Term 2. Start building the preparation now.
What Makes Our Approach Different?
We don't believe Selective preparation should simply mean giving students hundreds of practice questions.
We want students to understand why an answer is correct, identify where they went wrong and develop the skills to tackle the next unfamiliar question.
- 1Learn the skill
- 2Practise the skill
- 3Apply the skill
- 4Review the mistake
- 5Try again
That's how we help students become better problem solvers, not just better at memorising answers.
Selective Preparation Can Help Beyond Selective Schools
The skills developed through Selective preparation can also be useful for students preparing for other competitive academic entry pathways.
The focus is on developing strong reasoning, comprehension, problem-solving and written communication skills.
So even if your ultimate goal isn't a Selective High School, developing these skills can still be valuable.
Also useful for:
- Private school entrance examinations
- Academic scholarship examinations
- Other academic placement tests
- More challenging academic work
Our Selective Results
We are proud of the results our students have achieved.
70% of our students were offered a place at a Selective High School.
Results vary from student to student, and we never guarantee a Selective placement. What we can provide is a structured learning environment, experienced teaching and plenty of opportunities to practise and improve.
Our students have been accepted into schools including:
- Baulkham Hills High School
- Hurlstone Agricultural High School
- Moorebank High School
- Bonnyrigg High School
- Prairiewood High School
- Macquarie Fields High School
Your child is in Year 6. Start now.
Give your child the time to build their skills, practise the test format and improve before May.
Join METS + Selective Placement. We offer a FREE trial lesson for METS, so you can see how your child responds to our teaching before making a commitment. Let our lesson experience speak for itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Selective High School Placement Test?
The test is held in early May of Year 6. Applications generally open towards the end of Year 5 and close in February of Year 6. Exact dates change each year, so always check the latest information from the NSW Department of Education.
When should my Year 6 child start preparing?
Now. Term 1 is the final major preparation window before the test. We recommend joining both METS and the Selective Placement Class from the beginning of Term 1.
What is the difference between METS and the Selective Placement Class?
METS is our 3-hour weekly Maths, English and Thinking Skills program that builds the academic foundation. The Selective Placement Class is an additional 1.5-hour weekly class focused specifically on Selective Test preparation.
What is in the Selective Placement Test?
The current test is computer-based and has four equally weighted sections: Reading (17 questions, 45 minutes), Mathematical Reasoning (35 questions, 40 minutes), Thinking Skills (40 questions, 40 minutes) and Writing (1 task, 30 minutes).
Do you guarantee a Selective placement?
No. Results vary from student to student, and we never guarantee a Selective placement. 70% of our students were offered a place at a Selective High School.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. We offer a FREE trial lesson for METS, so you can see how your child responds to our teaching before making a commitment. The free trial applies to METS only. The Selective Placement Class is an additional class for students undertaking Selective preparation.
Have another question? Ask Miu.
Miu can answer questions about Selective preparation, class times, centres and fees, any time of day.
- Which class suits my child?
- What are the class times?
- Which centre is closest?