Students apply for Year 7 entry while in Year 5 or Year 6, then sit the Selective High School Placement Test in early May of Year 6.
For Year 5 students, there is more time to gradually build their skills before moving into intensive Selective preparation.
Students apply for Year 7 entry while they are in Year 5 or Year 6, then sit the Selective High School Placement Test in early May of Year 6.
For Year 5 students, there is more time to gradually build their skills before moving into intensive Selective preparation.
Selective preparation isn't just about knowing the answers. Students need time to become comfortable with unfamiliar questions, different ways of thinking and timed conditions. That process takes time, and starting in Year 5 gives your child that time.
Free trial available for METS only.
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:
Important: exact dates change each year, so always check the latest information from the NSW Department of Education.
Your child is not trying to fit everything into Term 1 of Year 6.
Once the test has been completed in May, you cannot go back and prepare for that test.
Starting early gives your child time to build their skills before the preparation window gets short.
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.
17 questions in 45 minutes.
35 questions in 40 minutes.
40 questions in 40 minutes.
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.
For Year 5 students, there is more time to gradually build their skills before moving into intensive Selective preparation.
We recommend starting with METS to build the knowledge, comprehension, problem-solving and reasoning skills that underpin the Selective Test, then adding the Selective Placement Class for test-specific preparation.
Start with METS. Then add Selective Placement.
By Year 6, we recommend both programs from the beginning of Term 1: 3 hours of METS plus 1.5 hours of Selective Placement, for 4.5 hours of Selective preparation each week.
METS is our 3-hour weekly program covering:
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.
The Selective Placement Class is an additional 1.5-hour weekly class specifically focused on Selective Test preparation.
For Year 6 students sitting the test, we recommend it from the beginning of Term 1 alongside METS.
Students don't just complete questions. They learn how to approach unfamiliar problems, manage their time, recognise question patterns and review their mistakes.
Selective preparation isn't just about knowing the answers. Students need time to become comfortable with unfamiliar questions, different ways of thinking and working under timed conditions.
Starting early gives students time to:
That's much more useful than trying to cram everything into the final few weeks before the test.
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.
That's how we help students become better problem solvers, not just better at memorising answers.
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.
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.
Start with METS, then add 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.
No. For Year 5 students, there is more time to gradually build their skills before moving into intensive Selective preparation. Students apply while in Year 5 or Year 6 and sit the test in early May of Year 6.
Applications generally open towards the end of Year 5 (around November) and close in February of Year 6. Exact dates change each year, so always check the latest information from the NSW Department of Education.
Start with METS, our 3-hour weekly Maths, English and Thinking Skills program. Then add the Selective Placement Class, an additional 1.5-hour weekly class focused on the 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).
No. Selective preparation is not necessary for every child. However, if you are considering applying for the Selective exam to see how they go, spending some time preparing makes a significant difference to your child's confidence level.
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.
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.
Miu can answer questions about Selective preparation, class times, centres and fees, any time of day.
