The Selective test has gone through many changes since 2020. In 2020, there was an overall major change in content and structure following the 2018 department review. The second major change is happening in 2025 – the Selective Entrance test will be online.
Let us go through the changes expected for the 2025 test.
The changes introduced will affect students taking the test in 2025 (Year 6 students in 2025).
The Writing and Reading components will be more heavily weighted, it is even more important that students develop their literacy skills to perform their best in the Test.
All sections now have EQUAL weighting:
| SECTION | QUESTIONS | MINUTES | TYPE | WEIGHTING |
| Reading | 16 (2 questions have multiple parts to answer) | 40 | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Mathematical reasoning | 35 | 40 | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Thinking Skills | 40 | 40 | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Writing | 1 | 30 | Multiple Choice | 25% |
Janison Exam Management will still administer the exam, and Cambridge Assessment will continue to handle its writing and marking.
The outcomes of the test will be announced in Term 3 of the same year of sitting the test. This is faster than before. However, there is no change to the performance reports. The report shows how your child performed compared to other students who took the test that year. For each of the test components, the report shows where your child performed in one of four bands:
It is important to note that these percentages do not represent your child’s correct answers on each test. Rather, they show how your child’s performance compares to other students who sat the test in the same year.
Parents will continue to be offered a place based on two factors:
There are no set minimum entry scores to receive an offer to a selective high school or opportunity class anymore. If you find minimum entry scores or cut-off marks mentioned anywhere on websites, please know that the department stopped publishing them in 2021. One of the main reasons for not having minimum entry scores by schools is that the level of test performance required for each school depends on:
The more sought-after a school is, the more challenging it is to receive an offer.
Global Education Academy continually adapts to any changes made by the department. Our tutoring centres in Sydney have transitioned to computer-based exams for all our mock tests to help students become more familiar with the online format.
Students complete their tests using an online platform and parents have immediate access to results as soon as students receive feedback from their teachers. Parents can also view performance data and statistics on our platform.
As Selective school tutors, we understand that a Selective Benchmark assessment highlights your child’s strengths and pinpoints areas needing improvement. It includes the four components of the Selective placement test and serves as the initial evaluation for our Selective Preparation Course. This assessment provides you with the clarity needed to make an informed decision.
