100+ Free NSW Selective Practice Questions

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Question 1

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A task asks students to write a story for younger children about finding a lost map. Which choice best suits the audience?

Use clear language, lively action and enough clues for young readers to follow.

Use long technical terms about cartography in every sentence.

Assume the reader already knows the ending.

Write only a list of map symbols with no characters.

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NSW Selective Exam

4 sections

Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing

NSW Department of Education - Selective high school practice tests

25% each

Official weighting for each test section

NSW Department of Education placement procedures

155 minutes

Total official section time

NSW Department of Education - Selective high school practice tests

No fixed pass mark

Placement depends on relative performance, choices and available places

NSW Department of Education - Outcomes and choosing schools

100

Free original practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

The NSW Selective High School Placement Test for Year 7 entry is a 155-minute computer-based test with four equally weighted sections: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. There is no simple pass mark or published minimum entry score; placement is competitive and depends on relative performance, school choices, available places, reserve-list movement and selection processes. This 100-question bank provides original multiple-choice practice modelled on the official section skills, including writing judgment and planning questions adapted from the open-response writing component.

Sample NSW Selective Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NSW Selective exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Read the passage: Mira zipped her raincoat before the first bell. The sky over the oval was the colour of wet slate, and the wind pushed leaves in little circles near the gate. Why does Mira most likely zip her raincoat?

A.She thinks rain is likely soon.

B.She is about to run a race.

C.She wants to hide her school uniform.

D.She has been told to leave the oval.

Explanation: The dark sky and wind are clues that wet weather may be coming. Mira's action is sensible preparation for possible rain, not evidence of a race or punishment.

2Read the sentence: The old wooden bridge looked fragile, but it was sturdy enough for the bushwalkers to cross one at a time. What does sturdy most nearly mean?

A.Brightly painted

B.Strong and firm

C.Difficult to find

D.Newly built

Explanation: The contrast is between looking fragile and being safe enough to cross. Sturdy therefore means strong, firm, or able to hold weight.

3Read the notice: All library books borrowed before the holidays must be returned by Friday. Books may be placed in the blue tub near the front desk before school. What is the main purpose of the notice?

A.To invite students to join a reading club

B.To explain where new books are displayed

C.To remind students how and when to return books

D.To announce that the library will close on Friday

Explanation: The notice gives a deadline and a place for returning borrowed books. Its purpose is practical instruction, not advertising a club or announcing a closure.

4Read the lines: After rain, the gutters sang / and every gum leaf held a star. Which idea is created by the phrase every gum leaf held a star?

A.Leaves were covered with small shining drops.

B.Stars had fallen from the sky.

C.The trees were blocking the gutters.

D.The rain had damaged the gum leaves.

Explanation: The phrase uses imagery to compare raindrops on leaves with stars. It suggests sparkling drops, not a literal fall of stars.

5Read the report extract: The class measured the shade under three trees at midday. The fig tree gave the widest patch of shade, while the young bottlebrush gave the narrowest. Which statement is directly supported?

A.The fig tree made more shade than the bottlebrush.

B.The class measured the trees in the evening.

C.The bottlebrush was taller than the fig tree.

D.The trees were all the same age.

Explanation: The extract states that the fig tree gave the widest shade and the bottlebrush the narrowest. That directly supports the comparison in option 0.

6Read the sentence: Tane paused at the doorway, took a slow breath, and stepped onto the stage. What can the reader reasonably infer about Tane?

A.He is nervous but decides to continue.

B.He has forgotten where the stage is.

C.He is angry with the audience.

D.He wants the performance to be cancelled.

Explanation: Pausing and taking a slow breath suggest nervousness or steadying himself. Stepping onto the stage shows he continues rather than avoiding the performance.

7Read the two extracts. Extract 1: Buses should run every ten minutes so students are not left waiting in the heat. Extract 2: More buses would help, but shaded shelters are the quickest improvement. How are the extracts different?

A.Only Extract 1 suggests changing the bus timetable.

B.Only Extract 2 says students wait outside.

C.Both extracts oppose helping students.

D.Both extracts focus on bicycle safety.

Explanation: Extract 1 specifically proposes buses every ten minutes, which is a timetable change. Extract 2 prefers shelters as the quickest improvement.

8Read the magazine extract: Want to reduce lunchbox waste? Try one change this week: swap plastic wrap for a reusable container. Which heading best suits the extract?

A.A Simple Way to Cut Waste

B.The History of Plastic

C.Why Lunch Is Unpopular

D.How to Grow Vegetables

Explanation: The extract gives one practical action to reduce waste. The best heading captures that simple environmental suggestion.

9Read the passage: The community garden looked untidy in winter, but beneath the mulch the soil was becoming richer. By spring, the beds that had seemed neglected produced the strongest seedlings. What is the main idea?

A.A garden can improve even when it looks inactive.

B.Winter is always the best time to plant seedlings.

C.Mulch makes gardens look neat all year.

D.Community gardens should be closed in spring.

Explanation: The passage contrasts the garden's untidy winter appearance with the healthy spring results. The main idea is that unseen preparation can lead to later growth.

10Read the passage: Jaya said the model bridge was finished, but she kept pressing one corner and watching it wobble. She asked for another strip of cardboard before the judging began. Which evidence best shows Jaya is not fully confident?

A.She said the model bridge was finished.

B.She kept pressing one corner and watching it wobble.

C.The judging had not yet begun.

D.The bridge was a model.

Explanation: Testing the corner and noticing a wobble show concern about the bridge's strength. Her request for extra cardboard also supports that concern.

About the NSW Selective Exam

The NSW Selective High School Placement Test is the statewide computer-based placement test used for Year 7 entry to NSW selective high schools. It has four equally weighted components: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. The multiple-choice sections assess reading, reasoning, mathematical problem-solving and critical thinking, while the writing task asks students to produce an original response for a specified purpose and audience. The department states that the test measures ability rather than curriculum achievement, uses concepts from the NSW curriculum up to Year 6 and does not require special subject knowledge beyond school learning.

Assessment

Reading 17 question groups with 38 answers; Mathematical Reasoning 35 questions; Thinking Skills 40 questions; Writing 1 open-response task. Each section is weighted 25%.

Time Limit

155 minutes of test time: Reading 45 min, Mathematical Reasoning 40 min, Thinking Skills 40 min, Writing 30 min, plus scheduled breaks.

Passing Score

No fixed pass mark. Offers depend on relative test performance, the order of school choices, the number of available places or vacancies, reserve-list movement and selection committee processes.

Exam Fee

No application fee if the child sits the test in NSW; selective high schools are public schools and do not charge attendance fees except for boarding at agricultural high schools. (NSW Department of Education)

NSW Selective Exam Content Outline

25%

Reading

Official test: 17 question groups in 45 minutes, including 3 questions with multiple parts. Reading materials can include non-fiction, fiction, poetry, magazine articles and reports. Practice here focuses on main idea, inference, vocabulary in context, evidence, comparison, tone, text structure and author purpose.

25%

Mathematical Reasoning

Official test: 35 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes. Students use NSW curriculum concepts up to Year 6 to solve unfamiliar problems without a calculator. Practice here covers number, fractions, ratio, measurement, geometry, data, probability, patterns and multi-step reasoning.

25%

Thinking Skills

Official test: 40 multiple-choice questions in 40 minutes. This section assesses general critical thinking and problem-solving with no required previous knowledge. Practice here covers deduction, rules, analogies, classification, codes, assumptions, evidence, argument strength and logic puzzles.

25%

Writing

Official test: one 30-minute open-response task. The writing is assessed for ideas, purpose, audience and language use, and must address the topic. Practice here adapts writing preparation to multiple-choice judgment questions on planning, paragraph structure, relevance, thesis, evidence, audience, style and revision.

How to Pass the NSW Selective Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: No fixed pass mark. Offers depend on relative test performance, the order of school choices, the number of available places or vacancies, reserve-list movement and selection committee processes.
Assessment: Reading 17 question groups with 38 answers; Mathematical Reasoning 35 questions; Thinking Skills 40 questions; Writing 1 open-response task. Each section is weighted 25%.
Time limit: 155 minutes of test time: Reading 45 min, Mathematical Reasoning 40 min, Thinking Skills 40 min, Writing 30 min, plus scheduled breaks.
Exam fee: No application fee if the child sits the test in NSW; selective high schools are public schools and do not charge attendance fees except for boarding at agricultural high schools.

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NSW Selective Study Tips from Top Performers

1Use the NSW Department of Education computer-based practice tests to become familiar with the test interface, timer and question tools before test day.

2For Reading, practise explaining which words in the passage prove your answer; this helps avoid answers that sound reasonable but lack evidence.

3For Mathematical Reasoning, write working clearly on paper because calculators are not allowed and many questions require multi-step reasoning.

4For Thinking Skills, slow down on rule wording such as all, some, only, must and may; small wording changes often control the answer.

5For Writing, plan the purpose, audience, main idea and ending before drafting so the response stays on topic.

6Do not memorise special subject facts for this test. The official guidance says the test assesses ability and uses concepts students learn at school up to Year 6.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sections are on the NSW Selective High School Placement Test?

There are four sections: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. Each section is weighted 25% in the official test structure.

How long is the NSW selective placement test?

The official section times total 155 minutes: Reading 45 minutes, Mathematical Reasoning 40 minutes, Thinking Skills 40 minutes and Writing 30 minutes, with breaks scheduled on the test day.

Is there a pass mark for NSW selective high schools?

No. The NSW Department of Education states that there is no pass or fail mark and no set minimum entry score. Offers depend on relative test performance, school choices, available places, reserve-list movement and the selection process.

Can students use a calculator or dictionary?

No. The department says students cannot use a calculator or dictionary, although they may use paper for working out or planning.

Are these official NSW practice questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the official section skills. The NSW Department of Education provides official computer-based and PDF practice tests separately.

What is different about the writing practice here?

The official Writing Test is an open-response task. This question bank adapts writing preparation into multiple-choice judgment and planning questions so students can practise topic focus, audience, structure, evidence, style and revision.