Start with the official NSW resources and a conversation with your child. Before buying workbooks or adding lessons, find out what interests them about selective school, which entry year applies and how they feel about unfamiliar questions. That gives you a more useful starting point than a large stack of timed papers.
For North Shore families considering selective school, preparation should sit comfortably alongside school, friendships, sport and rest. The aim is to understand the process and support everyday learning without making one test the centre of family life.
Check the test year and the school entry year
The test year and entry year are different. A child in Year 5 during 2026 would ordinarily sit the test in Year 6 during 2027 for Year 7 entry in 2028. The application process begins before the test year. Read the Department of Education's placement procedures and follow the current selective school information for the relevant intake.
Check the actual opening date, closing date and test arrangements for your child's entry year. Old articles and saved school newsletters can refer to an earlier cycle. Keep application tasks in a parent calendar so your child can focus on learning.
Use the free official practice resources first
The department provides free practice tests and explanations. Its current test is computer-based and covers reading, mathematical reasoning, thinking skills and writing. The department states that paid coaching is unnecessary and that the test does not require special knowledge beyond the school curriculum up to Year 6. No tutoring provider can promise a place.
Begin with a manageable sample rather than demanding a complete practice test. Let your child try the questions, then ask which instructions were confusing and which problems they enjoyed. Use the online version as well as any printed material so they become familiar with reading and answering on screen.
Look for the reason behind each difficulty
A score tells you how many answers were correct. Reviewing the work tells you what to do next. Sort errors into a few practical categories:
Understanding: your child needs help with an underlying idea, such as equivalent fractions.
Reading: they missed a condition or chose an answer the passage did not support.
Reasoning: they knew the relevant facts but struggled to decide how to use them.
Organisation: they lost track of working, rushed or spent too long on one question.
Ask your child to explain one answer aloud. If they can solve a question after you rephrase the instructions, focus on interpreting language. If the same calculation remains difficult without a timer, revisit the concept before introducing speed.
Build useful reading, maths and writing habits
For reading, choose a mix of stories, poems and informative texts. Ask, 'Which words helped you work that out?' A child who can point to evidence is practising a skill that matters well beyond a placement test.
For mathematical reasoning, use ordinary problems with more than one step. A recipe serves four people; how could you adjust it for six? Encourage a diagram, estimate or written calculation, followed by an explanation of why the answer makes sense.
For writing, begin with purpose and audience. A persuasive letter to a school principal needs different choices from an imaginative story. Practise planning a clear response, developing a few relevant ideas and leaving time to reread. Memorised paragraphs can distract a child from the actual task.
Keep practice short enough to review properly
Choose a routine your family can maintain. One possible week includes a short reading discussion, a small set of reasoning problems and a brief writing task. The right amount depends on your child's existing workload and willingness to participate.
Finish by revisiting one mistake and explaining the new approach. If practice repeatedly causes tears, conflict or lost sleep, reduce the load and talk with your child's teacher. If your child may need test adjustments, check the department's process and deadlines early.
Decide whether individual support would help
Tutoring can be considered for an identified learning need, such as explaining fractions, building reading comprehension or organising a written response. Ask a prospective tutor how they will assess that need and show whether the child can use the skill independently.
North Shore Tutors offers one-to-one primary school support. If you would like to discuss your child's learning, contact our team with their year level, recent teacher feedback and the specific difficulty you have noticed. A clear starting point makes it easier to choose appropriate support.
