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NSW Selective Schools · NSW Department of Education

NSW Selective reserve list tracker: when will the offer arrive?

Braintree Coaching Australia tracks the NSW Selective reserve list week by week. Choose your child's reserve band and see the exact week families in the same band received their offer in prior years, school by school. Updated weekly from the NSW Department of Education's published status.

Quick answer

The NSW Selective Schools reserve list is the ranked queue the NSW Department of Education uses to fill places that offered families decline, worked through in reserve-band order. Band A families have historically been contacted first — often within the opening two weeks of the round — with each lower band waiting progressively longer. Choose your reserve band below to see the exact week families in that band received their offer in prior years, school by school.

Entry year
2027202620252024
Schools tracked
44/ 47 selective
Reserve bands
A–F
Last sync
Next update
—

These figures cover the 2025 entry round, mirrored from the NSW Department of Education's published reserve-list status. Mirrored weekly from the admin-maintained reserve-list app during the placement round; admins confirm provenance in the reserve-list manager.

Band predictor

When did families like yours get the call?

The band predictor matches your child's reserve band against the NSW Department of Education's published offer history for your chosen school. Pick your child's school of preference and current reserve band to see the exact week same-band families received their offer in prior rounds.

Your current reserve band

Front of queueBack of queue

Pick your reserve band on the left. Your offer timeline appears here.

How far down the reserve list has each school reached for 2025 entry?

A reserve-list timeline records the deepest reserve band each NSW selective school has reached at every weekly snapshot. It covers every fully and partially selective school in NSW, newest reading on the left.

Schools tracked
44/ 47 selective
Active this week
3

Movement vs last week

Deepest band reached
Band F· North Sydney
Updated

Schools tracked and weekly readings for 2025 entry are mirrored from the NSW Department of Education's published reserve-list status. Mirrored weekly from the admin-maintained reserve-list app during the placement round; admins confirm provenance in the reserve-list manager.

NSW Selective reserve-list bands by school across 17 weekly snapshots for 2025 entry, newest first.
Selective high schoolLatest
James Ruse Agricultural High SchoolTop-demand schoolFully selectiveBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
North Sydney Boys High SchoolTop-demand schoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Baulkham Hills High SchoolFully selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possible
Hornsby Girls High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
North Sydney Girls High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Sydney Girls High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Normanhurst Boys High SchoolFully selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Northern Beaches Secondary College - Manly CampusFully selectiveBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Sydney Boys High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand A — near-certain
Fort Street High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Girraween High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand B — likely
Hurlstone Agricultural High SchoolFully selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Penrith High SchoolFully selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
St George Girls High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Caringbah High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Sydney Technical High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Merewether High SchoolFully selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Smiths Hill High SchoolFully selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Chatswood High SchoolPartially selectiveBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Sefton High SchoolPartially selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand A — near-certain
Gosford High SchoolFully selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Macquarie Fields High SchoolPartially selectiveBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Rose Bay Secondary CollegePartially selectiveBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Prairiewood High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likely
Tempe High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Ryde Secondary CollegePartially selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand A — near-certain
Parramatta High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand A — near-certain
Balmain Campus - Sydney Secondary CollegePartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Leichhardt Campus - Sydney Secondary CollegePartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Blacktown Boys High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Blacktown Girls High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Bonnyrigg High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Moorebank High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Alexandria Park Community SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Armidale Secondary CollegePartially selectiveNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo reading
Auburn Girls High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Elizabeth Macarthur High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Kooringal High SchoolPartially selectiveNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo reading
Karabar High SchoolPartially selectiveBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Peel High SchoolPartially selectiveBand A — near-certainNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo reading
Grafton High SchoolPartially selectiveNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo readingNo reading
Gorokan High SchoolPartially selectiveBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likelyBand B — likely
Richmond High School - Richmond Agricultural CollegePartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand D — long shotBand C — possibleBand C — possibleBand A — near-certain
Granville Boys High SchoolPartially selectiveBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand F — very unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand E — unlikelyBand D — long shotBand B — likely
BandsANear-certainBLikelyCPossibleDLong shotEUnlikelyFVery unlikely

Where this data comes from

Compiled by Braintree Editorial, Exam preparation editors, Braintree Coaching Australia

Reviewed by Braintree Academic Panel on

Last updated:

This tracker mirrors the NSW Department of Education's published reserve-list status for NSW selective high schools. It is maintained by hand, not a live feed: the figures change only when an admin records a new weekly status. Braintree Coaching Australia has maintained it since the 2024 entry round, drawn from the NSW Department of Education's published reserve-list status. Mirrored weekly from the admin-maintained reserve-list app during the placement round; admins confirm provenance in the reserve-list manager.

We surface the past, not a prediction. The offer dates shown are the actual weeks families in each band received their letters in prior years, a record of what happened rather than a forecast of when your own offer will arrive.

If the offer doesn't come

Is the reserve list the only path to a top school?

No. Year 7 entry into Sydney's academically selective private schools is decided by the HAST and EduTest. Both run through Term 1 of Year 6, so families waiting on a selective offer can prepare in parallel.

Not every child needs to sit a second exam. If your child is already stretched, waiting on the reserve list alone is a reasonable choice. The course outlines below are there to read, not a step you have to take.

Many families who sit a selective reserve band also prepare for HAST or EduTest, so a private-school place stays on the table while they wait.

Braintree Editorial · Exam preparation editors, Braintree Coaching Australia
Plan B · Private school scholarships

HASTHigh Achievers Selection Test — used by selective independent schools across NSW.

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From
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Plan B · Scholarship test prep

EduTestThe other major private-school entrance test, used across NSW and VIC.

Subject tests & skill practice

From
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HAST and EduTest combinedSit both to keep more private-school offers open.Compare both· from $398
FAQ

What do parents ask during the reserve round?

These are the questions Braintree Coaching Australia hears most from families waiting in the middle of a live reserve round.

After initial selective placement offers are made, families who decline open up spaces. The NSW Department of Education then works through a per-school reserve list, ranked by test mark. Bands A–F group reserve students by rank position: band A is closest to receiving an offer, band F is furthest away. Your band is assigned in the original placement letter from the NSW Department of Education.

We mirror every weekly update the NSW Department of Education publishes to the parent portal. The 2025 and 2024 offer dates shown in the predictor are the actual recorded dates families received their letters. We do not predict the future — we surface the past.

They are the two tests that determine Year 7 scholarship and full-fee entry into most of Sydney's academically selective private schools — Knox, Newington, Pymble, MLC, Barker, Trinity, Kambala and others. Both tests run February–April, after the selective reserve round has closed. For most families this is the realistic next option.

The NSW Department of Education finalises the year’s reserve list at the end of Term 1 of the entry year (typically early April). After that, any further movement is school-by-school discretionary. The window for HAST and EduTest closes around the same time, so the two timelines are tight.

Yes — and we encourage it. Some families who hold a selective offer also sit HAST. You can accept a selective offer, sit HAST, then accept or decline the private school offer when it arrives.
Keep reading

Understand and track the reserve list.

Each school’s reserve list