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Comprehensive guide to all NSW selective high schools that use Edutest for lateral entry, including cut-off scores, application deadlines, and unique school features
Exceptionally competitive. Top 1-2% of Edutest takers.
Very competitive. Top 5-10% of Edutest takers.
Competitive. Top 10-20% of Edutest takers.
What Makes It Unique: Students must participate in agricultural activities. School farm produces crops and livestock.
What Makes It Unique: Large cohort allows diverse elective choices. Known for supportive, collaborative culture.
What Makes It Unique: Rowing and cricket heritage. Inner-city location with excellent transport access.
What Makes It Unique: Sisterhood culture with emphasis on empowerment. Excellent music and drama facilities.
What Makes It Unique: Heritage-listed building. Oldest girls' selective school in NSW. Central Sydney location.
What Makes It Unique: GPS sporting competitions. Historic school with strong traditions. Adjacent to Sydney Cricket Ground.
What Makes It Unique: Known for wellbeing focus alongside academics. Modern campus with technology integration.
What Makes It Unique: Natural bushland campus. Focus on academic excellence with balanced lifestyle.
What Makes It Unique: Known for inclusive, supportive culture. Large cohort with diverse backgrounds.
What Makes It Unique: Only selective school with boarding. Students work on school farm. Agricultural HSC subjects.
Research schools, attend open days, consider location, culture, and your child's Edutest preparation level.
✓ Action: Create a shortlist of 2-4 schools with varying competitiveness
Apply directly to each school (applications NOT centralized). Deadlines typically late July.
✓ Action: Submit applications to each school separately by their deadlines
Most students prepare 9-18 months. Focus on Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Reading, Mathematics, and Writing.
✓ Action: Follow 12-month preparation timeline with practice tests
Most schools test in late August. Some allow students to sit multiple school tests if schedules don't conflict.
✓ Action: Arrive early, bring required materials, stay calm
Schools notify families 6-8 weeks after test. Results include overall score, section scores, and placement decision.
✓ Action: Wait for results from each school applied to
If offered a place, accept within deadline (usually 1-2 weeks). Can only accept ONE school offer.
✓ Action: Compare offers, consider all factors, accept best fit by deadline
1 reach school (high cut-off, aspirational), 1-2 target schools (realistic based on practice scores), 1 safety school (lower cut-off, high likelihood).
Example: Example: If practice scores are 125-130, apply to: Baulkham Hills (reach), North Sydney Boys (target), Hornsby Girls (safety).
Daily 2+ hour commutes impact wellbeing and study time. Choose schools within reasonable distance.
Example: If you live in Western Sydney, Girraween or Hurlstone may be better than inner-city schools despite ranking.
Rankings matter, but so does fit. Single-sex vs co-ed, competitive vs collaborative, STEM vs balanced curriculum.
Example: Visit open days, talk to current students/parents, assess if your child will thrive in the environment.
Some schools test on the same day. Check test dates before applying to avoid conflicts.
Example: If James Ruse and Baulkham Hills test same day, you can only sit one. Plan accordingly.
Our expert Edutest preparation program helps students achieve competitive scores for top NSW selective schools.
Explore more comprehensive resources to help your child succeed in the NSW Selective School placement test