NSW Selective past papers 2027
Quick answer
Download free NSW Selective High School past paper PDFs — selective test past papers and past selective papers for Year 6 students preparing for 2027 entry (test sat May 2026). Official Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing sets with answer keys sit below; use them as selective high school practice tests before computer-based mocks. Hosted sets are catalogued in the Braintree past-paper library (`past-paper-library`).
Braintree Coaching Australia is online-only, exam-specialist, national coverage, built for regional families — so any student in Australia can practise from these papers at home.
For the wider 2027 timeline, start with our Selective school preparation hub, then return here to download papers.
Also see our NSW Selective test format guide, NSW Selective practice tests and resources, and NSW Selective test preparation strategies.
Download 2024 — Sitting 1 papers
7 PDFs from the most recent set — no account required.
- PDFReading — questionsselective-reading-2024-s1-questions.pdf · 1.5 MB
- PDFReading — answer keyselective-reading-2024-s1-answers.pdf · 77 KB
- PDFMathematical Reasoning — questionsselective-mathematical-reasoning-2024-s1-questions.pdf · 2.6 MB
- PDFMathematical Reasoning — answer keyselective-mathematical-reasoning-2024-s1-answers.pdf · 95 KB
- PDFThinking Skills — questionsselective-thinking-skills-2024-s1-questions.pdf · 2.1 MB
- PDFThinking Skills — answer keyselective-thinking-skills-2024-s1-answers.pdf · 76 KB
- PDFWriting — questionsselective-writing-2024-s1-questions.pdf · 1.1 MB
By Braintree Editorial, Exam preparation editors, Braintree Coaching Australia
Reviewed by Braintree Academic Panel on
Last updated
- Paper sets
- 6
- Files
- 51
- Sections
- 4
Sourced from the NSW Department of EducationOfficial source
These Selective Test materials are published by the NSW Department of Education for students and families preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test. Braintree Coaching Australia reproduces them here, unmodified, as a free study reference. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the NSW Department of Education, and the version on the Department’s website remains the authoritative copy.
Past paper sets
Selective Test · Past paper set
2024 — Sitting 1
10 files in this set
Reading
- 17
- Questions
- 45m
- Time
17 questions including 3 multi-part items.
Mathematical Reasoning
- 35
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Thinking Skills
- 40
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Writing
- 1
- Question
- 30m
- Time
One written-response task.
Selective Test · Past paper set
2024 — Sitting 2
10 files in this set
Reading
- 17
- Questions
- 45m
- Time
17 questions including 3 multi-part items.
Mathematical Reasoning
- 35
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Thinking Skills
- 40
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Writing
- 1
- Question
- 30m
- Time
One written-response task.
Selective Test · Past paper set
2024 — Sitting 3
10 files in this set
Reading
- 17
- Questions
- 45m
- Time
17 questions including 3 multi-part items.
Mathematical Reasoning
- 35
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Thinking Skills
- 40
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Writing
- 1
- Question
- 30m
- Time
One written-response task.
A reminder. Every file below is reproduced exactly as published by the NSW Dept. of Education. Braintree Coaching Australia has not written, modified, re-marked, or paraphrased any question, answer, or explanation. These documents are shared for study reference only; the NSW Dept. of Education remains the authoritative source.
Selective Test · Past paper set
2023
7 files in this set
Reading
- 17
- Questions
- 45m
- Time
17 questions including 3 multi-part items.
Mathematical Reasoning
- 35
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Thinking Skills
- 40
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Writing
- 1
- Question
- 30m
- Time
One written-response task.
Selective Test · Past paper set
2022
7 files in this set
Reading
- 17
- Questions
- 45m
- Time
17 questions including 3 multi-part items.
Mathematical Reasoning
- 35
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Thinking Skills
- 40
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Writing
- 1
- Question
- 30m
- Time
One written-response task.
Selective Test · Past paper set
2021
7 files in this set
Reading
- 17
- Questions
- 45m
- Time
17 questions including 3 multi-part items.
Mathematical Reasoning
- 35
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Thinking Skills
- 40
- Questions
- 40m
- Time
Writing
- 1
- Question
- 30m
- Time
One written-response task.
How to get the most from these papers
- 01
Start with one paper as a diagnostic
Have your child sit the earliest set first, in one timed sitting, with no prep beforehand. The result shows you which section needs the most attention before you plan any further practice.
- 02
Save the most recent set for last
The 2024 papers are the closest match to the current computer-based format. Keep one aside and sit it a couple of weeks before the May 2026 sitting for 2027 entry, under timed conditions, as a final rehearsal.
- 03
Review the answer, not just the score
An answer key tells you right from wrong; it does not explain why a particular option was chosen. Where a worked explanation is provided, read it together, and talk through the writing task with a teacher.
Sit a fresh paper, assessed by the Braintree Coaching AI Model
Braintree Coaching Australia runs full Selective mock tests in the same format as these official papers, with writing feedback from the Braintree Coaching AI Model — assessed against a teacher-designed rubric — and a per-section breakdown. The first mock test is free.
Common questions about Selective past papers
- Are these real NSW Selective past papers?
- These PDFs are official NSW Department of Education practice and past-paper materials for the Selective High School Placement Test — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing with answer keys and worked explanations where provided. Braintree Coaching Australia reproduces them here, unmodified, as a free study reference. The current test is computer-based; older PDFs may not match every on-screen interaction. **There is no separate vault of "leaked" selective papers** — anything not published by the NSW Department of Education is a third-party practice set, not an official past paper.
- When is the NSW Selective test for 2027 entry?
- For Year 7 entry in 2027, the NSW Selective High School Placement Test is scheduled across Friday 1 and Saturday 2 May 2026; each student sits on one allocated day only. Confirm any updates on the NSW Department of Education placement-test page before you lock in a practice schedule.
- How should we use these past papers for 2027 Selective prep?
- Download one full set and sit it as a timed diagnostic first. Use the answer key the same day, log mistakes by section, then pair paper practice with computer-based mocks so your child rehearses the on-screen format. Keep the most recent set for a final timed rehearsal a couple of weeks before the May 2026 sitting.
- Which Selective past-paper set should we download first?
- Start with the earliest set in the list as a no-prep diagnostic — one timed sitting across all four components. Save the most recent set for a final rehearsal under exam timing a couple of weeks before the May 2026 sitting for 2027 entry.
- Do these PDFs replace computer-based Selective practice?
- No. The live Selective test is computer-based, so pair these official PDF sets with timed on-screen mocks from our free mock-test hub or NSW Department of Education practice tests. Paper sets build section accuracy; screen practice builds navigation, typing and pacing under the real interface.
- Where can I find selective high school practice tests for 2027 entry?
- This page hosts official NSW Department of Education Selective practice and past-paper PDFs — the strongest free starting point for selective high school practice tests before you add computer-based mocks. Download one full set as a timed diagnostic, mark the same day, then pair paper work with on-screen practice from our free mock-test hub.
- Where can I download Year 7 selective school test papers PDF?
- Year 7 selective school test papers PDF sets for 2027 entry are the official NSW Department of Education practice and past-paper files linked on this page — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing with answer keys. Download one full set locally, sit it timed, then move to computer-based mocks so your child rehearses the on-screen Writing task before the May 2026 sitting.
- How many selective mock tests should we run for 2027 entry?
- A typical NSW Selective plan includes ten to fourteen full-length timed mocks across the preparation year — one or two as a baseline, five to seven during the build phase, and three to four in the final weeks before the May 2026 sitting. After every mock, set aside about ninety minutes to mark, log mistakes by section (inferential Reading slips, Maths pace collapse, Thinking Skills misreads, Writing keyboard stalls from Braintree tutor reviews) and fix the two weakest error types before the next paper.
- Should we log errors after every selective past paper?
- Yes. Treat every PDF set as a mock sitting: mark within ninety minutes, classify errors by mistake type rather than question number alone, then pull targeted drills before downloading the next set. Paper accuracy without error logging creates a false sense of readiness before the computer-based Writing task.
- When should we start preparing a child for 2028 Selective entry?
- No separate 2028 Selective format has been published. Families with a younger child should treat the current four-component computer-based test as the reference until the NSW Department of Education announces changes. Early work means wide reading, mental maths and typed writing exposure — not waiting for 2028 application dates.
2027 Selective key dates: NSW Department of Education placement test.
How to download and use NSW Selective past papers: a 2027 prep checklist
Follow these numbered steps when you move from browsing the PDF list to building a paper-plus-screen practice rhythm before the May 2026 sitting for 2027 entry.
- Download one full set from the hero quick-download links. Choose the earliest set first and save the PDFs locally. Each set includes Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing with answer keys — use the questions paper and key together, not the key alone.
- Sit the set as one timed diagnostic. Run all four components back to back in a single session with only short breaks, matching the order and timing on the NSW Department of Education practice-tests page. Do not open the answer key until the sitting is finished.
- Mark and log mistakes by section the same day. Use the answer key within about ninety minutes while the paper is fresh. Record which section lost the most marks and whether errors were pacing, misread instructions or content gaps — not just question numbers.
- Schedule the next mock on screen before the next PDF set. Pair paper practice with at least one computer-based mock from our free mock-test hub or the official NSW practice environment so your child rehearses scrolling, typing the Writing task and timer behaviour before the May 2026 sitting.
Source & copyright notice
All Selective Test papers, answer keys and explanatory materials on this page are the copyright of the NSW Department of Education (and, where applicable, the assessment partner the Department appoints to develop the test). They are hosted by Braintree Coaching Australia solely as a free educational reference for families preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test.
Braintree Coaching Australia does not claim authorship of these documents and is not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by the NSW Department of Education. No question, answer, marking guide, or explanation has been written, altered, re-marked, or paraphrased by us; the files are reproduced as published. For the authoritative versions, visit the NSW Department of Education website.
If you are the rights holder and would like a document removed or its attribution amended, please email copyright@braintreecoaching.com.au and we will action your request within one business day.
- Original publisher
- NSW Department of Education
- Source
- education.nsw.gov.au
NSW Selective key dates for 2027 entry
Registration, sitting and results windows for Year 6 (Year 7 entry) — verified against NSW Department of Education on . Confirm any updates on the official page before you lock in a practice schedule.
- Registration
- Expected October–November 2026 for 2028 entry (official 2027-cycle window not yet published by the NSW Department of Education as of July 2026)
- Sitting
- Expected early May 2027 for 2028 entry (official date not yet published by the NSW Department of Education as of 14 July 2026)
- Results
- Expected July 2027 (2028 entry offers)
Source: NSW Department of Education. Full calendar: Australian exam dates 2027.
Which NSW past papers are official — and which are practice sets?
NSW Department of Education materials and Braintree Coaching Australia practice PDFs are both useful for prep, but they are not the same thing. Use this index before you download or cite a paper. Every hosted set is catalogued in the Braintree past-paper library (past-paper-library).
| Exam | Official NSW DoE material | Braintree practice PDFs | Canonical page |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW Selective | Official practice and past-paper PDFs (Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, Writing) with answer keys — published by the NSW Department of Education. NSW Selective practice tests | Not applicable on the Selective route — hosted PDFs are official DoE files reproduced unmodified. | Selective past papers |
| NSW OC | One official online sample test only — the NSW Department of Education does not publish used OC Placement Test papers. Official NSW OC sample test | Braintree Coaching Australia practice PDFs written to mirror Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills timing — not NSW DoE papers. | OC past papers |
Primary sources: NSW Selective placement test; NSW Opportunity Classes.