NSW Exam Guide for Parents
A practical timeline of the major assessments NSW children encounter from primary school to Year 12: what is tested, when it happens, how long it takes and whether families should prepare.
Last updated: 2026-06 · Confirm dates with the official provider
NAPLAN
Mid-March (a ~9-day window)
Years 3, 5, 7, 9
~45–65 min per test, across several days
Subjects
Mostly online, multi-stage adaptive (except Writing). Year 3 Writing is on paper.
Schools run it automatically — no registration needed. It measures progress, not entry. Light familiarisation helps reduce nerves.
Opportunity Class (OC) Placement Test
Early–mid May
Sat in Year 4 (for Year 5 entry)
Reading 40m + Maths 40m + Thinking 30m (~110 min)
Subjects
Computer-based, all multiple-choice. No writing. 3 sections each 33.3%.
Highly competitive, NSW-only. Apply in Year 4 via the dept dashboard — miss the application window and you miss the year.
Selective High School Placement Test
Early May
Sat in Year 6 (for Year 7 entry)
Reading 45m + Maths 40m + Thinking 40m + Writing 30m (~155 min)
Subjects
Computer-based. 3 multiple-choice sections + 1 writing task. 4 sections each 25%.
Most competitive academic entry in NSW. Like OC, you apply in advance via the dept dashboard. Adds a Writing component on top of OC.
ICAS
Term 3 (around Aug–Sep)
Years 2–12 (subjects vary)
~45–60 min per subject
Subjects
Online, multiple-choice (Writing is open response). Sit only the subjects you choose.
Optional competition — NOT an entry exam. Registered via your school OR the Parent Payment System (PPS). Easy to miss if your school doesn't push it. Good for stretch & confidence, and a credential some private schools note.
Private School Scholarship Tests (e.g. AAS / ACER)
Often Feb–May, ~18 months before entry
Varies by school (commonly Year 6 for Year 7 entry)
~2–3 hours total
Subjects
Each school runs its own; many use external providers (ACER/AAS/Edutest). Registration & dates set by the school — check each school directly.
Dates and format differ per school and you must apply to each one individually. Easy to miss deadlines. Worth real money (partial to full fee waivers).
HSC (Higher School Certificate)
Written exams Oct–Nov (Year 12)
Years 11–12
Spans 2 years of coursework + final exams
Subjects
NESA-run. Combines school assessments + external exams into the ATAR university rank.
The end-of-school exam that feeds university admission (ATAR). Long game — subject choices in Year 10–11 matter.
A useful place to start
All articlesAMC · Years 1–2
AMC Early Primary: a gentle preparation guide for Years 1 and 2
Help your Year 1 or 2 child practise AMC-style reasoning with short sessions, two original worked examples and a simple way to review mistakes.
Read the guide
ICAS · Parent guide
ICAS readiness: what to look for before adding more practice
A practical ICAS readiness guide for parents: distinguish reading, reasoning and accuracy, review two original examples, and choose the next practice step.
Read the guide
NAPLAN · Year 3
NAPLAN Year 3 practice resources: official examples, past papers and everyday learning
Find useful Year 3 NAPLAN resources, understand what the official demo and older papers can show, and try original reading and numeracy examples.
Read the guide
Important information
This page summarises official information from the NSW Department of Education, ACARA and ICAS. Dates, registration deadlines and formats can change, so confirm details with the official provider or your school. AceScore does not represent these organisations or handle official registration or results.