Published by Olympus Learning | March 2026
For tens of thousands of NSW families, the selective school placement test is one of the most significant academic milestones of primary school. In 2025, it became something else entirely: a source of widespread confusion, anxiety, and controversy that ultimately triggered an independent government review and a fundamental redesign of the test itself.
What Happened in May 2025?
The 2025 NSW Selective High School Placement Test, sat by approximately 15,000 Year 5 students in May, was disrupted by a series of technical and administrative problems. Students and parents reported unclear instructions, timing inconsistencies, and significant variation in how different test centres managed the examination. For many families who had spent months — and in some cases years — preparing their children, the experience was deeply unsettling.
The NSW Department of Education commissioned an independent review, led by former public servant Andrew Cappie-Wood, to examine the fairness and integrity of the test. The review’s findings, released in late 2025, were significant.
What Did the Review Find?
The Cappie-Wood review made several key findings and recommendations that will reshape the selective school test going forward:
Equal weighting for all four sections. Previously, the test’s four components — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing — were not equally weighted. The review recommended that each section carry 25% of the total score. This is a major change, particularly for students who are strong in some areas but weaker in others.
Writing now counts for 25%. Perhaps the most significant change for families is the elevation of the Writing component to equal status with the other three sections. In previous years, Writing carried less weight. From 2026 onwards, a student who cannot write a well-structured, coherent essay under exam conditions is at a significant disadvantage — regardless of how well they perform in the other sections.
The equity gap in selective schools. The review also examined who actually attends selective schools. The findings were stark: students from the most socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds are dramatically over-represented in selective school cohorts, while students from disadvantaged backgrounds, regional areas, and certain cultural communities are significantly under-represented. The review recommended a range of measures to address this imbalance, including changes to how schools communicate with prospective applicants and reforms to the preparation support available to disadvantaged students.
What Does This Mean for Your Child’s Preparation?
The changes to the selective school test have direct implications for how students should prepare. Under the new equal-weighting model, a student cannot afford to neglect any of the four sections. A student who is strong in Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills but weak in Writing will now be penalised more heavily than under the previous weighting.
This makes the Writing component a priority for preparation. The ability to write a well-structured, persuasive or creative essay under timed conditions is a skill that requires sustained practice — it cannot be developed in the final weeks before the test. Students who begin working on their writing skills in Year 4 and Year 5 will be significantly better placed than those who leave it until the last minute.
The Thinking Skills section also deserves attention. Unlike Reading and Mathematical Reasoning, which build on school curriculum content, Thinking Skills tests abstract reasoning and problem-solving in ways that are not directly taught in most primary school classrooms. Targeted practice with Thinking Skills question types is essential.
When Should Preparation Begin?
There is no single right answer to this question, but the evidence suggests that earlier is generally better — provided the preparation is appropriate for the child’s age and does not create undue pressure. For most students, beginning structured preparation in Year 4 allows sufficient time to develop skills across all four sections without the intensity that can come from leaving preparation until Year 5.
The most effective preparation combines regular practice with quality feedback. Simply completing practice papers without understanding where errors are occurring and why is of limited value. Students need to understand the reasoning behind correct answers, particularly in the Thinking Skills and Writing sections.
At Olympus Learning, our tutors work with students from Year 4 upwards on selective school preparation, covering all four test sections including the newly elevated Writing component. Our tutors are high-achieving university students who understand the test from the inside. Find a selective school preparation tutor today.
Sources: NSW Department of Education Independent Review of the Selective High School Placement Test (2025) | NESA Selective Schools Information