Selective & entrance exams in every state — how it actually works
Every state runs it differently. Same kid, different system. Here's the whole country on one page — including the states and territories that don't run a selective exam at all.
The one-glance table
| State | Program | Test & provider | Entry year | Tested in | Cost | SmartPrep today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Opportunity Class (Yr 5) + Selective High Schools (Yr 7) | Cambridge (NSW placement tests) | Yr 5 (OC) · Yr 7 (Selective) | Yr 4 (OC) · Yr 6 (Selective) | Free | Live — full OC & Selective curriculum |
| VIC | Selective Entry High Schools (Yr 9) + SEAL streams (Yr 7) | ACER® (SEHS) · mostly EduTest® (SEAL) | Yr 9 (SEHS) · Yr 7 (SEAL) | Yr 8 (SEHS) · Yr 6 (SEAL) | Free (SEHS) · ~$99–100/school (SEAL) | Get underway with NSW curriculum |
| QLD | Queensland Academies (Yr 7) + Brisbane State High (HAST) | EduTest® (Academies) · ACER® HAST (BSHS) | Yr 7 (QASMT) · Yr 8–11 rounds (BSHS) | Yr 5 apply (QASMT) · various (HAST) | From $250 (QASMT) | Strong start — NAPLAN module is live & counts here |
| WA | GATE Academic + Perth Modern (ASET) | ACER® (ASET) | Yr 7 | Yr 6 | Free | 3 of 4 components covered by NSW curriculum |
| SA | Ignite Program (Yr 7, formerly SHIP) | ACER® (HAST-based) | Yr 7 | Yr 6 | Assessment via ACER® portal | Get underway with NSW curriculum |
| ACT | No select-entry schools (by policy) | — | — | — | — | NAPLAN module (national) |
| TAS | No selective entry (only state with none) | — | — | — | — | NAPLAN module (national) |
| NT | No territory system (ad hoc HAST use) | ACER® HAST (some schools, ad hoc) | — | — | — | NAPLAN module (national) |
Details verified July 2026. Exam dates and criteria change annually — confirm with the official provider before relying on them. SmartPrepAI is independent and not affiliated with any department, ACER®, EduTest® or Cambridge Assessment.
Moving interstate? Three traps
Victoria's main gate is Year 9, not Year 7
If you move from NSW expecting a Year 6 selective test, you'll miss it. Victoria's Selective Entry exam is sat in Year 8 for Year 9 entry (SEAL streams are the earlier Year 6 option).
In Queensland, Year 5 NAPLAN matters
QASMT selection counts NAPLAN results alongside its EduTest® exam, so a strong Year 5 NAPLAN sitting is part of the application — not just a check-in.
The NSW placement test is held in NSW only
You can't sit the NSW OC/Selective test from another state. If you're relocating, plan around where your child will actually be for the test window.
State by state
New South Wales runs the country's largest select-entry system: the Opportunity Class test for Year 5 entry (sat in Year 4) and the Selective High School test for Year 7 entry (sat in Year 6). Both are Cambridge-developed placement tests covering Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing. There are fully selective schools plus a large number of partially selective schools with selective streams. Applications open in the year before entry and the test is held in NSW only — a key point for families moving interstate. SmartPrepAI's OC and Selective curriculum is live today and built directly to these test structures.
Three test families
Australia's selective exams come from three ecosystems. If your child preps for one ACER®-family test, roughly 80% of the skill base transfers to the others.
Cambridge
NSW (OC + Selective placement tests)
The NSW placement tests are Cambridge-developed. This is the ecosystem SmartPrepAI's live curriculum is built for.
ACER®
VIC Selective Entry · WA ASET · SA Ignite · QLD Brisbane State High (HAST)
The largest family. If your child preps for one ACER®-family test, roughly 80% of the skill base transfers to the others — though component sets differ (e.g. Abstract Reasoning in WA/SA).
EduTest®
QLD Academies (QASMT) · most VIC SEAL schools
A distinct provider with its own item styles. Verbal/numerical reasoning, reading, maths and written expression are the common ground with the NSW curriculum.
Not sure which test your child sits?
Two taps — choose your state and year level and we'll show you the exam, the timeline, and how to get underway today.