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OC and Selective Test Preparation · St Marys, Western Sydney

OC and Selective Test Preparation in St Marys

Learn the skills. Practise under real exam conditions. Walk in on test day ready.

ACE360 helps Western Sydney children prepare for the NSW Opportunity Class and Selective High School placement tests. Your child learns in a small group of 3 to 7 students or one-on-one, with a tutor who knows exactly where they are strong and where they need help. Then they sit a full, timed PMAT mock exam, so the real test is not their first.

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Small groups of 3 to 7One-on-one tutoring availableNSW curriculum alignedLevel 1, Star Arcade Mall, St MarysFree consultation and trial lesson

Understanding the NSW OC and Selective Tests

If this is your first time through the process, it can feel like a lot to learn. Here is what you need to know.

OC and Selective at a glance

Opportunity Class (OC) test

Sat inYear 4, in May
Entry toYear 5

Tests

Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills

Format
Computer-based, at a local test centre
Applications
Open in Term 4 of Year 3, close in Term 1 of Year 4

What is the NSW Opportunity Class test?

Opportunity Classes (OC) are classes for academically high-potential students in Years 5 and 6, run in selected NSW public primary schools. Students sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test in Year 4, in May, for entry the following year. The test is computer-based and has three parts: Reading (40 minutes), Mathematical Reasoning (40 minutes) and Thinking Skills (30 minutes). There is no writing test for OC.

Selective High School test

Sat inYear 6, in May
Entry toYear 7

Tests

Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, Writing

Format
Computer-based, at a local test centre
Applications
Open in Term 4 of Year 5, close in Term 1 of Year 6

What is the Selective High School Placement Test?

Selective high schools offer a more challenging academic program from Year 7. Students sit the Selective High School Placement Test in Year 6, in May, for Year 7 entry the following year. It is also computer-based and has four parts: Reading (45 minutes), Mathematical Reasoning (40 minutes), Thinking Skills (40 minutes), and Writing (30 minutes).

Dates are set by the NSW Department of Education each year. For 2028 entry, applications close 15 February 2027, the OC test is on 11 and 12 May 2027 and the Selective test is on 13 and 14 May 2027.

Why early, structured preparation matters

These tests reward skills that take time to build: reading closely under time pressure, reasoning through unfamiliar problems and thinking clearly when the clock is running. A few weeks of cramming rarely builds that. Steady preparation over two or three terms gives your child time to strengthen weak areas, learn each question type, and get comfortable with the format, so they can show what they actually know on the day.

Who Is This Program For?

Year 3

students building strong reading, maths and reasoning foundations before the OC test. OC applications open in Term 4 of Year 3, so this is the ideal time to start.

Year 4

students are preparing for the OC test, which is sat in May of Year 4. Terms 4 and 1 are the main preparation window.

Year 5

students preparing for the Selective High School test. Applications open in Term 4 of Year 5 and the test is in May of Year 6, so Year 5 is the key year to build skills, especially writing.

Year 6

students strengthen exam readiness in the final months before the May Selective test, with timed practice and PMAT mock exams.

Any student who needs extra support with reading, writing, maths or thinking skills, whether or not they sit a placement test.

Our OC and Selective Preparation Program

Every ACE360 program starts with your child, not a textbook. We teach the four skill areas the tests assess, practise each question type, and build timed practice in as your child gets ready. Writing is included for Selective students.

Reading and comprehension

What your child learns:

how to read longer fiction, non-fiction and poetry texts closely, and answer questions about meaning, tone, purpose and detail.

Skills developed:

inference, vocabulary in context, comparing texts, and ruling out answers that look right but are not.

Where children often get stuck:

running out of time on longer passages, and choosing an answer that is true but does not answer the question.

How ACE360 helps:

we teach a reading routine your child can repeat on any passage, build vocabulary week by week, and talk through why each wrong option is wrong, so the same trap does not catch them twice.

Mathematical reasoning

What your child learns:

how to apply number, measurement, geometry, data and patterns to multi-step problems, often beyond what is covered at school.

Skills developed:

problem solving, mental calculation, estimating, and checking that an answer makes sense.

Where children often get stuck:

misreading what the question asks, small calculation slips, and spending too long on one hard question.

How ACE360 helps:

we fill gaps in core maths first, then teach clear working habits and problem-solving steps. Timed question sets help your child learn when to move on and come back.

Thinking skills

What your child learns:

critical thinking and problem-solving, including evaluating arguments, spotting flaws in reasoning, and solving logic and spatial puzzles.

Skills developed:

reasoning step by step, drawing conclusions from given information, and staying calm with unfamiliar question types.

Where children often get stuck:

these questions look different from anything at school, so many children guess rather than reason.

How ACE360 helps:

we introduce one question type at a time, model the thinking out loud, and have students explain their reasoning in a small group, where it is easy to ask questions.

Writing (Selective test)

What your child learns:

how to respond to a writing task within 30 minutes, with ideas that are clear, organised and engaging.

Skills developed:

quick planning, paragraph structure, vocabulary choice, and editing their own work.

Where children often get stuck:

spending too long starting, running out of time before an ending, and writing without a plan.

How ACE360 helps:

regular practice with stimulus-based writing tasks, a simple planning method, and individual feedback from a tutor on what to improve next.

Book a Free Consultation

Why Western Sydney Families Choose ACE360

Book a Free Consultation

A plan for your child, not a generic course.

We start by finding out what your child can already do and where they lose marks, then teach to that. Time goes on what will make a difference.

Small classes of 3 to 7 students.

Small enough for every child to be noticed, questioned, and helped, and big enough to learn from hearing how others solve a problem.

Experienced, supportive tutors.

Our tutors take the time to understand how each student learns and explain ideas until they click.

Aligned to the NSW curriculum.

Every lesson plan connects to what your child learns at school, so test preparation strengthens schoolwork too.

Focus on individual learning gaps.

We track what each student finds hard and come back to it, rather than moving on when most of the group is ready.

PMAT mock exams with PassPapers.

Your child can sit full, timed mock exams at the same centre where they learn, so the step from practice to test day is smaller.

How Our OC and Selective Preparation Works

  1. Free consultation and student assessment.

    Tell us about your child and the test they are working towards. We aim to call you back within one business day.

  2. Identify strengths and learning gaps.

    Your child joins a free trial lesson, and we see how they read, reason, and work under time. You hear what we found and what we recommend.

  3. Structured tutoring and targeted practice.

    Weekly small-group or one-on-one lessons work through the four skill areas, with practice aimed at your child's gaps.

  4. Mock exam and progress review.

    Your child sits a PMAT mock exam to test their readiness under real conditions. Results guide what we focus on next.

Book a Free Consultation

OC and Selective Tutoring for Western Sydney Families

ACE360 is a local tutoring centre at Level 1, Star Arcade Mall, 178-186 Queen Street, St Marys. For families in St Marys and nearby suburbs, lessons are close to home and easy to fit around school pick-up.

If you are searching for OC test preparation near Penrith, Kingswood or Werrington, or Selective test tutoring near Mount Druitt or Blacktown, our centre sits right on the T1 Western Line, an 8-minute walk from St Marys station, with parking behind the mall. Families across Western Sydney get the same small-group attention and a local PMAT exam room without travelling into the city.

ACE360 Tutoring entrance on Level 1, Star Arcade Mall, St Marys

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NSW Opportunity Class test?

It is the computer-based placement test for entry to Opportunity Classes in Years 5 and 6 at selected NSW public primary schools. It has three parts: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, and Thinking Skills.

When should my child start OC test preparation?

We suggest starting in Year 3 or early in Year 4. The test is in May of Year 4, so two or three terms of steady preparation gives time to build skills without rushing.

What is the difference between the OC and Selective tests?

The OC test is sat in Year 4 for Year 5 entry and has three parts. The Selective test is sat in Year 6 for Year 7 entry and adds a 30-minute writing test.

Which year level sits the OC test?

Year 4 students sit the OC test in May, for entry to an Opportunity Class in Year 5 the following year.

Which year level sits the Selective test?

Year 6 students sit the Selective High School Placement Test in May, for entry to Year 7 the following year. Preparation usually starts in Year 5.

What subjects are covered in OC and Selective preparation?

Reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills for both tests, plus writing for Selective students.

Does ACE360 provide mock examinations?

Yes. Through our PMAT program with PassPapers, students sit full, timed mock exams covering all four Selective test components.

What is PMAT?

PMAT is a full mock placement exam run by ACE360 in partnership with PassPapers, for students in Years 4 to 6 preparing for the Selective test.

How does the PMAT exam work?

Students sit Reading, Writing, Thinking Skills and Mathematical Reasoning in one timed, three-hour sitting, on their own iPad, laptop or Chromebook. Online and supervised face-to-face options are available.

Where is ACE360 located?

Level 1, Star Arcade Mall, 178-186 Queen Street, St Marys NSW 2760. There is parking behind the mall, and it is an 8-minute walk from St Marys station.

Does ACE360 offer small-group tutoring?

Yes. Group lessons have 3 to 7 students, so every child gets individual attention.

Can my child receive personalised support?

Yes. Every student's lessons are shaped around their own gaps, and private one-on-one tutoring is also available.

How can I book a consultation or trial lesson?

Call 0412 105 377 or send an enquiry through the form on this page. Both the consultation and first trial lesson are free, with no obligation.

How can parents register for PMAT?

Submit the expression of interest form on our PMAT page. We confirm your booking and exam date within 1 to 2 business days.