How to go about Sydney OC and selective high schools?

First determine which path the child belongs to

Child's current approximate grade	Entrance to which you want to apply	Normal admission grade	What to do first
End of Year 3 to beginning of Year 4	Opportunity Class	Year 5	Create an official application account and check the current opening period
End of Year 5 to beginning of Year 6	Selective high school	Year 7	Check selection, application, testing and adjustment deadlines
Year 7–10	Selective later entry	Years 8–11	Go to each school to view vacancy and independent assessment

OC serves Year 5–6; selective high schools serves Year 7–12. There is no official rule that you must have studied OC to apply for selective, and there is no automatic transfer between OCs.

2027 entry The timeline is only used as evidence of the current cycle.

OC and Year 7 selective: Opening on 2025-11-06, closing on 2026-02-20.
Selective test: 2026-05-01 to 05-02; OC test: 2026-05-08 to 05-09.
Make-up test: 2026-05-22; last changed school choices: 2026-06-05.
Selective outcome is expected in late August 2026; OC outcome is expected in late September and may still be adjusted.

If you're just seeing this guide now, don't roll over old dates by a year. Enter the official page and select the correct entry year.

Family Action Checklist

Write down your child’s current grade and target entry year.
Save application opening/closing, adjustment, ticket, test, choice and outcome dates.
Only use the question descriptions and practice material from the official student hub to understand the test.
If reasonable adjustments are required, submit evidence as required by the official before the deadline.
Save the local school path at the same time; do not write the result of a selection as the conclusion of the child's ability.

Years 8–11 is another process

Schools determine vacancy, materials and whether to test at their own discretion. The official window for 2027 entry is from 2026-06-17 to 07-24, but each school has different requirements. When applying to up to three schools, the preference order on each school's form must be consistent; confirm assessment, fees, materials and result time directly with the school.

Ask the children and the family

Discussion before application: whether the child is willing to participate; whether the daily commute can be sustained; whether the school environment and curriculum are suitable; if there is no offer, how the current school can continue to provide extension, wellness and interest projects. Don’t just ask “can you pass the exam?”

## Official source

## About Airbotix

Airbotix Family Guides helps families sort out educational choices, but does not act as an agent for applications or predict outcomes. Children can also accumulate demonstrable creative processes through projects such as Story Blocks and Creative Code Studio; this is independent of OC/selective placement.

Next Step

Leave the date to the authorities and leave the choice to the family

For applications, examinations and admissions, please refer to the current page of the NSW Department of Education; for courses and activities, please contact Airbotix.

hello@airbotix.ai

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