Selective entry high school practice tests

These practice tests may help students prepare for the selective entry high school examination.

Read the selective entry high schools page for how to apply. All applicants are required to read the Selective Entry Information Pack (docx - 1.9mb) before applying.

Ability tests

These tests measure your child's ability to solve problems without prior knowledge. Ability generally predicts how quickly a child will be able to learn and the level of complexity they can deal with. The two ability tests are verbal reasoning and numerical reasoning.

Verbal reasoning

This is a multiple-choice test that measures the ability to think and reason using words and language. Items in the test tap into vocabulary, word relationships, classification and deduction.

Numerical reasoning

This is a multiple-choice test that measures the ability to think and reason using numbers. Items in the test tap into series, matrices, arithmetical reasoning and deduction.

Achievement tests

These tests measure actual achievement or performance in key academic areas. 

Achievement scores are influenced by:

• a student’s ability
• the application and practice of knowledge that has been learned.

The three achievement tests are reading comprehension, mathematics and written expression.

Students complete one written expression test. Students may be asked to produce any of the following text types – creative or persuasive. Two sample tasks are​ below.​

Reading comprehension

This is a multiple-choice test that measures the capacity to read and interpret meaning from written passages. Some questions also require students to correct, complete and punctuate sentences.

Mathematics

This is a multiple-choice test that measures year-level appropriate mathematical knowledge. Questions include measurements, algebra, space and data.

Creative writing

This test asks students to write an original work in response to a visual or written cues. It measures the student’s ability to convey ideas in written form. The test assesses punctuation, content, creativity, construction, paragraphs, spelling and relevance.

Persuasive writing

This test asks students to respond to an issue that is relevant to society. For example, social, environmental or political issues. It measures the student’s ability to:

• take a stance on the issue
• make a logical and cohesive argument
• persuade an audience.

The test assesses persuasive devices and language, punctuation, structure, grammar, spelling and vocabulary.

Test answers

Use the practice test results (pdf - 142.71kb) to check answers.