The OC Test Guide
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What is the OC test?
The Opportunity Class Placement Test is a computer-based test that has 3 sections. Students sit the placement test in an external test centre where computers are provided. All questions are multiple-choice and are answered using the computer.
What is the test used for?
Opportunity classes are for identifying and placing high potential and gifted students in Year 5 and 6.
Parents apply when students are at the end Year 3 or the beginning of Year 4 for placement in Year 5. It is a 2-year program (Year 5 to 6). Parents cannot apply for Year 6 placement only.
There are 1,840 places available in Year 5 opportunity classes across NSW.
What is an OC school?
These schools have dedicated opportunity classes for high potential and gifted students. Although a school may have OC classes, not all students in the school will be there through OC test placement.
There are 57 schools located in metropolitan Sydney and 31 schools located in rural or regional centres. OC spots range from 15-60 based on the school.
In most cases, students who accept a place in an opportunity class will leave their current school to attend a school with an opportunity class.
You can apply for opportunity classes that are outside your local enrolment area.
Should I go to an OC class?
In our opinion, if possible - yes! OC classes allow an enriched learning environment with like minded students.
However there are a number of factors to consider:
Distance - Your closest OC school may be further away than your local primary school.
Environment - Your child may not flourish in a high pressure competitive environment, instead preferring learning at their own pace.
Social - If gaining entry into OC means changing school, it will mean making new friends for years 5 and 6.
Important: Attending an OC class does not guarantee entry into a selective school.
What is in the test?
Reading Test
Number of Questions: 13 (2 questions have multiple parts to answer)
Time: 30 minutes
Test Type: Multiple-choice
Weighting: 33.3%
The Reading Test questions assess various reading skills through a diverse range of texts.
The texts include different genres such as:
non-fiction
fiction
poetry
magazine articles
reports.
Mathematical Reasoning Test
Number of Questions: 35
Time: 40 minutes
Test Type: Multiple-choice
Weighting: 33.3%
The Mathematical Reasoning Test assesses the student's ability to use mathematical understanding and knowledge to solve problems from a range of math topics.
Calculators are not used in the Mathematical Reasoning Test (or any other test section).
Thinking Skills Test
Number of Questions: 30
Time: 30 minutes
Test Type: Multiple-choice
The Thinking Skills Test evaluates the student's critical thinking and problem-solving abilities through various question types.
Key Dates
Selecting your school choices
You can choose between 1 and 4 opportunity classes in your application:
First choice: the school you want the most
Second choice: your next choice (optional).
Third choice: your next choice (optional).
Fourth choice: your next choice (optional).
Only choose schools you genuinely would like your child to attend. This may be less than the maximum number of choices allowed.
The order of your school choices is important
This is because:
Parents can get an initial offer of placement from only one school.
You cannot decline a placement offer to get a later offer from one of your lower-choice schools.
If you decline an offer from one of your lower-choice schools and you are on a reserve list for a higher-choice school(s), there is no guarantee that you will get a later offer from a reserve list.
So please choose the order of your schools carefully and select the school you want the most as your first-choice.
Example – choosing opportunity classes
An applicant lists 4 schools in the following order:
First choice: Kingswood Public School
Second choice: Penrith Public School
Third choice: St Clair Public School
Fourth choice: Colyton Public School
Scenario A
If the student met the test performance levels* needed for all 4 schools they would receive an offer only for their first choice, Kingswood Public School. If they decline this offer they cannot get an offer from any of their lower choice schools.
Scenario B
If the student met the test performance levels* needed for Penrith Public School, St Clair Public School and Colyton Public School, then they would get an offer for their higher choice school only – Penrith Public School.
Scenario C
If the student met the test performance level* needed for Colyton Public School only, they would be offered a place at that school.
* Remember that the level of test performance needed to get an offer at every school is different. This is because it is based on the number of student candidates, their test performance and the number of places available at the school.
OC Placement Practice Tests
Disclaimer: Information contained within this article is taken from the NSW education website as well as based off our experience. While we do our best to ensure all content is up to date and as factual as possible, NSW education may change dates or processes from time to time.
Source: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/choosing-a-school-setting/selective-high-schools
Complete NSW Education OC guide: https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/schooling/parents-and-carers/choosing-a-school-setting/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes-parents/documents/OC_application_guide.pdf
