Understanding the 2025 Selective School Exam Results

Late August 2025 marks a nerve-wracking time for many Australian families: Year 6 students are finding out their Selective School Placement Test results. This exam is very competitive, for example, in NSW roughly 18,000 Year 6 students vie for just over 4,000 selective high school places each year. The 2025 test covered Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing, with each section weighted equally (25%). Families are now reviewing the outcomes and planning the next steps, whether their child received an offer, landed on a waiting list, or missed out entirely.

Interpreting Your Child’s Outcome

After the results are released, each student’s report will fall into one of a few categories, and will include a breakdown of performance by test component. Here’s what to expect:

• Offer: Your child has been offered a place at one of the selected schools they applied to. This is an exciting achievement, selective schools are academically advanced environments.
• Reserve List: Your child is on a waitlist for one or more schools. A reserve list comes with a “band” (A–F) that estimates the likelihood and timing of an offer based on past data. (For example, Band A often means an offer might come in a few weeks, whereas Band F usually means an offer is unlikely by year’s end.)
• Unsuccessful: No offer was made and your child is not on a reserve list. While disappointing, this outcome doesn’t measure your child’s potential, many strong students simply miss out due to limited spots.

Along with the placement result, the performance report shows how your child did in each test section relative to all test-takers that year. For every component (Reading, Math, Thinking Skills, Writing), your child will be placed in one of four percentile bands (Top 10%, Next 15%, Next 25%, or Lowest 50%). These bands indicate how they ranked for example, “Top 10%” means they scored as well as or better than 90% of peers on that section. Importantly, this is not a percentage score of correct answers, but a comparison to other students. Reviewing these bands can help you see your child’s strengths and areas needing work.

• Tip: Don’t guess cut-off scores. NSW Education no longer publishes fixed “minimum entry” cut-offs for each school, since they fluctuate based on applicants each year. So focus on your child’s skills rather than chasing a number.

If Your Child Got an Offer

Congratulations are in order! Securing a place means your child will enter a selective high school in Year 7 next year. Here’s what to do now:

• Accept the offer. Confirm via the NSW Department’s portal (the High Performing Students Unit) by the deadline.
• Plan the transition. Selective schools move fast and cover advanced material. You might prepare over the summer with enrichment activities or bridging programs.
• Celebrate your child’s hard work. Earning a selective place reflects strong effort in schoolwork and exam prep.

Selective schools offer great opportunities, but the pace will be quick. You may consider enrolling in an enrichment program or tutoring to give your child a head start.

If Your Child Is on a Reserve List

Being on a waitlist is not a final “no”, many students on reserves eventually receive offers. These are the steps you should take next:

• Monitor the reserve list. Check the portal regularly. Offers can come in the weeks after results if other families decline placements.
• Stay prepared. Keep your child engaged in learning. We recommend continuing to work on reading and maths skills.
• Have a plan B. Explore alternative opportunities (such as Opportunity Classes for younger students, or strong local schools). If a selective spot does come through, know your options for accepting.

Reserve lists can extend into early high school, some offers happen even in Term 1 of Year 7. Meanwhile, look at your child’s report to see which sections they excelled in. Encourage them to build on those strengths and give extra support in weaker areas.

If Your Child Didn’t Receive an Offer

Not getting a selective place is disappointing, but it is not the end of the road. It simply means the competition was very high this year. Here’s how to turn it into a positive next step:

1. Review the results calmly. Look at the performance report to see where your child scored best and where they struggled. For example, maybe they were in the Top 10% for Mathematical Reasoning but only the Next 25% in Writing.
2. Build on strengths. Praise what your child did well. A strong math result, for instance, is a great foundation for high school success.
3. Target weaknesses. Focus on the areas that need improvement. Selective exams test critical reading and advanced problem-solving, so strengthening those skills can really help if you try again (or for other future tests).
4. Keep perspective. Many high-achieving kids flourish at great local schools or find scholarships and enrichment programs. A selective placement is just one pathway.

Understanding the detailed performance report can actually empower you. The report tells you exactly how your child fared in each component relative to peers. For example, if reading comprehension was weaker, you can work on that. Whether or not they got in this time, improving core skills (reading, writing, math problem-solving) will benefit your child’s education.

How Kip McGrath Can Help

Whether your child is heading to a selective school or needs to strengthen skills for next year, Kip McGrath’s experienced tutors can support them in English and Maths, the very skills that underpin success in the selective exam. Here’s what we offer:

• Free Assessment: We start with a no-obligation assessment in English and Maths. This pinpoints exactly which topics and skills need attention.
• Individualised Learning Plan: Based on the assessment, a qualified teacher creates a tailored program. Each tutoring session mixes written exercises and computer-based activities, so students learn in different ways.
• Qualified, Supportive Tutors: Our teachers focus on building confidence. They guide students through reading, writing and problem-solving, step by step. We track progress closely and give regular feedback.
• Alignment with Exam Skills: By improving reading comprehension, critical thinking, and maths reasoning, our tutoring directly supports the kinds of skills tested in the selective exam. For example, better reading skills lead to faster comprehension of test passages, and stronger writing skills boost performance in the writing task.

Many parents find that even if their child doesn’t want extra tutoring after getting an offer, ongoing enrichment keeps them engaged. If the result wasn’t what you hoped, consider booking a free consultation. All children can succeed if given the right support.

At Kip McGrath, we’re here to help every step of the way. Feel free to book a free learning assessment with one of our certified teachers. Together we’ll create a plan to boost their English and Maths skills. We’ll meet your child, see exactly where they are doing well and where they need support, and discuss the next steps to help them thrive.