ATAR Notes Guide to the NSW Selective Schools Test: Year 7 Entry (2025-2027)

ATAR Notes Guide to the NSW Selective Schools Test breaks down each section of the exam with detailed advice, tips, and example questions to give students all the information they'll need to know for the test.

There is also an entire practice test for students to hone their skills in an exam environment, helping them prepare and gain confidence for exam day.

This Guide includes:

• An introduction to the test and the new online format
• A thorough breakdown of each section of the exam including the question types students will see in the exam, advice, and example questions with step-by-step solutions
• Advice for the Writing section with annotated examples
• General exam advice for test day
• One full practice test including: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, and Writing with solutions and example writing pieces
• Tips from two high-achieving former Selective High School students who've been through this process and know the tips and tricks for getting high scores

Table of Contents

Part 1: Introduction
Chapter 1: About the Selective High School Placement Test (SHSPT)

Part 2: Reading
Chapter 1: Introduction 
Chapter 2: Short Ficion 
Chapter 3: Poetry 
Chapter 4: Factual Texts 
Chapter 5: Excerpts

Part 3: Mathematical Reasoning
Chapter 1: Introduction 
Chapter 2: Question Types: Time, Probability, Shapes, patterns, and symmetry, Fractions and percentages, Money, Area and perimeter, Volume and capacity, Big numbers

Part 4: Thinking Skills 
Chapter 1: Introduction 
Chapter 2: Question Types: Identifying similarity, Finding procedure, Evaluating evidence, Evaluating reasoning, Identifying mistakes, Logical analysis

Part 5: Writing 
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Creative Texts: Narratives, Diaries entries and recounts
Chapter 3 : Non-fiction Texts: Persuasive texts, Informative texts

Part 6: General Advice

Part 7: Practive Test
Reading Paper 
Mathematical Reasoning Paper 
Thinking Skills Paper 
Writing Paper 
Solutions