Skip to main content
ExamExplained
On the day5 min read

Test day checklist for the OC and Selective placement tests

What to bring, what is not allowed, when to arrive, what parents do, what happens if your child is ill, and what counts as malpractice. Adapted from the NSW Department of Education placement test page.

Last checked against the official sources.

Bring the printed Test Admission Ticket, two 2B pencils, an eraser, a sharpener and a clear water bottle, and wear school uniform. Leave phones, smart watches, pens, rulers, calculators and pencil cases at home. Arrive at the time on the ticket. Parents leave the grounds while the test runs. If your child is ill, submit an illness or misadventure request in the application dashboard by the due date (usually 5 business days after the test).

This checklist applies to both the OC test and the Selective test. It is adapted from the Department of Education placement test page, so check that page again close to the day in case anything has changed.

The checklist

In the two weeks before

  • About two weeks before the test the Department emails you to say the ticket is ready. Log in to your application dashboard, download and print it. A digital copy on a phone is not accepted. If it has not arrived two weeks before, contact the Department.
  • Check the venue, the time on the ticket, how you are getting there, and where you will park or drop off.
  • Read the Department's Social Stories about test day together, if your child would find that calming.
  • Plan an ordinary week. Bedtimes and meals matter.

What to bring

  • The printed Test Admission Ticket
  • Two 2B pencils
  • An eraser
  • A sharpener
  • A clear water bottle
  • School uniform, even if the test is on a Saturday

If required, also bring

  • For the Selective test only: a substantial snack for the longer break (no nuts or nut products), and a hat for that break
  • A jumper if the weather is cool
  • Any items approved as adjustments for disability, and any medication your child needs (for example an EpiPen, asthma inhaler or diabetes medication)
  • Glasses and tissues
  • A clear plastic bag for stationery (pencil cases are not allowed)
  • A wristwatch that cannot make a noise, calculate, compute, connect to the internet, send or receive messages, or facilitate attempted malpractice

What is not allowed

  • Pens
  • Rulers
  • Calculators
  • Smart watches
  • Phones or other devices
  • Pencil cases
  • Nuts or nut products
  • Dictionaries
  • Books
  • Note paper

The test provides two A4 sheets for working, and more can be requested.

Arrival and parents

  • Arrive at the arrival time shown on the ticket. If you arrive late, your child will not get extra time.
  • Parents leave school grounds once school staff take children to the test room. A parent with special written permission for medical reasons may take their child to the test room, and the Selective Education team will tell some parents of students with disability or a medical condition if they need to stay.
  • Be back promptly at pick-up time.

If your child is ill or something goes wrong

  • Submit an illness or misadventure request in the application dashboard by the due date in the Department's key dates (usually 5 business days after the test), with supporting evidence such as a medical certificate. Late requests cannot be accepted.
  • Unacceptable reasons include forgetting the date, holidays and sports commitments.
  • If a student misses both the main test and the make-up, they cannot be placed.
  • If a technical problem stops many students from starting or finishing, the test may be postponed and those students re-scheduled to the make-up test; for a minor problem, submit an illness or misadventure request. Work is saved automatically every 30 seconds.

Malpractice

The Department takes test security seriously. Malpractice includes copying, using unauthorised materials, using a device to capture test content, and impersonation. It also includes "sharing answers or test content with others (individuals or educational business entities) before, during, or after the test". The consequence is that the student will not be considered for placement.

Key fact

ExamExplained collects no recalls of test content. We do not ask children or parents what was in the test, and we do not publish anything of that kind. We do not collect or publish test content.

Talk to your child before the day about not discussing questions afterwards, including in group chats and with friends.

Making the day easier

Tell your child what will happen in simple steps: you arrive, you go in, you do the test, you have breaks, you are collected. A calm, ordinary morning is the best preparation. See the Selective test format for the sections and timing, and key dates for the schedule.

Attribution

This checklist is adapted from content published by the NSW Department of Education. Department of Education wording on this page is quoted or adapted briefly under CC BY 4.0. © State of New South Wales (Department of Education), 2023. Licence: CC BY 4.0. ExamExplained has changed and summarised the text and is not endorsed by the Department. The original is on the placement test page. We have reworded and rearranged it. ExamExplained is not affiliated with the Department, and the Department has not endorsed this adaptation. See the Department's copyright page.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child bring the Test Admission Ticket on a phone?
No. The Department says a digital copy is not accepted. About two weeks before the test the Department emails you to say the ticket is ready in your application dashboard. You download and print it there and bring the paper copy.
What happens if my child is sick on test day?
Submit an illness or misadventure request in the application dashboard by the due date in the Department's key dates (usually 5 business days after the test; late requests cannot be accepted), with supporting evidence. If it is approved, your child may be allowed to sit the make-up test, or have their score adjusted if they sat part of the test. Please do not bring a sick child to the test. Reasons the Department does not accept include forgetting the date, holidays and sports commitments.
What if my child misses both the main test and the make-up?
The Department says a student who misses both the main and the make-up test cannot be placed. That is why it is important to submit an illness or misadventure request quickly if there is a genuine reason.
Can parents wait at the school during the test?
No. Parents leave the school grounds once school staff take children to the test room, and come back promptly at pick-up time. A parent with special written permission for medical reasons may take their child to the test room, and the Selective Education team will tell some parents of students with disability or a medical condition if they need to stay.
Does ExamExplained collect recalls of what was in the test?
No. We do not ask for, collect or publish any test content from children or parents. The Department treats sharing test content as malpractice.

Sources