About the Exam
New South Wales has 17 fully selective and 25 partially selective high schools. The Selective High School Placement Test, administered by Edutest, is the gateway to schools like James Ruse, Sydney Girls, North Sydney Boys/Girls, Baulkham Hills, and Chatswood. Big Brain provides comprehensive preparation with unlimited practice tests matching the Edutest exam format, covering verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics, and written expression.
Exam Components
Schools
How to Prepare for NSW Selective
List your school preferences strategically — James Ruse is the most competitive, but other selective schools still offer excellent education.
The Edutest exam has 5 sections with strict time limits — practise completing each section within the allocated 30-35 minutes.
Verbal and numerical reasoning require pattern recognition skills that develop over time — start practising at least 6 months before the exam.
Written expression is often underestimated — practise both persuasive and narrative writing under timed conditions.
Use NAPLAN results as a baseline, then focus your Big Brain preparation on the reasoning components that NAPLAN doesn't cover.
Why Prepare with Big Brain?
Unlimited Practice
Access 10,000+ questions and unlimited practice tests. No test pack limits.
Personalised Study Plan
Our AI creates a Duolingo-style learning pathway tailored to your diagnostic results.
Sub-Skill Analytics
See exactly which areas need work with detailed breakdowns, not just a total score.
AI Writing Feedback
Get instant, detailed feedback on your writing with suggestions to improve.
Exam-Matched Questions
Questions designed to match the Edutest exam format and difficulty.
Study Anytime
Desktop, tablet, and mobile. Practice at home, school, or on the go.
School Guides
Learn more about each school, entry requirements, and how to prepare.
James Ruse
Carlingford, NSW
Year 7, Year 8-11 Entry
Sydney Girls
Surry Hills, NSW
Year 7, Year 8-11 Entry
North Sydney Boys
Crows Nest, NSW
Year 7, Year 8-11 Entry
North Sydney Girls
Crows Nest, NSW
Year 7, Year 8-11 Entry
Baulkham Hills
Baulkham Hills, NSW
Year 7, Year 8-11 Entry
Chatswood
Chatswood, NSW
Year 7 Entry
Related Opportunities
Explore other exam pathways that may suit your goals.
NSW Selective Year 8-11
Prepare for the Edutest-administered NSW Selective Entry exam for Year 8-11 transfer into Sydney's top selective schools.
View detailsNSW Scholarships
Prepare for Edutest scholarship entrance exams at leading NSW private and independent schools.
View detailsFrom our latest exam cohort
Students walk into the exam feeling ready
“Questions on BigBrain were similar to the exam, and I felt ready on exam day.”
S.B. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“I don't think I would have been able to perform this well without BigBrain and the tutoring.”
K.T. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
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“BigBrain is harder than the real test, so it preps you really well.”
R.M. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“I feel really confident about getting an interview because of your help.”
R.N. · Year 10 · 2026 · EduTest
“A really good platform, cheap and useful.”
R.X. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“Questions on BigBrain were similar to the exam, and I felt ready on exam day.”
S.B. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“I don't think I would have been able to perform this well without BigBrain and the tutoring.”
K.T. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“BigBrain was really useful and helped me a lot. I'd definitely recommend it to everyone.”
M.B. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“Thank you so much. I genuinely could not have done as well as I did without your input.”
S.K. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“BigBrain is harder than the real test, so it preps you really well.”
R.M. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“I feel really confident about getting an interview because of your help.”
R.N. · Year 10 · 2026 · EduTest
“A really good platform, cheap and useful.”
R.X. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“The discussion points were almost exactly the same as those on BigBrain.”
M.K. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“Exactly like BigBrain. The questions asked were the same.”
P.K. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“Exactly like Big Brain, the format and everything. I'm thankful I did Big Brain.”
B.C. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“BigBrain has been a big help!!”
R.K. · Year 9 · 2026 · ACER
“They were really similar to the BigBrain questions and the EduTest practice tests.”
S.A. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“My child enjoyed the sessions, and parts of the program aligned really well with the exam content.”
P.L. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“The discussion points were almost exactly the same as those on BigBrain.”
M.K. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“Exactly like BigBrain. The questions asked were the same.”
P.K. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“Exactly like Big Brain, the format and everything. I'm thankful I did Big Brain.”
B.C. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“BigBrain has been a big help!!”
R.K. · Year 9 · 2026 · ACER
“They were really similar to the BigBrain questions and the EduTest practice tests.”
S.A. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest
“My child enjoyed the sessions, and parts of the program aligned really well with the exam content.”
P.L. · Year 9 · 2026 · EduTest