[NSW] The Comprehensive Guide to Opportunity Class (OC) Schools

Changes to the application process for 2026 entry

From 2025, the placement tests for opportunity classes will move from single version paper-based tests to computer-based tests.

There will also be changes to the application process for 2026 entry to opportunity classes.

These changes will result in:

  • a more engaging experience for students with computer-based testing
  • a longer application period for parents and carers to apply
  • more choice for parents and carers of when their child will sit a placement test
  • outcomes being released earlier to parents and carers.

Computer-based tests in 2025

The placement tests in 2025 will be held at scheduled times over multiple days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and conducted mostly in external test centres (i.e. not in schools). Students will be allocated an external test centre within the local area of their current school.

The 2025 opportunity class placement test dates are 2-4 May 2025.

A make-up test date will be available for students who were unable to sit the initial test and who have an approved illness or misadventure request. The make-up test date in 2025 is Monday 19 May 2025.

There will be multiple versions of the computer-based test to allow the tests to be conducted over several days. Students will not need to bring their own device to sit the placement tests.

The test structure is not changing in 2025:

  • The Opportunity Class Placement Test will continue to have 3 sections (Reading, Mathematical reasoning and Thinking skills).
  • Parents and carers will be able to request reasonable adjustments for students with disability, medical conditions or temporary injuries to access the test.
  • Before the test, students will be given a test admission ticket (previously called a Test Authority Letter). Students must bring their test admission ticket with them to the test.

 

Test outcomes

Outcomes and placement offers for opportunity class entry in 2026 will be available to parents and carers and schools in Term 3, 2025. The placement test Performance report will remain the same and continue to show how a student performed within performance bands.

Parents and carers will continue to be offered a place based on their child’s test performance and the order of their school choices. Test scores or placement ranks will still not be available or provided.

 

Applying for entry

Applications will be open each year from November to February (the following year) for opportunity class placement. Parents and carers will still apply online using the opportunity class placement application website.

Applications for opportunity class entry in 2026 will be open from 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025. As there will now be a longer application period, the late application period will be replaced with a special consideration process. This is due to the application closing date being closer to the test dates and logistical constraints around organising test centres and devices.

This change to the application period means that parents and carers will now need to apply for opportunity class placement when their child is in Year 3 (or by the end of Week 4, Term 1 when their child is in Year 4). This change applies to students currently in Year 3.

 

Key dates – applying for entry in 2026

  • 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025 – parents and carers apply for opportunity class entry in 2026.
  • 2-4 May 2025 – students sit the opportunity class placement test for entry in 2026.
  • 19 May 2025 – make up test date (approved illness/misadventure requests)
  • Term 3, 2025 – placement outcomes and offers released to parents and carers
  • Term 1, 2026 – students who gain entry begin attending their opportunity class

Future placement test dates

Future placement test dates:
Year Main test period Make-up test
2025 Friday 2 May to Sunday 4 May 2025 Monday 19 May 2025
2026 Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May 2026 Friday 15 May 2026
2027 Friday 30 April to Sunday 2 May 2027 Friday 14 May 2027
2028 Friday 5 May to Sunday 7 May 2028 Friday 19 May 2028

 

 

How many students will be in these opportunity classes in 2026?

From 2026, the Department of Education expects more Year 5/6 composite opportunity classes of 30 students.

Schools with 30 students in each year group are expected to have 1 class per year group.

 

Year 5 entry in 2026

The Opportunity Class Placement Test will be held on 2-4 May 2025.

While Opportunity Classes have been around for a while, there have been several major changes in the past few years. North Shore Coaching College, the expert in OC Exam Preparation courses and mock tests, has compiled this comprehensive guide to the OC test and application process, with all the important, up-to-date information you need here on one page.

What are Opportunity Classes (OC)?

Opportunity Classes are located in government primary schools and cater for academically gifted Year 5 and Year 6 students with high potential. These classes help students to learn by grouping them with students of similar ability, using specialised teaching methods and educational materials at the appropriate level.

Parents normally apply when students are in Year 4. Students who are placed then attend the opportunity class full time in Years 5 and 6 at the primary school with an opportunity class. It is a two-year placement program. In the majority of cases, students who accept a place in an opportunity class will leave their current school to attend the school with an opportunity class.

There are 1840 places available in Year 5 opportunity classes across NSW in 2025.

Read more: Official NSW Department of Education Website

Should I consider OC for my child?

There are a number of factors you should consider in deciding whether to enrol your child in an Opportunity Class, such as:

  • Giftedness
  • Eligibility
  • Changing schools
  • Teaching & curriculum
  • Peers

Is my child gifted?

Opportunity Classes are designed to provide enhanced learning opportunities for high potential and gifted students, i.e. those with very high to extremely high academic merit (in the top 9% of their cohort).

High potential and gifted learners may demonstrate curiosity, fast-paced ease of learning, intense concentration in new learning or areas of interest, a sophisticated sense of humour, creative and critical thinking skills, high expectations, and other intellectual, creative and socio-emotional characteristics.

Read more: High Potential and Gifted Students | NSW Department of Education

 

Eligibility

Students are usually in Year 4 at the time of applying and when sitting the test. They are aged between 9 years and 5 months and 11 years at the time they start Year 5.

A student’s family must be living in NSW by the beginning of the school year of entry.

A student must be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident of Australia or a New Zealand citizen to enrol in an Opportunity Class.

Read more: Information for Applicants | NSW Department of Education

 

Changing Schools

Entering an Opportunity Class often involves changing to schools that may be located quite far from your current school/home. Parents of students who are offered a place in an opportunity class cannot assume that younger or older siblings can also enrol as an out-of-area enrolment at that school. Parents should consider this when choosing opportunity classes.

Changing schools may also mean that your child needs to negotiate a new social and emotional environment for the last two years of their primary schooling, and this can be problematic for certain children.

If you have any concerns about applying to Opportunity Classes, we recommend speaking to your child’s current teacher(s).

 

Teaching & Curriculum

Mainstream classrooms that contain children of all abilities can pose challenges for those at either end of the academic spectrum, including gifted students, who can easily become bored and disengaged at regular schools.

The aim of an Opportunity Class is to provide very capable students with the chance to learn in an environment that suits their unique needs, with teachers who have experience and training in the area of gifted education.

The topics of work covered in an OC class are highly engaging as they allow students to work at their own level, study topics that are interesting to them and complete tasks that are suited to their ability. Students have the opportunity to accelerate and extend their learning. There is also a strong focus on learning through problem-solving.

 

Peers

OC classes give capable kids the chance to learn alongside peers who have similar, or even stronger, academic capabilities. The stimulating, well-resourced environment of an OC classroom offers these kids the chance to strive and learn from others whose perspective could enrich their own skills and may be a good educational setting for your child too.

Dr. Miraca Gross, Professor of Gifted Education at UNSW, says that confidence and well-being issues can occur when very bright children don’t have an opportunity to connect with other kids who share their expectations of friendship:

“Gifted children tend to reach the final stage of friendship expectations years ahead of average ability children, thus causing social isolation and the need for a true friend.”

Often the feeling of isolation that gifted children feel in a mainstream classroom is alleviated when they join an Opportunity Class as they finally have like-minded students to talk to. Socially, this can displace feelings of being different or isolated.

Read more: Why accept an OC offer? | Jewells Primary School 

 

Which schools have Opportunity Classes?

Schools with 15 places have one composite opportunity class catering for Year 5 and Year 6 students. Fifteen new students are accepted in Year 5 each year, with fifteen students continuing in Year 6. There are 30 students in the class.

School Location Number of Year 5 places in 2025
ALEXANDRA PARK COMMUNITY SCHOOL Park Rd, Alexandria 30
ALSTONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL Main St, Alstonville 15
ARMIDALE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL Faulkner St, Armidale 15
ARTARMON PUBLIC SCHOOL McMillan Rd, Artarmon 30
ASHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL Liverpool Rd, Ashfield 30
AURORA COLLEGE Rural and remote, virtual opportunity class 100◊
BALGOWLAH HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL Lewis St, Balgowlah 15
BALMAIN PUBLIC SCHOOL Eaton St, Balmain 30
BATHURST WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL Suttor St, Bathurst 15
BEECROFT PUBLIC SCHOOL Beecroft Rd, Beecroft 30
BIRABAN PUBLIC SCHOOL Beckley St, Toronto 15
BLACKTOWN SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown 15
BLACKTOWN WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL Lancaster Street, Blacktown 15
BLAXCELL STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL Blaxcell St, Granville 30
BLAXLAND EAST PUBLIC SCHOOL Old Bathurst Road, Blaxland East 30
BRADBURY PUBLIC SCHOOL Jacaranda Ave, Bradbury 15
BROOKVALE PUBLIC SCHOOL Old Pittwater Road, Brookvale 15
CAMDEN SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL Old Hume Hwy, Camden 15
CARINGBAH NORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL Cawarra Rd, Caringbah 15
CASULA PUBLIC SCHOOL De Meyrick Ave, Casula 15
CESSNOCK WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL Cnr Campbell Street and Wollombi Rd, Cessnock 15
CHATSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL Centennial Ave, Chatswood 30
COLYTON PUBLIC SCHOOL Nelson St, Mount Druitt 15
COONABARABRAN PUBLIC SCHOOL Newell Hwy, Coonabarabran 15
CUDGEGONG VALLEY PUBLIC SCHOOL Madeira Rd, Mudgee 15
DUBBO WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL East St, Dubbo 15
DURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL Old Northern Rd, Dural 30
EARLWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL Homer St, Earlwood 30
ERMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL Winbourne St, West Ryde 30
GEORGES HALL PUBLIC SCHOOL Pennington Ave, Georges Hall 15
GLENBROOK PUBLIC SCHOOL Woodville St, Glenbrook Not available in 2025
GOONELLABAH PUBLIC SCHOOL Ballina Rd, Goonellabah 15
GOSFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL Faunce St West, West Gosford 30
GOULBURN WEST PUBLIC SCHOOL Combermere St, Goulburn 15
GREENACRE PUBLIC SCHOOL Waterloo Rd, Greenacre 15
GREYSTANES PUBLIC SCHOOL Merrylands Rd, Greystanes 30
HARRINGTON STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL Harrington St, Cabramatta 15
HOLSWORTHY PUBLIC SCHOOL Infantry Pde, Holsworthy 15
HURSTVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL Forest Rd, Hurstville 60
ILLAROO ROAD PUBLIC SCHOOL Illaroo Rd, Nowra 15
IRONBARK RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL Ironbark Ridge Rd, Rouse Hill 30
JEWELLS PRIMARY SCHOOL Lepton Pde, Jewells 15
KINGSWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL Second Ave, Kingswood 15
LEUMEAH PUBLIC SCHOOL Burrendong Rd, Leumeah 15
LINDFIELD EAST PUBLIC SCHOOL 90 Tryon Road, East Lindfield 15
LITHGOW PUBLIC SCHOOL Mort St, Lithgow 15
MAROUBRA JUNCTION PUBLIC SCHOOL Storey Street, Maroubra 15
MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL John T Bell Dr, Maryland, Newcastle 15
MATTHEW PEARCE PUBLIC SCHOOL Astoria Park Rd, Baulkham Hills 30
MIRANDA PUBLIC SCHOOL 3 Sylva Avenue, Miranda 15
MONA VALE PUBLIC SCHOOL Waratah St, Mona Vale 30
MOREE PUBLIC SCHOOL Albert St, Moree 15
MOSS VALE PUBLIC SCHOOL Browley Street, Moss Vale 15
NEUTRAL BAY PUBLIC SCHOOL Ben Boyd Rd, Neutral Bay 30
NEWBRIDGE HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL Lewin & Magree Cres, Chipping Norton 15
NEW LAMBTON SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL St James Rd, New Lambton 15
NORTH ROCKS PUBLIC SCHOOL North Rocks Rd, North Rocks 30
PENRITH PUBLIC SCHOOL Corner High Street & Doonmore Street, Penrith 15
PICNIC POINT PUBLIC SCHOOL Thomas St, Picnic Point 15
PORT MACQUARIE PUBLIC SCHOOL Grant St, Port Macquarie 15
QUAKERS HILL PUBLIC SCHOOL Medlow Dr, Quakers Hill 30
QUEANBEYAN SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL Cameron Rd, Queanbeyan 15
RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOL Windsor St, Richmond 30
RUTHERFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL Weblands St, Rutherford 15
RYDE PUBLIC SCHOOL Pope St, Ryde 30
SMITHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL O’Connell St, Smithfield 15
SOLDIERS POINT PUBLIC SCHOOL Cromarty Rd, Soldiers Point 15
SOUTH GRAFTON PUBLIC SCHOOL Vere St, South Grafton 15
ST ANDREWS PUBLIC SCHOOL Ballantrae Dr, St Andrews 15
ST CLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOL 4 Timesweep Drive, St Clair 15
ST JOHNS PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL Sandringham St, St Johns Park 15
STURT PUBLIC SCHOOL White Ave, Wagga Wagga 15
SUMMER HILL PUBLIC SCHOOL Moonbie St, Summer Hill 30
SUTHERLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL Eton St, Sutherland 30
TAHMOOR PUBLIC SCHOOL Bronzewing St, Tahmoor 15
TAMWORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL Napier St, Tamworth 15
TAMWORTH SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL Petra Ave, Tamworth 15
TIGHES HILL PUBLIC SCHOOL Elizabeth St, Tighes Hill 15
TOONGABBIE PUBLIC SCHOOL 59 Fitzwilliam Road, Toongabbie 15
TOORMINA PUBLIC SCHOOL Cavanba Rd, Toormina 15
WAHROONGA PUBLIC SCHOOL 71 Burns Road, Wahroonga 15
WAITARA PUBLIC SCHOOL Edgeworth David Ave, Wahroonga 30
WENTWORTH FALLS PUBLIC SCHOOL Falls Rd, Wentworth Falls 15
WILKINS PUBLIC SCHOOL Park Rd, Marrickville 30
WOLLONGONG PUBLIC SCHOOL Church St, Wollongong 30
WOOLLAHRA PUBLIC SCHOOL Forth St, Woollahra 30
WYONG PUBLIC SCHOOL Cutler Dr, Wyong 30

Note:

◊ Only students who would be enrolled in Year 5 in an authorised host school in a rural remote area (excluding areas where there is a current opportunity class provision) may apply for Aurora College, the virtual opportunity class.

*Schools with 15 places have one composite opportunity class catering for Year 5 and Year 6 students. Fifteen new students are accepted in Year 5 each year, with fifteen students continuing in Year 6. There are 30 students in the class.

 

What is the OC selection process?

Entry into Opportunity Classes is decided on academic merit based on student performance in one placement test that typically occurs around late July each year.

To promote fair and equitable access for all high potential and gifted students, the Equity Placement Model helps to address unintended barriers to entry for students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds, Aboriginal students, rural and remote students, and students with disabilities.

Learn more about the Equity Placement Model.

Where a student has missed the test for a valid reason, alternative evidence of academic merit will be used to rank the student. This rank will then be reviewed by the selection committee to make placement decisions.

Performance report

The Performance report shows how your child performed in comparison to the other students who took the test in that year.

For each of the test components, the report shows where your child performed in one of four bands:

  • top 10% of candidates
  • next 15% of candidates
  • next 25% of candidates
  • lowest 50% of candidates

Download a Performance report example [PDF, 240KB].

It is important to understand that the Performance report does not show the percentage of correct answers a child has achieved for any of the test components, but rather how many other students performed within the same range.

The Performance report does not provide an individual’s test scores or placement rank.

Test scores or placement rank are not available.

Read more: The Selection Process | NSW Department of Education

What is the OC Placement Test like?

The test in 2025 is computer-based. The test consists of 3 test components: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, and Thinking Skills, in that order.

  • Reading – 25 items – 30 minutes
  • Mathematical Reasoning – 35 items – 40 minutes
  • Thinking Skills – 30 items – 30 minutes

All questions are multiple-choice.

Reading Test

The reading test consists of 25 questions. Students have 30 minutes to complete the test. The questions are based on a diverse range of texts and assess a range of reading skills.

The reading test questions are based on different genres such as non-fiction, fiction, poetry, magazine articles and reports.

Mathematical Reasoning Test

The mathematical reasoning test consists of 35 questions. Students have 40 minutes to complete the test. The questions are all multiple-choice.

The mathematical reasoning test assesses the student’s ability to apply mathematical understanding and knowledge to problems, with questions drawn from a range of mathematical content areas. Calculators are not used.

Thinking Skills Test

The thinking skills test consists of 30 questions. Students have 30 minutes to complete the test. The questions are all multiple-choice.

The thinking skills test assesses the student’s ability in critical thinking and problem-solving. There is a range of different question types in the test.

Read more: The Test | NSW Department of Education


 

What happens after the test?

Placement Outcome Information

Placement outcome information is usually sent to parents by email and post at the start of October.

The placement outcome information advises that your child may be:

  • offered a place at one school choice, or
  • placed on the reserve list (waiting list) for one or both choices, or
  • unsuccessful for one or both school choices, or a combination of two of the above.

If your child is made an offer to the school you selected as your first choice and also had a score high enough to be offered a place at your second choice school, the second choice school will be shown as ‘not applicable’.

Responding to an Offer

Responding to an offer is done via the application dashboard. Complete, sign and return the response form to the Team before the due date. You will usually need to respond within two weeks but if you get an offer by phone you may have to respond within 24 hours.

Reserve Lists

Opportunity Classes only have a limited number of places available each year. Each school may also have a reserve list in case students with initial offers withdraw. Applicants are given their reserve list position with their placement outcome advice.

The Team continues to make offers to students on reserve lists as vacancies occur throughout Year 5 and to at least the end of Term 1 in Year 6. For the 2024 entry, applicants whose children are on a reserve list only can be offered a place if their child’s position on the reserve list is reached until at least the end of Term 1, 2024.

When an applicant declines an offer of placement, the next student on a reserve list is offered their place. Students will receive an offer if their position on the reserve list is reached. Applicants must accept an offer by the advised due date or the offer will lapse.

  • Students on reserve lists may not be offered a place.
  • Students who have accepted an offer for the school they listed second may be placed on the reserve list for the school they listed first. If their reserve list position for that school is reached, they will receive another offer. If they accept the new offer to the school they listed first, the Team will consider the original offer declined.
  • Reserve lists remain active throughout Years 5 and up to the end of Term 1 in Year 6.

Applicants who have accepted an offer for placement in an opportunity class, and are also on a reserve list for a higher choice school, will be removed from the reserve list. These applicants may remain on a reserve list for a higher choice only if they decline their offer by that date. However, there is no guarantee that the student would receive a further offer.

Enrolment

Schools will contact parents about enrolment procedures and orientation days.

All successful opportunity class students are sent an ‘Authority to attend’ letter in late January of the year of entry. This document confirms the student’s entitlement to enrol in an opportunity class. Students must present the letter to the school on the first day of Term 1 along with other original documents the school requires.

Read more: Placement Outcome Information | NSW Department of Education

How can I apply for OC?

To apply for Year 5 placement in the following year, Year 4 parents must submit an application and have their child sit the placement test.

For 2026 entry, the Opportunity Class Placement Test will be held on 2-4 May 2025.

Parents can choose up to two school choices, with the first one being the first preference.

Click here to read more about the application process.

 

How can I prepare my child for OC?

It’s never too early to start thinking about boosting your child’s academic journey, and it’s never too late to make a difference by supplementing their education with external coaching. That said, it’s generally more effective to work consistently over a longer period of time than (just) to prepare intensively in the lead-up to examinations. If you think your child would benefit from regular, personalised learning outside of school, weekly tuition might suit you.

Exam Preparation Programs

In terms of the OC test specifically, around Year 3 is a good time to begin preparation, giving your child approximately a year to develop their knowledge and skills. In the highly competitive world of OC exams, it is important to be prepared for the OC test. A small number of sample tests are available from the official website, but the best way to prepare is through North Shore Coaching College’s Year 3 and Year 4 Fastrain Programs and OC Exam Preparation Program. We provide expertly developed courses focusing on Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills (the three components of the OC test). Mock tests & review sessions are regularly provided as part of the Programs, as well as personalised homework help, and additional exam preparation workshops.

SWAT Mock Exam

Through North Shore Coaching College’s over 30 years of educational experience, we have found that practising sitting an examination in a test environment reduces test anxiety and improves performance when it comes to any test.  The annual SWAT MOCK EXAM is on Sat, 5 July 2025.

For Year 3 and Year 4 students, early testing and practice teaches how to manage time and deal with a wide range of vital question types and topics typically found in the OC test.

Register for SWAT now!

 

 

 

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North Shore Coaching College is Australasia’s leading institution specialising in coaching and tuition with over 65 campuses across Australia and Hong Kong. Established since 1991, we have been delivering high-quality, affordable educational services with no hidden costs for students from junior to high school. Our teaching methodology is optimised, with approximately two-thirds of the time spent teaching and the remaining for class practice and individual attention. This learning process encourages creativity, open discussion and lateral thinking. At North Shore, we also assist students to develop effective time management, self-motivation and self-direction in studies which increases discipline, confidence and communication skills. Our goal is to prepare your child to be ‘results-oriented’ with an exam-focused mind to succeed. Indeed, we have many proven success stories delivering “Tuition That Works”. Thousands of North Shore students achieve in winning school scholarships, gaining entry to selective high schools, and moving on to distinguish themselves at Australia’s most respected universities. Read more about the awards and success stories here.

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