OC test 2027: format, dates and how to prepare
The OC placement test is the main way children are offered a place in a NSW Opportunity Class in Year 5. Children sit it in Year 4. This guide explains what is in the test, when things usually happen, and a calm plan for the months before.
Which year is your child in? The test held in 2027 is for children in Year 4 in 2027 (Year 3 now) who want a Year 5 place in 2028. If your child is in Year 4 now, the 2026 test has already taken place in May 2026.
What is the OC test?
Opportunity Classes are Year 5 and Year 6 classes in some NSW public primary schools for students who are high achievers. Places are offered mainly from the result of the OC placement test, which is run by the NSW Department of Education.
Parents apply online. Your child then sits the test at a test centre on a computer provided by the department, so there is no need to bring a laptop. Students get paper for working out.
The three sections
In recent years the test has had three parts. The questions are multiple choice. There is no writing task in the OC test.
| Section | Questions | Time | What it checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 14 (some have several parts) | 40 minutes | Understanding texts, finding evidence, choosing the best meaning |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 40 minutes | Using maths to solve problems, not only doing sums |
| Thinking Skills | 30 | 30 minutes | Critical thinking, logic and problem solving |
Thinking Skills is often the newest kind of question for children, and it gives the least time per question: about one minute each. Read our guide to Thinking Skills question types with examples.
Question numbers and timing come from recent years. The department can change the format, so check the details before the test.
Key dates for the 2027 test
The department publishes the exact dates each year. Going by previous years, the pattern looks like this:
| When (usual pattern) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Early November 2026 | Applications open |
| February 2027 | Applications close. Late applications are not accepted. |
| Early May 2027 | Test days (in 2026 the test was held on 8 and 9 May) |
Always check the real dates on the NSW Department of Education website: the application process page for when applications open and close, and the placement test page for test days. The dates above are only a guide based on earlier years.
How to prepare: a month-by-month plan
Short, regular practice works better than long weekend sessions. Aim for 20 to 30 minutes, three or four times a week. Keep it friendly: the goal is to build thinking habits, not stress.
- October to December 2026: find the starting point. When applications open (usually early November), apply early. Do one free check to see which skills are strong and which need work. Read together every day and talk about the story: why did the character do that, how do you know?
- January 2027: learn the question types. Practise one type at a time, for example "which statement must be true" or ordering puzzles. After each question, ask your child to explain the answer out loud.
- February 2027: check the application. Make sure it is submitted before it closes. Start short timed sets of 10 questions so your child gets used to the clock.
- March 2027: practise on a computer. The real test is on screen, so do some practice on a computer or tablet with a timer. Keep a small list of mistakes and redo them a week later.
- April 2027: full timed sections. Try a full section at test length, for example 30 Thinking Skills questions in 30 minutes. Practise leaving a hard question and moving on.
- The week before: rest. Light review only, good sleep, and check the test centre, time and what to bring.
Tips that help most children
- Read every word of the question. Words like "must", "most likely" and "only" change the answer.
- Cross out wrong options. Removing the answers that are clearly wrong makes the choice much easier.
- Do not get stuck. If a question takes more than two minutes, choose your best guess, note the number on your working-out paper, and move on.
- Explain, do not just mark. When your child gets one wrong, ask them to explain the right answer in their own words.
Try a free OC Thinking Skills check
20 questions with a 20-minute timer, an instant score for each skill and worked answers in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean and Thai.
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