Navigating the Selective High School Placement Test process can be both exciting and daunting for families. Once your child has completed the test, understanding the outcome and the accompanying performance report is crucial for making informed decisions about their educational journey.

Placement Outcomes Explained

After the placement test, families receive one of the following outcomes:

• Offer: Your child has been offered a place at one of your selected schools.
• Reserve List: Your child is placed on a reserve list for one or more schools.
• Unsuccessful: Your child has not been offered a place or placed on a reserve list.

If your child is on a reserve list, they are assigned a reserve band (A to F), indicating the estimated time frame in which an offer might be made, based on previous years' data. For instance, Band A suggests an offer may be made within one month, while Band F indicates an offer is unlikely by the end of the year.

Decoding the Performance Report

Alongside the outcome, you'll receive a performance report detailing how your child performed in each test component:

• Reading
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Thinking Skills
• Writing

Each component is categorised into performance bands:

• Top 10% of candidates
• Next 15% of candidates
• Next 25% of candidates
• Lowest 50% of candidates

It's important to note that these bands reflect your child's performance relative to other test-takers, not the percentage of correct answers. For example, being in the top 10% means your child performed as well as or better than 90% of students who took the test.

Understanding the Test Components

The Selective High School Placement Test assesses various skills:

• Reading: Comprehension and interpretation of texts.
• Mathematical Reasoning: Application of mathematical concepts to solve problems.
• Thinking Skills: Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Writing: Ability to express ideas effectively in written form.

These components are designed to evaluate high potential and gifted students, focusing on their aptitude and reasoning skills.

Preparing for the Test

Practice tests can help students understand the types of questions they may encounter and develop effective test-taking strategies.

To support your child's preparation, consider utilising resources like the Year 6 Selective Schools & Scholarship–style Test Pack. This pack offers practice materials that mirror the structure and content of the actual test, providing valuable practice opportunities.

By understanding the outcomes and utilising appropriate preparation resources, you can better support your child through the selective high school placement process.