Pre-Uni New College
SELECTIVE TRIAL TEST COURSE
PARENT GUIDE · YEAR 5–6
SELECTIVE
TRIAL TEST
TRIAL TEST
COURSE
A practical trial test course for Year 5 students preparing for the Selective High School Placement Test — a structured cycle of test, review, and follow-up learning that turns every mistake into progress.
"A test shows where your child is now.
Review shows what your child has missed.
Follow-up learning helps your child move forward."
✓
Challenge Complete
🎯
Above Average
📈
Improving Weekly
A+
Great Progress
Thank you for enrolling your child in STTC. This trial test course is designed mainly for Year 5 students preparing for the Selective High School Placement Test, and may continue into early Year 6 depending on term and branch. STTC is not simply a weekly test — it is a full learning cycle: sit a trial test, check performance, identify weaknesses, and turn mistakes into learning through Cyberschool follow-up.
PART 1
Understanding STTC and the Selective Test
What the test is, and why STTC is structured this way.
1
What Is the Selective High School Placement Test?
The Selective test does not simply assess memorised knowledge — it assesses a student's ability to read carefully, reason mathematically, think logically, and express ideas clearly in writing. It is administered by the NSW Department of Education, may run over two days, and students may receive different versions designed to comparable standards. There is no fixed pass mark: each Selective school has a limited number of places, so entry is competitive, and the score needed for an offer differs by school and by year.
| SECTION | QUESTIONS | TIME | TYPE | WT. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 17 | 45 min | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 40 min | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Thinking Skills | 40 | 40 min | Multiple choice | 25% |
| Writing | 1 | 30 min | Written response | 25% |
Highly popular Selective schools attract many strong applicants, so competition varies by school. For highly competitive top-ranked schools, preference strategy alone rarely secures an offer — consistent, steady learning that steadily raises a student's competitive level matters most.
How the Selective System Works
✓The test is administered by the NSW Department of Education and may run over two days.
✓Students may receive different versions, designed to comparable standards — no version is advantaged.
✓Each Selective school has a limited number of places, so the score needed for an offer differs by school and by year.
✓Competition is tied to the schools listed in a student's preferences — popular schools attract more strong applicants.
There is no fixed pass mark. An offer depends on how a student performs compared with other applicants — for top-ranked schools, preference strategy alone rarely secures a place. Consistent, steady learning that raises a student's competitive level one question at a time matters most.
2
Materials Updated Every Year, Based on Experience and Data
Selective preparation should reflect the current test environment.
The STTC course was not simply created in its current form. It is the result of ongoing trial operation, verification, and improvement, and it continues to evolve.
Pre-Uni New College has been chosen by many families over a long period of time. Through years of running trial tests, analysing student achievement, and developing learning materials, we have accumulated extensive student data, question resources, and practical experience.
This allows us to review question trends, common student mistakes, time-management patterns, and the skills students need under current test conditions.
The Selective High School Placement Test has changed over time, especially with the introduction of computer-based testing and changes in question styles. Our STTC materials are reviewed and updated every year to reflect the current Selective test.
Students should not simply practise old-style questions. They need to practise current-style questions under realistic time allocation and CBT conditions.
STTC helps students become familiar with:
›the current test format
›CBT-style test conditions
›recent question trends
›time pressure similar to the real test
›common mistakes that occur under test conditions
›the level of reasoning and accuracy required in the current Selective Test environment
That is why STTC focuses not only on test practice, but also on review, analysis, Challenge, and follow-up learning.
The goal is to help students prepare for the test they will actually face, using materials refined through experience, data, and continuous review.
3
Why Is STTC Structured This Way?
In the real test, it is not enough to know how to solve a question slowly. Students must read carefully, identify key information, judge quickly, manage time, and reduce avoidable mistakes. STTC gives repeated practice in a trial-test environment.
1
Current Test Format
Practise the style students will actually face.
2
Time Pressure
Build pace under realistic test timing.
3
Review Habits
Check methods, evidence, and missed conditions.
4
Data Analysis
Use results to identify patterns and weak areas.
5
Challenge Cycle
Turn incorrect questions into repeated learning.
6
Targeted Improvement
Focus each week on the next skill to improve.
STTC does not guarantee a specific result. When students take tests seriously, participate in review, complete Challenge activities, and continue follow-up learning at home, the course can help improve time management, accuracy, test readiness, and awareness of weaknesses.
PART 2
How STTC Runs Each Week
Weekly routines, the learning cycle, and what happens in class.
4
How to Use This Course Each Week
1
Take the Test Seriously
Treat each weekly test like real practice.
2
Check the Result Email
Use the result as the starting point.
3
Join Class Review
Learn how to approach missed questions.
4
Read the Analysis
Check ranking, averages, and weak areas.
5
Complete Home Follow-Up
Finish the weekly tasks at home.
6
Complete the Challenge
Turn mistakes into clear understanding.
7
Prepare for Next Week
Reduce repeated mistakes before the next test.
This course is most effective when students complete the full cycle, not just the test.
5
The STTC Learning Cycle
This repeated process helps students do more than simply sit tests. It helps them recognise their own mistakes, understand their weak areas, and build better habits for the next test.
6
Regular Term and Holiday Course Structure
Once a complete set finishes, results from all four sections combine to form a reference report — using STTC ranking and Pre-Uni New College data to indicate school groups worth considering.
▤
Selective High School Choice Reference
Know your position. Choose with confidence.
Once one complete set is finished, results from Reading, Writing, Mathematical Reasoning, and Thinking Skills combine to form this reference — giving a general indication of school groups worth considering based on your child's STTC data.
THIS REFERENCE SHOWS YOU
▤
Your score and band
✓
Schools you're eligible for
↗
How you compare with the latest data
◎
Data by gender
HOW IT WORKS
1
Complete one full set
The four sections — Reading, Writing, MR, and TS — are combined.
2
Data-driven analysis
Your child's ranking and Pre-Uni New College data generate the reference.
3
Make informed choices
Use the reference to explore school groups worth considering.
⚠
Please read as a reference only — not a guarantee. School bands and their order may change. Especially for highly competitive top-ranked schools, it is more helpful to consider the overall group of schools within a band rather than a single ranking. Other factors — such as the application number, interview performance, available places, and the Equity Placement Model — may also affect the final offer outcome.
7
Reading & Writing Week
Attendance check & material distribution → Writing Test → Reading Test → Break → Reading Test Review → Writing Review using the English Workbook
During Reading & Writing week, students complete a Writing Test and a Reading Test, followed by Reading Test Review and Writing Review.
What Happens During Reading Review?
During Reading Review, students review the Reading Test they sat in class. Students check:
— where the evidence for the correct answer was found in the passage
— why the answer they chose was incorrect
— why the other options were not correct
— which question types they found difficult
— whether the cause was weak comprehension, poor option judgment, lack of evidence, or time pressure
This is not simply a time for giving answers — it is a time for students to learn how to approach Reading questions more accurately.
What Happens During Writing Review?
Writing Review is not a time when every student's individual writing response is fully marked in class. Students use the English Workbook to learn how to approach a writing task — format, structure, planning, idea development, paragraph organisation, sentence connection, and overall flow.
In simple terms: Reading Review → students review the Reading Test they actually sat. Writing Review → students learn writing structure and methods through the English Workbook.
This distinction matters so parents don't misunderstand Writing Review as individual full marking. Where applicable, written feedback on each student's task may be sent separately by email.
8
R&W At-Home Follow-Up Learning
Reading & Writing week does not end when class finishes. These tasks are completed on Cyberschool after class so students can review mistakes, practise again, and reinforce what they've learned.
1. Reading Challenge
Re-attempt Reading questions answered incorrectly. Students should not simply check the answer — they should find evidence in the passage and understand why their original answer was wrong: where was the evidence, why was the first answer wrong, what made the wrong option confusing, and how to approach this type of question next time.
2. Reading 1+1
Where provided, after the Reading Challenge, students may access an additional Reading set — another chance to practise reading, reasoning, locating information, and understanding language.
3. Vocabulary Test
A self-test on key vocabulary connected to the Reading test and English Workbook. Vocabulary affects both Reading and Writing — missing key words can mean missing the meaning of a passage or struggling to express ideas clearly.
4. Writing Re-Test
Another opportunity to write. Writing improves when students rewrite, refine structure, improve expression, and develop ideas more clearly: is the introduction clear, are ideas developed logically, are paragraphs well organised, are sentences connected naturally, and is the second attempt better than the first?
5. Top 5 Writing Exemplars
Where provided, sample responses from students who performed well on the same task. Through the Passage Arrange Activity, students analyse their structure and flow; through the Feedback Activity, they evaluate peer writing. The purpose is not to copy good writing, but to understand structure, idea development, paragraph flow, sentence connection, and effective expression.
Top 5 Writing Exemplars and Writing Re-Test are important follow-up activities and should be completed whenever they are available.
9
Mathematical Reasoning & Thinking Skills Week
Attendance check & material distribution → Mathematical Reasoning Test → Thinking Skills Test → Break → Thinking Skills Test Review → Mathematical Reasoning Test Review
During Mathematical Reasoning & Thinking Skills week, students sit both tests and then review them in class.
Students receive a Mathematical Reasoning / Thinking Skills Workbook, provided in paper form to complete as homework. The workbook content may also be available on Cyberschool in CBT format, letting students practise again in an online test-style environment. Review focuses on method, reading the conditions carefully, and reducing calculation and logic errors.
10
MR & TS At-Home Follow-Up Learning
After class, students must complete follow-up tasks at home. These are separate from the in-class flow — they help students continue the review process and practise again.
1. MR/TS Workbook Homework
Complete the workbook questions and show working. The important point is not only whether the answer is correct — students should also check whether they understood the method, read the conditions carefully, made any calculation mistakes, or missed any logical steps.
2. CBT Workbook Practice
Where provided, students may practise the workbook content again in CBT format — helping them become more familiar with the online test environment and giving another chance to practise computer-based.
3. STTC Challenge
Students re-attempt the questions they answered incorrectly in the test.
4. Additional Questions
After completing the Challenge, students may access more challenging questions designed to extend their thinking and strengthen problem-solving ability.
11
What Is Smart Review?
In class, teachers use Smart Review to review key questions with students.
Smart Review uses solution views, performance data, student answer analysis, and class review tools to help students see how questions should be approached, where common mistakes occurred, and what to watch for in future tests.
This review builds the foundation during class, but Selective preparation does not finish there. After class, students should reattempt incorrect questions, complete Challenge activities, and check whether they can solve similar questions again so they can consolidate the learning and apply it independently.
PART 3
Understanding and Using Results
How to read the results, and what parents should focus on.
12
Reading Results & Cyberschool Analysis
The result email shows score only, with no ranking. Cyberschool shows ranking plus detailed analysis by:
The Correct Answer Rate is especially important: questions many students got right are relatively easier; questions few got right were difficult for most.
13
What Should Parents Look at First?
Before the total score: did my child miss a question that many students answered correctly? A missed easy question may mean the student —
✓did not read the question carefully
✓missed a condition, or made a calculation mistake
✓could not find evidence in the passage
✓chose too quickly, or ran out of time
Difficult questions matter — but not missing questions that should be answered correctly matters just as much.
14
A Correct Answer Doesn't Always Mean Full Understanding
A correct answer to a hard question is positive, but may come from a lucky guess. Parents should check —
✓Can my child explain the method?
✓Can they explain why other options are wrong?
✓Can they solve a similar question again?
✓Did they guess because of time pressure?
Sometimes a correct answer may come from a lucky guess or partial understanding. Results should not be read only as right or wrong; they should be used to understand whether the student truly understands the question.
15
Focus on Position Against the Average, Not Just Raw Scores
If a student follows the STTC process properly and completes follow-up learning, it can help improvement. The pace of improvement differs from student to student depending on starting level, effort, concentration, and study habits.
💡 One thing is clear: a student who only takes the test and stops there will not progress in the same way as a student who reviews mistakes, completes the Challenge, and turns errors into understanding.
Parents should also remember that raw scores can change depending on test difficulty. Some tests may be harder, some may be easier — a student's score may also be affected by confidence, time management, question order, and test-day condition. Therefore, parents should not judge the result by the raw mark alone. Instead, consider:
Position against the average
Illustrative example only — an easy way to read the same shape of trend on your child's real Cyberschool dashboard.
Compare with the Average
See where the student sits against the class average.
Track Improvement
Look for steady progress over time, not one score.
Read the Trend
Check whether performance is rising, flat, or inconsistent.
Confirm Understanding
Use results to check whether answers are understood.
Find Weak Areas
Identify question types or topics needing attention.
Watch Time Management
Notice whether timing affects accuracy and confidence.
The important thing is not only the score itself. The important thing is your child's position compared with the average, and whether your child is improving.
16
Turning Results into Improvement
STTC includes regular tests, so students and parents may feel pressure when results are released. This is natural. However, results should not be seen as a final judgment of the student. They should be used as information for the next step.
The purpose of each result is to help students understand:
What they did well
What they missed
Where they lost time
Which mistakes can be reduced
What to focus on before the next test
When results are used in this way, each weekly test becomes part of the growth process rather than simply a source of pressure.
Students practise under time pressure similar to the actual Selective test. Through this, they learn to manage time, maintain focus, avoid rushing, and reduce small mistakes. However, this improvement does not happen simply because a student sits the test. It happens when the student follows the STTC system properly:
The most important part is the follow-up after class. If a student only says, "I tried the Review Challenge again," that is not enough — simply clicking through or reattempting the questions without real understanding will not lead to meaningful improvement. Students need to work until they can explain:
✓
Students need to work until they can explain
"
Only then does the test result become useful. A test result is not the end of the week. It is the beginning of the next improvement.
PART 4
Completing the Learning Cycle at Home
Connecting each result to real improvement.
17
What Does "Completing the Challenge Properly" Mean?
Not simply clicking through the questions again.
A student has completed it properly when they can explain —
✓
why the correct answer is correct
✕
why their first answer was wrong
i
what information or condition they missed
!
what type of mistake it was
★
how to approach a similar question next time
If a student cannot explain their mistake, the question has not yet been properly reviewed. The Challenge should not end with "I tried it again." It should end when the student can say:
"
I understand why I got it wrong, and I know how to approach this type of question next time.
18
When Should Follow-Up Learning Be Completed?
While the memory of the test and review is still fresh — ideally before the next STTC class, and within the same week. Delaying follow-up learning reduces its effectiveness, as students may forget why they made the mistake.
19
What Parents Should Check Each Week
Parents do not need to teach every question at home. However, we strongly recommend checking the following each week:
✓Did my child take the test seriously?
✓Did I check the result email?
✓Did my child check the Cyberschool analysis?
✓Did my child complete the Challenge?
✓Did my child review the questions they got wrong?
✓Can my child explain why the correct answer is correct?
✓Can my child explain why their first answer was wrong?
✓Did my child complete the necessary follow-up tasks before the next class?
A parent's role is not to replace the teacher. A parent's role is to help ensure that the learning cycle is completed.
20
Weekly Parent Checklist
0/15
Please go through this checklist with your child each week and celebrate progress together. Attending STTC is more than taking a test — real improvement comes from what happens after class.
PART 5
Course Operation and Policies
Attendance, access periods, and branch operations.
21
Absence & Make-Up Sessions
Missed tests may be completed in the make-up period where possible. A make-up session differs from a regular class — teacher-led interactive review may not be included, so regular attendance is strongly recommended.
22
Online Service Access Period
Cyberschool follow-up services — Challenge, extra practice, Vocabulary Test, Writing Re-Test, Top 5 Exemplars — run for a designated period. Some services may no longer be available afterward, so please don't leave tasks until too late.
23
Branch Operation May Vary
Make-up sessions, class operation, access periods, and available Cyberschool services may vary by branch, term, timetable, and course type, and may change without prior notice. Please check with your enrolled branch for the most accurate information.
PART 6 · FINAL GUIDANCE
24
Closing Message
STTC is a learning cycle designed to help students experience a test environment similar to the Selective Test, check their current position through results, and improve weaknesses through review and Challenge.
Attending class and checking results are important, but real growth is built through what happens afterwards. When students reattempt incorrect questions, understand why they made mistakes, and complete Challenge and follow-up learning, test results can lead to meaningful improvement.
A test shows where a student is now.
Follow-up review helps shape how the student can improve in the next test.
Please check at home that your child completes the Challenge and follow-up learning each week. Small, consistent actions turn STTC from a simple test into a meaningful learning process.
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE — FOCUS ON YOUR CHILD'S OWN DATA
Parents and students may hear many comments during Selective preparation — "this test was too hard," "someone got a very high score." These can create unnecessary anxiety. The same test can feel very different depending on a student's ability, preparation, and condition on the day. We recommend focusing on your child's own data:
Pre-Uni New College
— where steady effort becomes rising results.
This guide is provided to support learning and to help you understand your child's STTC journey.
It is not a definitive or absolute assessment and may contain errors. All STTC-related services may be changed, adjusted, suspended, or discontinued at any time without prior notice. If anything looks incorrect, or you have any questions, please contact your branch — we are glad to help.
VERSION · 2026-07-05