Test Academy Reviews

Free OC practice

Where can you get free OC practice tests?

What's officially free for the NSW Opportunity Class test, the important difference between the DoE PDF samples and the Janison online tests, and how to use practice well with a young child.

By the Test Academy Reviews editorial team Last reviewed June 2026

There are genuinely free, official materials for the OC test, and every family should use them. The one thing to get right is which resource actually matches the real exam.

What the Department of Education offers free

The NSW Department of Education (DoE) provides two free resources for the OC test:

  • The Janison online practice test — delivered on screen in the current computer-based format, with the same look and feel as the real test.
  • Downloadable PDF samples — printable question samples across the three sections.

The nuance most sites miss

This matters, especially for a young child: the PDF samples are older, paper-based versions. They’re handy for getting a feel for question types, but they do not reflect the current on-screen format — the navigation, the on-screen reading tools, or the timing. Only the Janison online tests show what the real day looks like. There are also no real past papers released, so be cautious of any site claiming to sell “official past exams”.

Using practice well with a young child

For a nine- or ten-year-old, how you practise matters as much as what:

  1. Keep sessions short — comfort and confidence over coverage.
  2. Do at least one full Janison online practice so the computer format is familiar.
  3. Review wrong answers gently together — focus on the why, not the score.
  4. Build sitting stamina gradually, so a longer test isn’t a shock.

Keep it light and positive; see when to start preparing for the right pace.

Realistic free practice from Test Academy

Beyond the official materials, Test Academy offers a genuinely free account — and it’s more than a few tests. Your child can claim several free, realistic computerised OC tests that rehearse the exact on-screen experience, plus free access to LearningHub (the adaptive practice hub) and Testy Coach (the AI study tutor) — free forever, with no subscription, and with feedback that highlights weak areas in a child-friendly way. Paired with the official Janison practice, that’s a strong, genuinely no-cost foundation before deciding whether to do more structured OC practice tests.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Department of Education release past OC papers?

No. The Department provides sample and practice materials but doesn't release real past papers. The most useful free resource is the Janison online practice test, because it matches the current computer-based format your child will actually sit.

Are the free PDF samples enough for the OC test?

They're a useful start for question styles, but they're older paper-based versions and don't show the current on-screen format or timing. Always do the Janison online practice too, so the computer format isn't a surprise to a young child.