Good news first: there are genuinely free, official materials for the NSW Selective test, and every family should use them. The trick is knowing which one actually reflects the real exam.
What the Department of Education offers free
The NSW Department of Education (DoE) provides two free resources:
- 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 covering each section.
The nuance most sites miss
This matters: the PDF samples are older, paper-based versions. They’re useful for getting a feel for question types, but they do not reflect the current on-screen format — the navigation, the typed writing task, the on-screen reading tools or the timing. Only the Janison online tests show your child what the real day looks like. There are also no real past papers released, so treat any claim of “official past exams” with caution.
How to actually use a practice test
A practice test only helps if you do more than sit it:
- Sit it under real conditions — quiet room, the full time limit, no help.
- Mark it honestly, including the writing.
- Review every wrong answer. This is the step that drives improvement. Ask why the right answer is right, not just what it is.
- Track patterns — is it timing, careless errors, or a genuine gap? Each needs a different fix.
A score on its own teaches nothing; the review is where the learning happens.
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 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. Combined with the official Janison practice, that’s a strong, genuinely no-cost starting point before deciding whether to do more structured selective practice tests.