Is the OC or Selective Test Worth It? A Guide for Hills Families

Sunshine Tutoring — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:15:15 +0000

In the Hills, the OC and Selective tests come up at every school gate. They’re a big decision for families and there’s plenty of noise around them, so here’s a straight take.

The OC test is sat in Year 4 for entry into an Opportunity Class in Year 5. The Selective test is sat in Year 6 for entry into a selective high school in Year 7. Both look at reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills, not just what a child has memorised.

Is it worth it?

For a child who loves a challenge and does well surrounded by motivated classmates, a selective placement can be a wonderful fit. For another child, the pressure of preparation simply isn’t worth it, and that is completely okay. The reassuring part is that the skills these tests build, like comprehension, logic and problem solving, are valuable no matter what happens on the day.

If you decide to go for it

Start early, because thinking skills grow over time and don’t respond well to last-minute cramming. Practise under timed conditions so the pace feels normal. And keep perspective, because a test result doesn’t define your child.

We help Hills families prepare for both tests with structured, no-stress practice. If you’re unsure whether it’s the right path, book a free assessment and we’ll give you an honest view of where your child sits.

Weighing up the selective path? It helps to know your options either way. Read the 7 questions to ask before choosing a tutor, or book a free assessment to see whether a selective run is realistic for your child this year.

The post Is the OC or Selective Test Worth It? A Guide for Hills Families appeared first on Sunshine Tutoring.

NAPLAN Preparation: A Guide for Hills Parents (Years 3 to 9)

Sunshine Tutoring — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:15:11 +0000

Every year around NAPLAN time we get the same question from Hills parents: how much should we be doing at home? The honest answer is less cramming and more steady, calm practice. NAPLAN isn’t a test you can memorise your way through. It looks at how well your child reads, writes and handles numbers under a little time pressure, so the best preparation builds those skills slowly over weeks, not in a panic the night before.

What actually helps

Short, regular practice beats long sessions. Twenty focused minutes a few times a week does far more than a marathon on Sunday, and it keeps your child relaxed about the whole thing.

Getting familiar with the format matters too. A lot of NAPLAN stress comes from the unknown rather than the content. Once your child has seen the question styles before, the real thing feels ordinary.

Spend your time on the weak spots. There’s no point redoing what they already know. If spelling is shaky or worded maths problems trip them up, that’s where the effort should go. And because the writing task rewards a clear plan with a beginning, middle and end, a few timed practice pieces make a real difference.

The mistakes we see most

Rushing, skimming the question, and leaving no time to check. We teach students to slow down, underline the key words, and read their answer back before moving on.

If you’d like a hand, our small groups in Bella Vista follow the NSW curriculum and target exactly the skills NAPLAN tests. We also back our teaching with a money-back guarantee. Book a free assessment and we’ll show you where your child is at and what to focus on.

If NAPLAN is on the horizon, the most useful first step is knowing where your child actually sits. Our free diagnostic assessment shows you in one visit, and our guide to building strong maths foundations in primary school covers what to work on afterwards.