NSW Opportunity Classes: How OC Entry, Testing & School Choice Work

Opportunity classes are a two-year program for high-potential and gifted students in Years 5–6. This guide explains when to apply, what the test covers and how school choices affect an offer.

William

James Ruse Graduate (Ranked No. 1 in Australia at the Time of Graduation)

Updated Oct 29, 2026 · Official-source explainer

This guide is based on official information available at the review date. Rules can change by intake, subject and applicant category, so use the current official guide and any updates when you apply.

What is an opportunity class?

Opportunity classes are specialist classes in NSW public primary schools for high-potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 6. Students follow the NSW curriculum, but teaching can move at a different pace and go into greater depth. OC placement is separate from private-school scholarships, and NSW public schools do not charge tuition for attendance.

Schools and available places

The current NSW Department of Education information identifies 89 OC providers or settings and 1,840 Year 5 places for 2028 entry. Opportunity classes operate across metropolitan and regional NSW, with Aurora College providing an online option for eligible rural and remote students. Many schools offer 15 or 30 places; Hurstville Public School offers 60 and Aurora College 100. The list and place numbers can change by intake.

Examples of commonly considered Sydney OC schools (Year 5 places for 2028)

School	Location	Places
Artarmon Public School	Artarmon	30
Beecroft Public School	Beecroft	30
Chatswood Public School	Chatswood	30
Hurstville Public School	Hurstville	60
Matthew Pearce Public School	Baulkham Hills	30
Balmain Public School	Balmain	30
Mona Vale Public School	Mona Vale	30
Maroubra Junction Public School	Maroubra	15

Scroll horizontally to view the table.

These are representative examples, not a complete list. The Department’s live OC list and map are the safest way to check every school. Travel time, after-school activities and whether the child actually wants the school are practical considerations alongside test performance.

2028 entry dates and how to apply

Key dates for Year 5 entry in 2028

Date	Step
5 November 2026	Online applications open
15 February 2027	Applications and reasonable-adjustment requests close; late applications are generally not accepted
11–12 May 2027	OC Placement Test; each student is allocated one day
10 June 2027	Make-up test
25 June 2027	Last day to change school choices
Usually around September	Initial outcomes

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Application flow

01
A parent creates an account in the NSW application website
02
Enter student, current-school and adjustment information
03
List up to four OC schools in genuine preference order
04
Sit the computer-based test at the allocated centre
05
Respond to any offer or reserve-list movement by the deadline

Listing a school first does not add points. However, if a child meets the level required by more than one selected school, the initial offer comes from the highest preference available. Declining a lower-preference offer does not create an offer from a school listed below it. Rank schools in the order you genuinely want them, not by perceived difficulty.

What is in the OC test?

OC Placement Test structure

Section	Questions	Time	Weight
Reading	14, including 3 multi-part items	40 minutes	33.3%
Mathematical Reasoning	35	40 minutes	33.3%
Thinking Skills	30	30 minutes	33.3%

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All questions are multiple choice and the test is computer based. Reading uses fiction, non-fiction, poetry, articles and reports. Mathematical Reasoning focuses on using mathematics to solve unfamiliar problems, not only reproducing procedures. Thinking Skills uses verbal, numerical and spatial problem solving. Calculators and rulers are not permitted.

How families generally prepare

The Department does not endorse particular coaching providers, and the test is designed to measure reading, reasoning and problem solving rather than recalled content. It is still useful to become comfortable with the format, practise pacing and address identifiable gaps.

Begin with official samples without timing pressure to understand the task types.
Then work within section time limits and practise leaving time to review.
Read regularly and practise explaining which part of a text supports an answer.
In mathematics, explain conditions and alternative methods rather than stopping at the answer.
Prioritise diagnosing why errors occurred over accumulating mock tests.

Sources & verification

Reviewed 29 October 2026. Historical-cycle documents are explicitly labelled.