Selective School Results 2025: How to Help Your Child Prepare

By Pascal Press I August 27, 2025

On Friday the 22nd of August 2025, selective school placement results were finally released. For many families, this was a day filled with relief, but also reflection. This year's selective test was marked by confusion, delays and questions about fairness, leaving both students and parents feeling drained by the process. 

If your child sat the test this year, you may be experiencing mixed emotions. Relief that it's over, concern about whether the process was fair, or even wondering how to better support them for future academic challenges.

If your child is taking the exam next year (or further down the track), you've likely followed the drama and are already thinking about how best to prepare them. After all, the selective school test is highly competitive, and the majority of students rely on extensive preparation to feel ready.

At Pascal Press, we understand the pressure families face. That's why we developed our Selective School and Scholarship Test Workbook series, designed to help students prepare thoroughly, reduce stress, and build the confidence they need to perform their best when the exam comes around.

This Year's Results: Relief After the Wait

The NSW Department of Education published selective school results on 22 August 2025. For some families, this meant celebration. For others, disappointment or uncertainty followed. Regardless of the outcome, it was clear that the months leading up to the results being released were stressful (NSW Department of Education, 2025).

So What Was All the Drama About This Year?

The 2025 selective test cycle highlighted just how unpredictable exam days can be. Here's what happened:

• On the 2nd of May, exam centres across Sydney, including the Sydney Olympic Park and Randwick Racecourse testing centres, were overwhelmed by crowding and poor organisation. Riot police were also called in to help restore order with the unrest of the parents (The Guardian, 2025).
• Some students were told to sit make-up exams later, with the Department allowing the higher score to count. While this seemed fair on paper, many parents worried that the process gave some children an advantage over others.
• To prevent this from happening in future years, a formal review is now underway.

For parents of future Selective School test-takers, the lesson is clear. While the system may face challenges, the one thing that you can control is your child's preparation.

The Pressure on Parents: Tutoring, Time and Cost

Preparing for the selective school test is no small commitment. Most families turn to tutoring or coaching colleges to give their child an edge. In fact, experts estimate that some families spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on extra classes, workshops, and holiday intensive extra curricular classes (ABC News, 2019 & UTS, 2025).

While tutoring can help, it comes with its own set of challenges, such as:

• High cost - many parents feel pressured to spend far more than they can afford.
• Time pressures - multiple weekly tutoring sessions can clash with family routines and children's wellbeing.
• Stress and fatigue - intensive schedules, including classes over school holidays and breaks, can lead to burnout in young learners.

With all of these factors to take into account when students are studying for the selective school exam, it's no wonder so many parents are looking for resources they can use at home, at their own pace, and without breaking the bank.

Supporting Your Child with the Selective School Series

Our Excel Selective School and Scholarship workbooks have been designed to keep families first in mind. They give parents and students practical, flexible tools to prepare for the selective test without relying solely on external tutoring.

Here's how our workbooks have been designed to help:

• Exam-style practice - Questions and sample tests that mirror the selective test that they will take, so your child will know exactly what to expect when they undertake the exam.
• All key areas covered - Reading, writing, mathematics and thinking skills are included in clear sections, ensuring that your child will have well-rounded preparation.
• Targeted Practice - Our series contains workbooks that specifically focus on each key area, so you can strengthen the skills your child finds challenging while continuing to support the areas where they excel.
• Confidence building - Step-by-step strategies teach students how to solve problems, not just how to memorise them. This will build long term problem solving skills that will help them excel beyond the selective school test.
• Flexible learning - Workbooks can be used after school, on weekends, or during holidays when your child has free time, giving you and your family control over the preparation.

For parents, this means less stress, less reliance on expensive coaching, and a way to actively and consistently support your child in your home with their preparation.

What Parents Can Take Away

If your child just received results, now is the perfect time to reflect on what worked, what didn't and how you can support them moving forward into high school.

If your child will be sitting the selective test in the near future, the lessons of this year are clear:

• Preparation for the test is essential for success.
• The process can be unpredictable.
• Reliable resources will give you and your child confidence, no matter what challenges may arise.

At Pascal Press, we have helped thousands of families prepare smarter, not just harder. Our Excel Selective School and Scholarship Test Workbooks have been proven to provide the structure and guidance for children all around Australia, whether they're just beginning their preparation journey or refining their skills in the final lead-up to the exam.

Where To Now?

The 2025 Selective School exam cycle showed just how stressful and unpredictable this process can be, for both students and parents. With results now released, families are left reflecting on what lies ahead.

If your child is preparing for the exam next year, or in the years to come, giving them access to structured, targeted preparation is one of the most effective ways you can support them. We're proud to provide students with workbooks that help reduce stress, build confidence, and set our leaders of the future for success- without the need for endless tutoring sessions.

Click here to explore our full range of Excel Selective School and Scholarship Test Workbooks today and help give you and your child the confidence to succeed in every situation.

References

1. ABC News (2019) Parents can spend more than $20,000 a year on preparation for selective high school tests—NSW education chief. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-19/opportunity-class-nsw-children-coaching-colleges-tuition-holiday/11604608
2. NSW Department of Education (2025) Outcome of selective high school placement test. Available at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/choosing-a-school-setting/selective-high-schools/outcomes
3. The Guardian (2025) NSW riot squad called to control chaos at selective school exam sites. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/02/nsw-selective-school-exams-crowd-traffic-issues-police-called-ntwnfb
4. UTS (2025) ‘No pain, no gain’: why some primary students are following intense study routines. Available at: https://www.uts.edu.au/news/2025/05/no-pain-no-gain-why-some-primary-students-are-following-intense-study-routines