What is the Opportunity Class?

by Pascal Press | November 24, 2021

The Opportunity Class is a 2-year placement program, designed to cater to academically gifted students about to undertake Year 5 within New South Wales. The class enables like-minded students to comfortably explore their promising intellectual achievements, subsiding the feeling of isolation, or seeming different among the school social environment.

Instead of students receiving more work at the same level, the topics of work covered in an opportunity Class are more complex, challenging and highly engaging. The teachers allow students to work at their own intellectual level, study topics that are interesting to them, and complete tasks that are suited to their ability.

The opportunity class also provides an opportunity for students to embrace competitions and activities such as the Newcastle Permanent Maths Competition, the ICAS competitions, and the internet-based environmental mystery game ‘Murder Under the Microscope’.

What is the Opportunity Class Placement Test?

Now you understand what an Opportunity Class is, are you considering completing an application for your child’s placement? If you answered yes, keep in mind that applications need to be filled out when your child is in Year 4, with tests being conducted every year in July or August.

After your application has been lodged for your child, students will be required to take the Opportunity Class Placement Test. In 2021 the placement test will remain in a paper-based format and in 2022 the test will move to an online format.

In response to a Review of Selective Education Access report, commissioned by the NSW Department of Education, the Opportunity Class Placement-style Test now has a greater emphasis on reading comprehension, thinking skills, and mathematical reasoning. The General Ability Test has been replaced by Thinking Skills. The new test adjusts and balances the weighting given to Mathematics, English and Thinking Skills test components. 

It is known that in most cases, students will leave their current school to accept a place in an opportunity class, as only 76 NSW schools cater for the opportunity classes; and with just under 2000 places available, it is vital for students to prepare for the Opportunity Class Placement Test.

How can my Child Prepare for the Test?

Your child may contemplate about the Test, which creates unsettling feelings, especially when they do not know the kind of questions to expect. They may also feel anxious as to whether they will get chosen to join the class, as there are limited spots available. 

It is common knowledge that students who do mock versions of upcoming tests benefit from it exceedingly, with strong research showing practice tests can improve test results, more than devoting the same amount of time reviewing school notes.

Pascal Press Test Resources

Pascal Press offers a wide range of Excel Opportunity Class Test resources written by a team of experienced educators. These resources provide handy tips, a wide range of practice tests covering the key topics, and detailed answers to all questions to help improve learning and exam preparation.

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See the range: Excel Opportunity Class Test Resources

Excel Test Zone's Practice Tests

Australia’s number one Online Practice platform, Excel Test Zone, provides Online Practice Tests for Opportunity Class Placement, within the Year 4 Opportunity Class Placement-style Test Pack.

The Test Pack has been prepared by a team of educators with extensive experience in publishing quality educational resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum and includes over one thousand questions across 37 practice tests for your child.

Your child can have 365-day access to the Test Pack making it great for not only test preparation, but for general practice throughout the year to improve in key subjects and prepare for school exams!

Excel Test Zone also offers a FREE 7-Day Trial, so you can try the online test environment and get a free snapshot of your child's level! 

 

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