Two weeks after selective school offers, this year's OC results were also released as scheduled. The new policy—50% of places allocated to boys and 50% to girls—also applies. Its impact on OC is greater because all OC schools are co-educational, whereas selective schools already include several single-sex schools.
This analysis is based on CTedu students who sat the OC test and feedback from their families. We sincerely thank everyone for their generous support.
1. This year's OC school reference scores
The tables below group schools by this year's reference scores. They correspond to students' average results across their final five CTedu OC Trial Tests (out of 120), using an 80% admission-success benchmark for the target school band. They are for CTedu students' reference only.
| OC schools | Reference score |
|---|---|
| Beecroft | 104 |
| MP, NR, Ermington, Artarmon | 99 |
| Dural, Chatswood, Lindfield, Waitara, Wahroonga | 96 |
| Ironbark, Summer, Ryde, Hurstville | 94 |
| Quakers, Ashfield, Greystanes, Neutral, Woollahra | 91 |
| Balmain, Earlwood, Miranda, Sutherland, Caringbah | 88 |
| Others | 80–85 |
| OC schools | Reference score |
|---|---|
| Beecroft | 100 |
| MP, NR, Ermington, Artarmon | 96 |
| Dural, Chatswood, Lindfield, Waitara, Wahroonga | 93 |
| Ironbark, Summer, Ryde, Hurstville | 91 |
| Quakers, Ashfield, Greystanes, Neutral, Woollahra | 88 |
| Balmain, Earlwood, Miranda, Sutherland, Caringbah | 84 |
| Others | 75–80 |
CTedu's peak climbing chart has now been updated with this year's reference scores. A school reached by the climber's trailing foot has a relatively strong admission prospect; schools reached by the hands or head may be used as an ambitious first preference. The number beside the feet is the student's Trial Test average.
2. Preparing for selective school from here
1. Do not be complacent after an offer, and do not be discouraged without one
Competition for top OC classes is relatively stronger than for selective schools, mainly because popular OC classes have only about one-third of the places available at selective schools. Missing an OC offer does not remove the many opportunities to make a strong improvement before the selective test.
Conversely, students who stop working after gaining an OC offer can still struggle in the selective test two years later. Under the current separate boys' and girls' allocation policy, competition in the boys' group is particularly strong.
2. Progress step by step
OC and selective tests have broadly similar question types, except that OC has no writing task. Their difficulty levels are still different: CTedu score statistics indicate a gap of about 20 marks.
For most students, we recommend a gradual transition. In late Year 4 or early Year 5, start with the Pre Selective Pack. It is about 10 marks harder than the OC Pack and about 10 marks easier than the standard Selective Trial Test Pack, making it a useful bridge.
3. Catch up with the main group
If the selective test is a 5,000-metre mountain, OC is roughly halfway up at 3,000 metres. Students who did not gain an OC offer may still be around the 1,000–2,000-metre level.
In that situation, we recommend completing one or two more OC Trial Test Packs and lifting the average to above 80. This is like climbing another thousand metres before formal selective preparation begins around the middle of Year 5, helping the student catch up with the main group or at least narrow the gap.
3. Next year's OC application and preparation
1. Test and application dates
The OC test is expected around late April to early May next year, with applications opening in November this year. Please wait for the Department of Education's official notice, or watch for reminders on our website and WeChat.
2. Preference selection
Next year, OC applications are expected to allow four preferences. Use the school at the climber's trailing-foot position as a middle-band preference. The first preference can be more ambitious—around the level reached by the hands or head. A genuine fallback should be set substantially lower than the middle-band preference.
Putting several preferences in the same band does not materially improve the chance of admission. Often, if one does not work, none of them will.
3. Why OC preparation matters
Some families see selective school as essential but OC as optional, and therefore do not give OC preparation enough attention. This is a misconception. If selective school preparation is climbing a 5,000-metre mountain, OC is around the 3,000-metre point. A student who prepares seriously and reaches even 2,500 metres—without gaining an OC offer—is already ahead of many others.
When selective preparation begins in Year 5, children starting from halfway up the mountain can move more comfortably, while those only starting at the foot of the mountain often face a much harder climb.
4. Key OC preparation priorities
Early preparation should focus, with parental support, on effective study habits: practising consistently each week, reviewing errors promptly after a test, and becoming used to the flexibility and time pressure of Cambridge-style assessments.
Later, the focus should shift to independent learning and sensible time control. Where possible, ask the child to explain the reasoning behind typical errors to a parent. This Feynman Technique can deepen and consolidate understanding.
Throughout preparation, Trial Test scores and the peak climbing chart can remain a guide, helping families and students see whether they are improving and how high they have climbed. Every year many CTedu students work upwards step by step and gain an OC offer they value. We hope your child achieves the same next year.