Important OC dates
- OC 2027 applications: open early November 2026
- OC 2027 test: early May 2027
- OC 2026 outcomes: 9 September 2026
OC Guide — Start Here
Updated:
Reading time: 3–4 minutes
A single place to learn the essentials: what the OC actually tests, how results are reported, how to plan your months, and how to structure each week.
Core areas
The OC schools in NSW
- What schools offer OC in NSW
- Available places
- Competitiveness
OC results 2026, by school and score
- What families with each band profile received
- Offers and reserve bands at every OC school
- How each school's reserve list moved last year
Gain a deep understanding of all the questions
- Reading • Thinking Skills • Mathematical Reasoning
- What each section really tests
- Patterns, timing cues, practice flow
Know what you're getting into — understand OC scoring
- Performance report bands
- Scaled results (not raw %)
- What affects offers
Develop an overall plan
- Pick a timeline track
- Monthly calendar PDF
- When to use each test type
Build a detailed weekly plan
- Study space & devices
- Weekly loop (mini → section → full)
- Review process that actually sticks
Practise with real test papers
- The official free practice tests
- What they can and can't tell you
- What to do once you run out
Test Week — what to bring and how to prepare
- The official NSW checklist
- The week before, night before, morning of
- What if something goes wrong
Featured from the blog
Complete OC Test Timeline: Year 3 to Test Day
Milestones and sanity-savers from early curiosity to test week.
What Score Does My Child Need to Get Into the OC Class?
Understanding percentile bands and what you need to aim for.
Should My Child Prepare for the OC Test?
Why preparation isn't cheating - it's levelling the playing field.