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Selective School Entry Courses for Year 8 to 11

Selective Success Academy prepares students for entry to NSW selective high schools in Years 8 to 11. We run courses for the EduTest, the HAST, and the Normanhurst Boys High School and Sydney Boys High School entrance exams. Each selective entry course is ten weekly two-hour lessons a term, live online in small groups on Microsoft Teams, with recordings supplied.

Which tutoring course is right for your child?

Start with the school your child is applying to. The table shows the test that school uses for Year 8 to 11 entry, and where to read about it.

If your child is applying toThe testRead about it
Baulkham Hills High School, James Ruse Agricultural High School, North Sydney Boys High School, North Sydney Girls High School, Sydney Girls High School (Years 8 to 10) or the selective stream at Chatswood High SchoolThe EduTestEduTest tutoring and preparation
Girraween High School, Penrith Selective High School, Hurlstone Agricultural High School, Caringbah High School, St George Girls High School, Manly Selective Campus and other schools, plus Fort Street High School for Year 11 (it has no entrance test for Years 8 to 10)The HAST, the Higher Ability Selection TestHAST tutoring and preparation
Normanhurst Boys High SchoolAn entry test in literacy and numeracy, held at the schoolThe Normanhurst Boys High School entrance exam
Sydney Boys High SchoolIts own tests, set by the school, for the applicants it short-listsThe Sydney Boys High School entrance exam
Both Normanhurst Boys High School and Sydney Boys High SchoolThe entry tests each school runs. One course prepares for bothThe two exams compared

The schools and tests above are as each school's own website described them on 1 October 2026. New to Year 8 to 11 entry? Our guide to selective school transfer in NSW explains how it works, school by school, with the source for each school.

Still not sure which course fits? Book a short call with Ilia.

Our Package

Everything included in our academic roadmap to Success

10 Weekly Online Lessons

Engaging 2-hour sessions delivered via Microsoft Teams for maximum academic engagement.

Lesson Recordings

All lesson materials and recordings available for review to ensure conceptual mastery.

Full Mock Exam

Comprehensive evaluation conducted under strict exam conditions, replicating exam styles and formatting accurately.

Performance Feedback & Consultation

Direct consultation calls and diagnostic reports providing sharp, actionable feedback on student progress.

Specialised Lesson Materials

Lesson and HW booklets specific to exam styles and subjects, featuring targeted question types and strategies.

Extensive Online Resources

Curated vocabulary lists, digital quizzes, and high-yield strategy guides accessible via our student portal.

24/7 Support

Messaging support and academic assistance for students and parents via Microsoft Teams for immediate guidance.

Small Group Classes

Classes designed specifically for personalised learning and individualised academic focus.

Our Package

Everything included in our academic roadmap to Success

10 Weekly Online Lessons

Engaging 2-hour sessions delivered via Microsoft Teams for maximum academic engagement.

Lesson Recordings

All lesson materials and recordings available for review to ensure conceptual mastery.

Full Mock Exam

Comprehensive evaluation conducted under strict exam conditions, replicating exam styles and formatting accurately.

Performance Feedback & Consultation

Direct consultation calls and diagnostic reports providing sharp, actionable feedback on student progress.

Specialised Lesson Materials

Lesson and HW booklets specific to exam styles and subjects, featuring targeted question types and strategies.

Extensive Online Resources

Curated vocabulary lists, digital quizzes, and high-yield strategy guides accessible via our student portal.

24/7 Support

Messaging support and academic assistance for students and parents via Microsoft Teams for immediate guidance.

Small Group Classes

Classes designed specifically for personalised learning and individualised academic focus.

Our Termly Prices

Most Popular

Live Term Course

$800 a term, early bird
Normal price: $900 a term, which is $90 a lesson

Includes comprehensive materials, weekly homework marking, and 24/7 tutor support.

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Recording Package

$600 a term
That is $60 a lesson

Includes lesson recordings, materials and basic support.

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How much does Selective Success Academy cost?

A live term course at Selective Success Academy costs $900 a term, which is $90 a lesson, or $800 a term at the early bird price.

What you getPrice
Term course, live: 10 weekly lessons of 2 hours each, on Microsoft Teams$900 a term, which is $90 a lesson
The same live course, booked at the early bird price$800 a term
Term course, recordings only$600
Two term courses$1,400

Prices as at 1 October 2026.

The live term course is 20 hours of teaching, so $900 works out at $45 an hour. It includes small group classes, lesson recordings, a full-length mock exam with a comprehensive review, marking feedback on weekly homework and the mock, lesson and homework booklets, and online messaging support.

A question bank gives your child practice. It does not contain any teaching hours, and it cannot tell you which school to apply to, what the school report needs to show, or when the application closes.

How to choose tutoring for Year 8 to 11 selective entry

Look for six things: preparation for the specific test, a full-length mock exam with a review, small groups, a published price, results that name the schools, and knowing who teaches the class. Here is how Selective Success Academy meets each one.

  • Preparation for the test your child's school uses. Schools use different tests for Year 8 to 11 entry, so we run a separate course for each: the EduTest, the HAST, and the Normanhurst Boys High School and Sydney Boys High School entrance exams.
  • A full-length mock exam, with the answers reviewed. A practice paper on its own gives a score but not the reasons behind it, so every term course includes a full-length mock exam with a comprehensive review and marking feedback.
  • Small groups. A large class leaves little time for each child's questions, so our classes are small groups, taught live on Microsoft Teams.
  • A published price. You should know the cost before you commit, so our term prices are published on this page.
  • Results that name the schools. A results figure means more when it names the schools, so our results page lists every school where our students have received offers.
  • Knowing who teaches the class. Ask who will teach your child: our tutors, led by Ilia, who founded Selective Success Academy and is its head tutor, are introduced on our Why Us page.

Unlock Your Child's Potential.

Join the ranks of NSW's top-performing students today.

FAQs

Do all selective schools use the same exam for Year 8 to 11 entry?

No. Each selective school runs its own applications and assessments for Year 8 to 11 entry. Some schools hold tests, and others review school reports and other information. Normanhurst Boys High School holds an entry test in literacy and numeracy at the school, and Sydney Boys High School sets its own tests for the applicants it short-lists. Other schools use the HAST, developed by ACER, or the EduTest. Each test needs its own preparation.

How many schools can we apply to?

Up to three selective high schools. There is no centralised system for Year 8 to 11 entry, so you submit a separate application directly to each school, following its own requirements. List the schools in the same order of preference on every form.

What is your Free Trial policy?

Your child can try one lesson first. If you decide not to continue after it, the lesson is free. If your child stays for the term, it is included in the term fee.

Why do you offer separate courses for different schools?

General courses often fail to provide the direct, school-specific preparation necessary for success. We provide specialised programs so students focus on the exact skills required for their dream school, ensuring they do not waste time on irrelevant exam formats.

Are classes online or in person?

Online. All lessons are conducted live on Microsoft Teams, in small groups, and lesson recordings are supplied. Students have access to a structured learning environment with resources and workbooks professionally organised within a dedicated Google Drive ecosystem.

What if my child is already in a selective school but wants to move?

The process for moving up to another selective school is the same as a standard application. Students cannot transfer automatically between selective schools. Your child sits the entrance exam the new school requires, where it sets one, and submits a full application for review.

How important is the school report and portfolio?

It varies by school. The NSW Department of Education says selection committees assess each application on the academic performance it shows and, where the school tests, on the test. Girraween High School, for example, asks students to sit the HAST and submit a portfolio of school achievements. Sydney Boys High School assesses every written application first and invites the applicants it short-lists to sit its tests. With the application it asks for copies of the last two school reports, and applicants selected for interview then support their claims with evidence.

When do applications open for 2028 entry (exams in August 2027)?

No exact dates for 2028 entry have been published yet. Last cycle, for 2027 entry, the NSW Department of Education's application window ran from 17 June to 24 July 2026, and schools that test held their assessments in August and September 2026. Sydney Boys High School says its application forms for 2028 entry will be available from mid-June 2027, and Penrith Selective High School says applications for Years 8 to 11 entry in 2028 open mid June 2027. Check each school's own enrolment page, or see last cycle's dates in our selective school transfer guide.

Sources: NSW Department of Education, Years 8 to 11 applications; the Department's selective high school procedures; Normanhurst Boys High School enrolment; Sydney Boys High School enrolment; Girraween High School enrolment; Penrith Selective High School enrolment. All read 1 October 2026.