The Normanhurst Boys High School Entrance Exam, Years 8 to 11
Normanhurst Boys High School holds an entrance exam at the school for entry in Years 8 to 11: an entry test in literacy and numeracy, assessed alongside the documents you send. Selective Success Academy, which tutors students entering NSW selective high schools in Years 8 to 11, prepares boys for it in live online small-group classes on Microsoft Teams.
- Years of entry
- Years 8, 9, 10 and 11
- What the school tests
- Literacy and numeracy
- Where the test is held
- At Normanhurst Boys High School
- Format, in our experience
- Two written papers, no multiple choice
- Dates for 2028 entry (exams in August 2027)
- Not yet published
Last checked 1 October 2026, against Normanhurst Boys High School's enrolment page and the NSW Department of Education. The format line comes from Selective Success Academy's experience preparing students for this exam. The school does not publish it.
What is the Normanhurst Boys High School entrance exam?
Normanhurst Boys High School is a fully academically selective boys high school with no local area intake. Year 7 entry is through the NSW Department of Education's statewide selective test, a computer-based test in four sections. Entry in Years 8 to 11 works differently. In the school's own words, it "does not depend on a centralised program of entry".
Instead, a selection committee at the school decides. Each application includes "an entry test in Literacy and Numeracy as well as a review of accompanying documentation", and the test is held at the school each year.
The school names no outside test provider, and it is not on ACER's list of schools that use the HAST (Higher Ability Selection Test) or on Edutest's list of client schools, both read on 1 October 2026. We know of no official past paper. Instead, Selective Success Academy draws on its experience preparing students for this test, and writes its own practice papers to the exam's format. They are practice material, not past papers. To try the style for free, use our Normanhurst Boys and Sydney Boys practice test.
New to Years 8 to 11 entry? Our guide to selective school transfer explains how it works across NSW.
Which years can my son enter?
Normanhurst Boys High School takes applications for Years 8 to 11. Last cycle it gave one exam date for the whole Years 8 to 11 intake, without saying whether every year level sits the same paper. Your son applies the year before he would start: a boy in Year 8, for example, applies for Year 9 entry.
Three Sydney boys' schools are easy to mix up, and each tests Years 8 to 11 applicants in its own way. Each school name below links to its own enrolment page, read on 1 October 2026.
| School | Years of entry | How Years 8 to 11 applicants are tested |
|---|---|---|
| Normanhurst Boys High School | Years 8 to 11 | An entry test in literacy and numeracy, held at the school |
| Sydney Boys High School | Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 | Literacy and numeracy tasks set by the school, for the applicants it short-lists. Year 11 applicants also sit a general ability science test |
| North Sydney Boys High School | Years 8 to 11 | The EduTest |
As at 1 October 2026.
Sydney Boys High School assesses written applications first, then invites the boys it short-lists to sit its tests. Our Sydney Boys High School entrance exam guide covers that process, and our comparison of the two schools' entrance exams sets them side by side. North Sydney Boys High School is a different school, and our North Sydney Boys High School entry guide covers it.
What is in the papers
The school's page describes the test only as literacy and numeracy. It does not publish the number of papers, their length, the question types or whether a calculator is allowed.
The table below sets out the papers as we know them from preparing students for this exam. Treat it as a guide, and follow the instructions the school sends you before the test.
| Paper | Length, from our experience | Format | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | About 45 minutes | Written answers | Short answers on one or two reading passages, plus a creative piece from a separate prompt |
| Maths | About 45 minutes | Written, with working set out | Problem solving at and above your son's year level, weighted heavily toward algebra |
From Selective Success Academy's experience. Not published by the school.
The Maths paper
In our experience, the Maths paper leans heavily on algebra:
- index laws, including fractional and negative indices
- surds
- expanding and factorising
- algebraic fractions
- solving linear, fractional and quadratic equations
- changing the subject of a formula
Geometry and measurement have carried less weight, and financial maths and applied pattern problems have also featured. The mix can change from year to year.
From what we have seen, every answer is written out. The school does not publish how it marks, so we teach the habit that holds up under any marking scheme: set out each step so a marker can follow your son's reasoning from the question to the answer.
The English paper
From our experience, the English paper comes in two parts: short answers on the reading passages, then the creative piece.
For the short answers we teach our own method, IQTVE: Idea, Quote, Technique, Verb, Evaluation. The structure grows with the marks on offer:
- 3 marks: a topic sentence and two IQTVEs
- 4 marks: the same, plus a linking sentence
- 5 marks: three IQTVEs and a linking sentence
For the creative piece, we find about 400 words is a realistic target in the time. The strongest pieces stay with one narrow scene over a short stretch of time, rather than squeezing a whole story into an exam.
How the exam is marked, and what happens next
A selection committee at Normanhurst Boys High School considers each application: the entry test and the documents you send. The school does not publish how the test is marked or how it is weighed against those documents, and Selective Success Academy does not publish cut-offs or score targets for any school. The school says an interview may be required before a final offer is made. It does not say who is invited or what is asked. Our selective school interview guide covers the kinds of questions asked and how to prepare.
On the day. If the paper shows marks against each question, split your time by them: a three-mark question needs three clear points. Do not leave a blank. A blank earns nothing, and an attempt with the working set out at least gives the marker something to read.
The NSW Department of Education sets out what follows. The school makes an offer, adds your son to a reserve list, or tells you the application was unsuccessful. Reserve lists apply only for that school year and may close after Term 2. An offer made by phone must be accepted or declined within 24 hours. You can ask for a review within 7 days of the result, but only on narrow grounds, such as the school not following its published process. A boy who misses out can apply again in a later round.
How to apply to Normanhurst Boys High School, and when
The school has not yet published its process for 2028 entry (exams in August 2027). Last cycle, for 2027 entry, it set out three steps to apply, followed by the exam and possibly an interview:
- Register online first. Complete the online registration form on the school's enrolment page. It generates a PDF unique to your application.
- Pay the administration fee online. It was $130 last cycle, due before 24 July 2026.
- Deliver the application package. It had to reach the school in person or by Australia Post before 4.00pm on Friday 24 July 2026.
- Sit the entrance exam at the school. Last cycle it was scheduled for Sunday 2 August 2026.
- Attend an interview if asked. The school says one may be required before a final offer.
What goes in the package. The school asks for your son's last two school reports, his last NAPLAN results, and any academic, sporting or other awards or achievements. The list is not limited to these. Send copies only, never originals. The NSW Department of Education also asks every applicant to include a copy of the student's birth certificate, citizenship or passport. Our guide to writing a strong selective school application shows what each school asks for and how to make each part strong.
Applying to more than one school. You can apply to up to three selective high schools. Send a separate application to each, and list the schools in the same order of preference on every form.
Two more things. Your family must be living in NSW by the start of the school year of entry. If your son has a disability and needs adjustments, the Department asks you to contact the school early.
Last cycle's dates: 2027 entry (exams in August 2026)
These are the dates for 2027 entry. Applications for that round closed in July 2026. They show how the year runs. They are not the dates for 2028 entry.
| Event, 2027 entry | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open (the Department's date) | Wednesday 17 June 2026 | NSW Department of Education, Years 8 to 11 applications, read 1 October 2026 |
| Applications close (the Department's date) | Friday 24 July 2026 | NSW Department of Education, as above |
| Schools tell families what assessment they need | July to August 2026 | NSW Department of Education, as above |
| Assessments, where a school tests | August to September 2026 | NSW Department of Education, as above |
| Normanhurst Boys High School entrance test, Years 8 to 11 | Sunday 2 August 2026 | Normanhurst Boys High School enrolment page, read 1 October 2026 |
| HAST (Higher Ability Selection Test) for Girraween High School, Penrith Selective High School and the other schools that coordinated their Years 8 to 11 entry test | Saturday 8 August 2026 | Girraween High School and Penrith Selective High School enrolment pages, read 1 October 2026 |
| Sydney Boys High School tests, for short-listed applicants only | Monday 10 August 2026, 4.30pm | Sydney Boys High School enrolment information, read 1 October 2026 |
| EduTest, one shared sitting for Baulkham Hills High School, James Ruse Agricultural High School, North Sydney Boys High School, North Sydney Girls High School, Sydney Girls High School and Chatswood High School (selective stream) | Saturday 15 August 2026 | Baulkham Hills High School enrolment page and Edutest, read 1 October 2026 |
| Outcomes released to families (the Department's timing) | September to October 2026 | NSW Department of Education, as above |
| Successful applicants start at their new school | Late January 2027 | NSW Department of Education, as above |
Dates as at 1 October 2026, as published by each source in the table.
Schools do not all run on the Department's dates. Last cycle, Sydney Boys High School opened applications on Friday 12 June 2026. ACER and Edutest also leave the test date to each school, so a school outside these groups can test on a different day. Check the school's own enrolment page.
2028 entry (exams in August 2027)
No 2028-entry dates have been published yet. As at 1 October 2026, the NSW Department of Education lists only last cycle's dates, and no school we have checked has published a test date. Some schools have said when applications will open. Sydney Boys High School says its application forms for Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 in 2028 will be available from mid-June 2027. Penrith Selective High School says applications for Years 8 to 11 entry in 2028 open mid June 2027. The Department notes that dates can change, so check each school's own enrolment page regularly.
Whatever the 2028-entry dates turn out to be, the Department's procedures say closing dates are strictly observed and late applications are not accepted.
How to prepare for the Normanhurst Boys High School entrance exam
Prepare your son for written answers, not multiple choice: from our experience of this exam, that means algebra-heavy Maths with every step set out, and English that moves from short structured answers on the reading passages to a creative piece. What else he needs changes with his year: the depth of the Maths, the standard of the writing, and where he is in school. We tailor tutoring to his entry year.
Year 8 entry, applying in Year 7
The papers, as we know them, ask for more than Year 7 classwork: Maths above his year level, with the working set out and every answer written in full. In English your son needs to read closely, write a short structured answer, then switch to a creative piece. Our Year 8 preparation bridges the gap between standard Year 7 content and that depth.
Focus: foundation problem solving, structured writing, exam-style practice.
See the Year 7 classes, for Year 8 entry
How Year 8 selective entry works, school by school
Year 9 entry, applying in Year 8
Your son needs mathematical reasoning beyond the Year 8 syllabus, confident algebra and the habit of showing every step. In English, both the analytical answers and the creative piece need to be controlled and specific.
Focus: advanced problem solving, analytical and creative writing, full mock practice.
See the Year 8 classes, for Year 9 entry
How Year 9 selective entry works, school by school
Year 10 entry, applying in Year 9
Year 10 entry suits a boy in Year 9 who wants to move before the senior years. We focus on mature mathematical reasoning, including the algebra we see weighted heavily in the Maths paper, and on written expression at the standard expected of senior selective school students.
Focus: senior-level mathematics, sophisticated writing, exam composure.
See the Year 9 classes, for Year 10 entry
How Year 10 selective entry works, school by school
Year 11 entry, applying in Year 10
Year 11 is the last year the Department's Years 8 to 11 process covers. It suits a boy who wants to complete his senior years and the HSC in the cohort and academic environment of Normanhurst Boys High School. Preparation emphasises HSC readiness in mathematics and English.
Focus: HSC readiness, mature analytical writing, advanced reasoning.
See the Year 10 classes, for Year 11 entry
How Year 11 selective entry works, school by school
Not sure which year level or class suits your son?
How our tutoring prepares students for the Normanhurst Boys High School exam
Our course for Normanhurst Boys High School and Sydney Boys High School is small-group tutoring, taught live on Microsoft Teams and tailored to your son's entry year. Classes run online, so he can join from anywhere in Sydney with no travel.
A term is 10 weekly lessons of two hours each. Lessons are recorded, so a clash with sport or a sick day does not cost him the content, and every term includes a full-length mock exam with a comprehensive review. Everything else a term includes is listed with the price below.
Two things set this course apart from EduTest or HAST coaching:
- Maths and English weeks alternate across the term, because the exam, as we know it, has two papers, one for each.
- Every practice question is open response, with space to set out working. Our materials for this course contain no multiple choice, because we know of none in the exam. A boy who has only practised multiple choice has not practised this exam.
What it costs
| What you get | Price |
|---|---|
| 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.
The same course prepares your son for both Normanhurst Boys High School and Sydney Boys High School. If both are on his list, our comparison of the two schools explains how the two applications differ. Full details are on courses and prices.
Results and reviews
Who teaches this
Ilia founded Selective Success Academy and is its head tutor. He has been through this himself: he missed out on selective school at first, then entered North Sydney Boys High School by lateral transfer. He became a North Sydney Boys High School Dux, finished school with a 99.90 ATAR and now studies Medicine at UNSW. His story was featured in The Sydney Morning Herald in April 2026.
What families say
Thank you to Selective Success Academy for the quality teaching and support provided throughout the year. We especially appreciate Ilia’s dedication, clear explanations, and positive approach to learning. His guidance has helped our child build both confidence and academic skills.
It was a good engagement with Selective Success Academy since last term. Ilia explains concepts clearly and to the level of difficulty required. The mock exams and feedback were helpful. A well-run program.
Ilia has been a truly supportive mentor at Selective Success Academy. His patient and well‑structured approach has helped make even the most challenging topics feel manageable and clear.
Rated 5/5 from 90+ parent reviews
80+ selective school offers. See our students' results
Questions parents ask about Normanhurst Boys High School entry
Is the Normanhurst Boys High School exam the EduTest or the HAST?
Neither, as far as any official source shows. Normanhurst Boys High School holds an entry test in literacy and numeracy at the school, and it is not on ACER's list of HAST schools or Edutest's list of client schools. If another school on your list uses one of those tests, see our EduTest guide and HAST guide.
Are there past papers for the Normanhurst Boys High School exam?
We know of no official past paper. Our own practice papers and mock exams are written by Selective Success Academy, drawing on our experience preparing students for this exam. They are practice material, not past papers.
Is the Normanhurst Boys High School exam multiple choice?
Not in our experience of this exam. Expect working set out in Maths and written responses in English. The school describes the test only as literacy and numeracy, so follow the instructions it sends you.
Is a calculator allowed in the Normanhurst Boys High School exam?
The school does not publish a calculator rule. Follow the instructions it sends you, and have your son practise without one so he is ready either way.
Can my son sit a selective test in Year 9?
Yes. Normanhurst Boys High School takes applications for entry in Years 8 to 11, and you apply the year before entry. A boy in Year 8 applies for Year 9 entry, and a boy in Year 9 applies for Year 10 entry. Last cycle, for 2027 entry, applications ran from 17 June to 24 July 2026.
When is the next Normanhurst Boys High School entrance exam?
No date for 2028 entry (exams in August 2027) has been published. Last cycle, for 2027 entry, the exam was scheduled for Sunday 2 August 2026. Check the school's enrolment page for the next round.
Is Normanhurst Boys High School harder to get into than Sydney Boys High School?
No official source compares them, and we would rather not guess. It depends on how many places open at your son's year level in a given year, and each school manages its own. The processes differ too: Sydney Boys High School assesses written applications first, then invites the boys it short-lists to sit its tests. Book a call and we can talk it through for your son.
How many places are there?
Places vary by school and by year level, and each school manages its own. In the NSW Department of Education's words, "Vacancies depend on student departures and each school is different." We do not quote a figure. Book a short call and we can talk through your son's options.
Can my son apply to Normanhurst Boys High School and other schools?
Yes. You can apply to up to three selective high schools, with a separate application to each and the schools listed in the same order of preference on every form. If Sydney Boys High School is on your list, see our comparison of the two schools. Other schools use other tests: Baulkham Hills High School, James Ruse Agricultural High School and North Sydney Boys High School use the EduTest, and Girraween High School and Penrith Selective High School use the HAST.
Not sure which test or school suits your child? Book a short call with Ilia, or let your child try a lesson first.