Why Families Choose Selective Success Academy

Selective Success Academy prepares students for entry to NSW selective high schools in Years 8 to 11. We run live online small-group classes on Microsoft Teams for the EduTest, the HAST and the Normanhurst Boys High School and Sydney Boys High School entrance exams. Our head tutor, Ilia, is a 99.90 ATAR North Sydney Boys High School Dux.

Meet The Head Tutor

Rated 5/5 from 90+ parent reviews

• Ilia

• Head Tutor

• 4+ Years of Teaching Experience

• Lateral transfer to North Sydney Boys High School

• Year 11 Dux, North Sydney Boys High School

• North Sydney Boys High School Graduate

• 99.90 ATAR

• UNSW BMed/MD

☏ Call Me Now ✉ Send an Enquiry

"A below-average scoring student can become a top ranking graduate with the right systems and mentorship," says Ilia.

Featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, April 2026

As Featured In

Ilia, photographed for The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Ilia missed out on selective school – until he found another way in”

Ilia missed out on selective entry, then entered North Sydney Boys High School by lateral transfer. He became Dux of Year 11 and graduated with a 99.90 ATAR. Now studying Medicine at UNSW, he mentors the next generation of students chasing their dream schools.

April 2026Read the full article →

Selective Success Academy at a glance

What we prepare students for: entry to NSW selective high schools in Years 8 to 11, through the EduTest, the HAST (Higher Ability Selection Test) and the Normanhurst Boys High School and Sydney Boys High School entrance exams.
Year levels: classes for students in Years 7 to 10, preparing for entry in Years 8 to 11.
How classes run: live online on Microsoft Teams, in small groups, with lesson recordings supplied.
A term: 10 weekly two-hour lessons.
Prices: the live term course is $900, which is $90 a lesson. Booked at the early bird price, it is $800. Recordings only for the full term are $600.
Results: 80+ selective school offers.
Head tutor: Ilia, a 99.90 ATAR North Sydney Boys High School Dux now studying Medicine at UNSW. His story was featured in The Sydney Morning Herald in April 2026.
Reviews: Rated 5/5 from 90+ parent reviews.
Where: online, for families across NSW. Based in Sydney.
Contact: 0404 331 887 or contact@selectivesuccessacademy.com.au

Our Tutors

Our team includes graduates of North Sydney Boys High School and Girraween High School.

Ilia

Head Tutor

GraduatedNorth Sydney Boys High School

•99.90 ATAR

•Entered North Sydney Boys High School by lateral transfer

•Year 11 Dux, North Sydney Boys High School

•UNSW BMed/MD

•HSC Mathematics Extension 1 and 2: 98 in both

•HSC English Advanced: 95

•4+ Years Teaching Experience

Matthew Guirguis

HAST Tutor

GraduatedGirraween High School

•99.80 ATAR

•Successfully transferred to Girraween High School in Year 11 entry

•UNSW BMed/MD

•HSC Chemistry: 99

•HSC 4U Maths: 94 (1st) | 3U Maths: 97 (2nd)

•HSC English Advanced: 95 (2nd)

•3+ Years Teaching Experience

Aaron Wu

English Tutor

GraduatedNorth Sydney Boys High School

•99.90 ATAR

•UNSW BMed/MD

•HSC Legal Studies: 98/100 (State Rank 2nd in NSW)

•HSC English Advanced: 96/100

•HSC English Extension 1: 48/50

•UCAT 3340 (99th Percentile)

•English Advanced Trials: 100/100

•4+ Years Teaching Experience

Harit Malik

HAST Tutor

GraduatedGirraween High School

•Successfully transferred to Girraween High School in Year 11 entry

•Macquarie University Actuarial Studies / Finance

Our Teaching Approach

We reimagined Selective Preparation by focusing on what actually drives results.

Evaluation

Student-Centred

Lessons carefully tailored to meet your individual needs. We use small group classes to focus on weaknesses.

Efficient

Exam Strategy

We focus on "high-yield" concepts. These are the core skills that move the needle on marks, not "busy work".

Empowering

Roadmap to Entry

We provide a clear pathway beyond the test paper, including interview prep and CV editing.

Effective

Interactive Teaching

Our classes move away from passive listening to an interactive, practice-based approach.

Exam Style

Resources & Practice

We design specialised lesson booklets and extra exam-style questions that reflect the true difficulty.

Engagement

24/7 Support

Support continues after class. We provide 24/7 online messaging via Microsoft Teams.

Our Success Model

At the core of everything we do is Excellence.

Why choose a Selective School?

Choosing a selective school is about more than just a high-ranking name; it is about placing a student in a unique environment designed to unlock their full potential.

Enhanced Academic Opportunities

Selective schools provide a curriculum that moves at the speed of the learner, not the average.

▼

Stronger overall HSC Outcomes

Statistics consistently show that the selective environment directly correlates with higher academic performance.

▼

Supportive, Motivated Peer Environment

The 'rising tide lifts all boats' philosophy is at the heart of the selective experience.

▼

Strategic Pathways to Competitive Courses

Selective schools act as a specialised launchpad for elite university degrees.

▼

Strong Co-Curricular Development

Growth happens both inside and outside the classroom.

▼

The Selective Advantage: It is the combination of faster learning, motivated peers, and clearer pathways to elite careers.

Why We Started

At Selective Success Academy, our mission is born from a simple truth: the Year 6 Selective Test is not the final word on a child’s potential.Most of the tutoring industry is obsessed with the Year 6 entry point, leaving a massive resource gap for students in Years 8 to 11.

The Academic Safety Net

In the HSC, a selective school cohort provides a "safety net." While a student at a lower-performing school faces immense pressure, a selective school's strong internal marks can "average out" a poor day.

The Feedback Loop

We recreate that culture of excellence here, where students learn from mentors who have recently walked the path and are passionate about passing on high-yield study systems.

Our Commitment: We don't just prepare you for an exam; we equip you with the habits and the mindset to succeed in the future.

Unlock Your Child's Potential.

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

Enrol Now