All You Need To Know About NSW Selective High School Minimum Entry Scores 2024 & 2025
- September 13, 2024
- 4:47 pm
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This document is based on a limited dataset collected from our students’ results and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive or authoritative guide for gaining entry into selective high schools. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, these scores reflect only our internal data and do not guarantee admission to any specific school. The scores are indicative only and should be used as a rough guide rather than a definitive measure of success.
Selection into a high school is determined by the NSW Department of Education, and may involve criteria and processes beyond the scope of this document. Entrance into selective high schools can vary from year to year depending on several factors, including competition, student performance, and Department of Education policies.
We encourage parents and students to seek official information from the NSW Department of Education and not rely solely on this document for decision-making. Additionally, past performance of our students does not guarantee future results, as selective school entry is highly competitive and subject to change.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MINIMUM ENTRY SCORE LIST
Making sure your child gets into a good selective school is important and determines the trajectory of their next 6-7 years. In this article we explore what the minimum entry score list is, its importance, its variables and what it’s based on.
What is the minimum entry score list?
The minimum entry score list is a list which determines the lowest cut-off rate to get admission in a particular selective school. The student with the lowest evaluation to get admitted determines the minimum entry score.
The minimum entry score for the NSW selective Test is based largely on these following factors:
- The number of students
- The test performance of the students
- The numbers of spots available in each school
- The number of students who end up declining their offers
In 2021, the system saw a shift from the total placement score being 300 to 120 . The breakdown of 120 as the total placement score is given in the table below.
|
SUBJECT |
SCORE |
|
Reading |
25 |
|
Mathematical Reasoning |
25 |
|
Writing |
15 |
|
Thinking Skills |
35 |
|
Moderated School Assessment Score* |
20 |
|
TOTAL PLACEMENT SCORE |
120 |
* Certain independent schools may not provide this score.
What exactly do minimum entry scores help achieve?
To begin with, they help assess the academic strength of the students taking the test and also help identify the top-performing students who would benefit from the academically challenging environment of selective schools. The test is designed to gauge critical thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning abilities. It aims to move away from the rote learning system and encourage students to go beyond merely curriculum knowledge.
However, it’s important to note that the test, by no means, measures a student’s overall potential or growth. They simply indicate the student’s eligibility for selective school placement.
Does the minimum entry score vary each year?
Yes, the minimum entry score changes each year. This is important to know so you don’t base your expectation on the previous year’s list. There are multiple factors that influence the score like:
- Number of Applicants
The number of students that apply to selective schools each year varies. The more the number of students, the more intense the competition. When the number of students increases, the score is likely to be pushed higher and vice versa.
- Performance of Students
The scores depend largely on the performance of students. If the overall performance in a given year is exceptionally good, the minimum entry score will rise. Whereas, if the performance is low, the score may drop as well.
- Number of Seats Available
The number of seats available in selective schools is lesser than the number of students applying. With more students accepting the offer, the number of positions available decreases. This results in higher cutoffs. On the other hand, when students decline offers, the reserve list can move slightly lower than the required scores.
- School Preferences
Schools are usually placed in order of preference by parents. Some schools are highly sought after and have top rankings each year amongst selective schools. These schools will probably have high entry scores whereas less sought after schools will have lower cutoffs.
Why is it important to know about minimum entry scores?
Minimum entry scores give an indication of the level of competition present in the academic environment. They also help understand the academic prowess required at selective schools. If a student scores high in selective scores it means they will likely benefit from an environment where they would be pushed academically.
However, do take note that schools are starting to focus less on merely test scores and more on a well-roundedness.
Conclusion
Minimum entry scores help parents gauge where their child is academically placed and set realistic expectations. It also helps parents know how to guide their children better for their test prep. Scores no longer being public domain has left the parents blind-sided and they have to focus on a holistic preparation of the test rather than focus on a cut-off score.
This is where Scholarly steps in – if you need help in understanding what is required to get into a top-ranking school message our team on Whatsapp here:
