Key Academic Dates For NSW Public High Schools 2025 – Junior Student Edition
Navigating the school year efficiently starts with knowing key academic dates. We’ve compiled all the important dates that you need to know in Years 7-10, in one easy list, to help you plan ahead! Don’t forget to bookmark this page so you can mark you calendars to stay on top of everything.
1. NSW Term Dates
- Term 1: 6th February – 11th April
- Term 2: 30th April – 4th July
- Term 3: 22nd July – 26th September
- Term 4: 14th October – 19th December
2. Key Exams and Assessment Periods
Naplan
The NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) exams are a series of online tests for students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. These assessments evaluate skills in the following areas:
- Writing
- Reading
- Conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
- Numeracy
NAPLAN allows NESA to track the academic progress of Australian students and ensure that the teaching curriculum is relevant.
| WHAT’S HAPPENING? | DATES | LINKS AND NOTES |
| Exams | March 12th-24th | – During the testing period, NSW High schools will set dates for students to sit the four exams, with one exam scheduled per day. – If you are absent on a test day, a make-up date will be assigned to you within the testing period. – Visit the NAPLAN website for more information, result breakdowns and practice papers: https://nap.edu.au/naplan |
| Results released | Late August | – NAPLAN results are released in both physical and online copies. |
Minimum Standards
To be eligible to sit the HSC, students must achieve a minimum Level 3 or 4 in their Year 9 NAPLAN exams. If this requirement is not met, students must take the Minimum Standards Test to demonstrate their academic progress.
| WHAT’S HAPPENING? | DATES | LINKS AND NOTES |
| Taking the test | You can take the test: – If you are in Year 12 = up to 6 times per year – If you are in Year 10 or 11 = up to 4 times per year – Post-HSC commencement = Up to 5 years after starting your first HSC course – HOWEVER, you must wait at least 30 calendar days between test attempts. | – The test is completed online, with specific test dates set by each school. – Results should be accessible online within two weeks after sitting the exam. – For more information on minimum standards test, check out this website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/hsc/minimum-standard |
VALID Test
This is an external science exam which provides end-of-year assessments to check the progression of student understanding for the key learning area of science. Your school will inform you as to whether this exam is compulsory or not.
| WHAT’S HAPPENING? | DATES | LINKS AND NOTES |
| Year 8 Exam | October 27th – November 7th | – During this time, your school will select a date to sit the exam. – For practice exams and more information about the VALID test click here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/assessment/available-assessments/overview-state-wide-assessments/valid-science/valid-science-quick-quizzes |
| Results released | December | – Results will be returned during class in online and physical forms. |
3. Special Applications
2026 NSW Selective Schooling Enrolment for Years 8-12
Selective schools are specialised institutions designed to support high-potential and gifted students, enhancing their academic success. For more information check out this site: NSW Education Selective Schools (https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/choosing-a-school-setting/selective-high-schools )
Please note that Year 7 enrolment follows a different process. Applications open two years in advance. The 2025 enrolment process for the 2026 academic year is now closed. Year 7 selective school enrolment for 2027 will begin in November 2025.
| WHAT’S HAPPENING | DATES | LINKS AND NOTES |
| Applications open | June 18th | – Your application is submitted to your chosen selective school through their website, which will provide detailed information on what the application requires. – You can apply to up to 3 schools, but you must submit a separate application form to each school. – Interstate or overseas applications are possible if the student meets NSW residency requirements. |
| Applications close | July 25th | – If unsuccessful, applying for placement in subsequent years is allowed when the next round of applications have opened. |
| Selective exams | August | – Your chosen selective school will contact you regarding exam dates and content. – Some schools ask students to take a series of test, while some may charge a fee to sit the test. Please check with the school if you have any questions. |
| Placement outcomes released | September – October | – Students are offered a place based on test performance and the order of their school choices. – The test performance needed to get an offer at each school is different. This is because it is based on the number of students who apply, their test performance and the number of slots available at the school. – Your placement works in one of two ways: 1. You will be accepted into one of your chosen schools. 2. You are placed on the reserves list. The school may offer you a later offer if other students decline their acceptance |
| Entry confirmed | January | – The enrolment process begins for your new year at selective schooling. |
HAST
HAST, also known as the Higher Ability Selection Test, is a series of standardised aptitude tests which are made to asses the academic skills of students from Years 5 – 11. It is aimed towards gifted students who want to enter selective schooling as the exam itself is more challenging that a typical assignment.
Each HAST exam assesses the following:
- Reading comprehension
- Mathematical reasoning
- Abstract reasoning
- Written expression
| WHAT’S HAPPENING | DATES | LINKS AND NOTES |
| Registration | Registration for schools is open all year round. The school has to ensure that all interested students are registered and all tests are ordered 10 working days prior to the exam date. | – The individual student does not register for HAST, instead the school will register a date with the HAST team for their chosen year group. – If you would like your child to sit the HAST, please speak with your school as soon as possible to ensure both the school is registered and your child is included in the registration process. – To see if your child’s school is already registered for HAST check the link here: https://www.acer.org/au/hast/participating-schools |
| Exam period | May – August | – Your school will notify you of the scheduled HAST test date. – For exam preparation and advice, click here: https://www.acer.org/au/hast/student-support |
| Results released | September – October | – Results are shared directly to the schools which are then handed out to the individual students. – Results do not include the actual test scores or the ranking of students. Instead, it charts each student’s performance in terms of percentages of standardised scores, as well as group summaries. |
EDUTEST
EDUTEST is an independent scholarships and entrance testing organisation. They conduct entrance exams for students across Primary and High School hoping to enrol in a specific selective school.
To see which schools EDUTEST works with, click here: https://www.edutest.com.au/client_schools.html
The exam itself is a standardised test that helps Australian schools identify academic merit by reviewing ability and achievement through assessing:
- Verbal reasoning
- Numerical reasoning
- Reading comprehension
- Mathematics
- Written expression
| WHAT’S HAPPENING | DATES | LINKS AND NOTES |
| Registration | These dates are dependent on the school you are applying to. Contact them as soon as possible for more information! | – To complete an EDUTEST exam, you must register through your chosen school’s website. – For assistance contact the school or check out these links: https://edutest.com.au/registering.html https://www.edutest.com.au/faq.html |
| Exam period | These dates are dependent on the school you are applying to. More often than not, exams occur across April – August. | – If your registration is successful, your chosen school will contact you directly with the date of the EDUTEST you will be sitting. – The EDUTEST website already has some of these exam dates listed for popular schools, which is available here: https://aus.edutest.com.au/ – For EDUTEST practice exams and preparation tips, check this link: https://edutest.com.au/prac_tests.html |
| Results released | 3 to 8 weeks from the date of the testing. | – Although you won’t receive a copy of your test scores, your chosen school will inform you if your EDUTEST results meet their entry requirements and then direct you towards enrolment information. |
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