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Selective & OC coaching in Blacktown: 9 tutoring centres compared
9 tutoring providers run a named NSW Selective Test program at a centre in Blacktown — every one below with published prices where they exist, checked against the provider's own site.
Blacktown serves one of Sydney's fastest-growing catchments, and its selective-prep market has grown with it — nine providers now run a named program in the suburb, a mix of national chains and value-focused local centres.
Families here typically aim at Girraween High School, a fully selective school within reach to the east. The Blacktown centres are listed below with published prices where they exist.
Whichever Blacktown centre you choose, your child still needs hours on the real on-screen test — the timer, the flag button, the question grid. Our full-length papers mirror it exactly, and the first in each subject is free, no card.
Selective schools Blacktown families target
| School | Selective status | Year 7 places | Distance from Blacktown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girraween High School | Fully selective, co-ed | 120 | About 7 km east on the Western line |
| Baulkham Hills High School | Fully selective, co-ed | 180 | North in the Hills, via the M7 / Windsor Road |
| Blacktown Boys High School | Partially selective, boys | — | In Blacktown itself |
| Blacktown Girls High School | Partially selective, girls | — | In Blacktown itself |
| Prairiewood High School | Partially selective, co-ed | 60 | South toward Fairfield, at Wetherill Park |
| Penrith High School | Fully selective, co-ed | — | Further west in Penrith, on the Western line |
One honest note the coaching ads won't give you: the NSW Department of Education publishes no official entry cut-off for any of these schools. A per-school "score you need" quoted elsewhere is a coaching-centre estimate, not a DoE figure — the real threshold is simply the lowest score that earns a place each year, and it moves with demand.
OC coaching & opportunity classes in Blacktown
An opportunity class (OC) is a Year 5–6 stream for high-potential students, entered through a separate placement test sat in Year 4 — a year earlier than the selective-high-school test. The nearest opportunity classes are Blacktown South Public School (In Blacktown itself); Blacktown West Public School (In Blacktown itself); Quakers Hill Public School (A short drive north).
Most of the centres listed below prepare children for the OC test as well as the selective test — the Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills skills overlap. For a centre-by-centre look, see our guide to OC coaching in Blacktown.
Which test, and when
| Test | Who sits it | When |
|---|---|---|
| Selective High School Placement Test | Year 6 students, for Year 7 entry | Early May each year — next sitting early May 2027, for 2028 entry |
| Opportunity Class (OC) Placement Test | Year 4 students, for Year 5 entry | Same early-May window, sat in Year 4 |
Both tests are fully computer-based. See the selective test dates guide for the confirmed timetable, or how the on-screen test works.
Good to know locally
- Blacktown has no fully selective school of its own; its two local secondaries, Blacktown Boys and Blacktown Girls, run partially selective streams, so high-scoring families typically look to Girraween (fully selective, ~7 km) or Baulkham Hills.
- Girraween High School sits on the Western rail line and draws applicants from across the whole western corridor, which is part of why competition for it is intense.
- Blacktown is one of the busiest tutoring markets in the west — around nine selective-prep campuses, second only to Parramatta in the region.
Selective coaching & tutoring centres in Blacktown
| Provider | Selective program | Published pricing | Free trial / assessment | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS Educationfull profile → | Computer-based Selective Trial Test Course (Years 5/7) | Norwest Year 5: $73/test, $730 per 10-week term; full 41-test course ~$2,993 (per-campus) | None found — paid trial-test course | 2/19 Campbell St, Blacktown NSW 2148 |
| Dymocks Tutoringfull profile → | OC + Selective streams: Thinking Skills, English, Maths (Grades 5–6) | Thinking Skills from $360/term; English & Maths from $495/term (10 lessons/term) | Free first session | Blacktown |
| North Shore Coaching Collegefull profile → | Year 5 & 6 selective/scholarship: Fastrain Extended, High Achiever, SS Exam Prep (mock) | Chatswood Term 3 2026 (10 wk): Fastrain $920/term, High Achiever $920/term, SS Exam Prep $880/term | Free Assessment (sitewide) | Blacktown Girls High School, 17 Fifth Avenue, Blacktown NSW 2148 |
| Pre-Uni New Collegefull profile → | Selective Trial Test Course (Years 5/6), online variant; ASAT mock | Core STTC price not published (Intensive-tier STTC is: $160/week); ASAT mock $100 ($90 enrolled) | Free Assessment Test unconfirmed; paid ASAT mock $100 | 12-14 Lock Street, Blacktown NSW 2148 |
| BV Academy (Bala Vasan Academy) | BV Academy advertises a named "Selective/OC Prep" course (covering Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills, Reading and Writing) alongside its K-6 content classes, delivered in individual … | $20 per hour for K-6 group classes (includes content classes, weekly homework/quizzes, and OC + Selective coaching) … | None found | 55 Douglas Road, Blacktown NSW 2148 |
| Edu-Kingdom College | A 50-week "Selective Trial Test" course (part of Edu-Kingdom College's Primary School exam-preparation range) for students preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test: weekly… | Not published | Free Student Assessment: a short sample test covering English, Maths and Thinking Skills (T.A.) at Levels 2-6 … | 3/32 Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown NSW 2148 |
| Lux Tuition | Lux Tuition runs a dedicated "Selective School Preparation" programme for Years 5–6 covering the four NSW Selective Test components … | "$40/hour" flat rate, applied uniformly to all subjects/programs including Selective prep; a standard 1.5-hour class is "$60", billed per fortnight. | "Book a free trial class — experience a real Lux lesson with one of our team, on us." (free … | Suite E2, Level 1/111 Main Street, Blacktown NSW 2148 |
| Pathway Scholars | A named "Opportunity Class & Selective School Test Preparation" course for primary-age students using real practice papers, mock tests, time-management coaching and small classes … | Not published | Free trial offered — homepage "Book Free Trial" button and courses page invites parents to "book a free trial lesson" … | Suite 24/15-17 Kildare Rd, Blacktown, NSW 2148 |
| Success Tutoring | "Selective Tutoring Program" (also called "Selective Preparation Program") for students preparing for the Selective School Test … | Not published (site describes a "pay per week with no lock-in contracts" membership model but no dollar figures are shown … | "Free Assessment" — bookable via the "Book Assessment" link (app.successtutoring.com/book-assessment) to identify a stud… | Suite D, Level 1/111 Main St, Blacktown NSW 2148 |
Prefer to prepare at home? Online options
These providers run selective preparation without a fixed centre — online classes, self-paced programs, or tutors who come to you — so they're worth comparing against a weekly commute to a Blacktown classroom.
| Provider | Selective program | Published pricing | Free trial / assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrainTree Coaching | Self-paced Selective Test Preparation Packs (Super / Ultimate / Premium) + Writing Packs | One-off packs: $99–$399 | Free practice paper, no card |
| Scholarly | WEMT + Trial Test programs, Years 2–6 (Year 5 Selective, Year 6 Final Sprint) | Year 5 Selective $1,088 / 10-week term; Year 6 Final Sprint $909 | Free 30-min diagnostic test |
| Alchemy Tuition — Selective School Tutoring | One-on-one "Selective School Tutoring" for students from Year 3 through Year 10, preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test (aimed at Year 6 students sitting for Year 7 entry… | $59 per hour (online lessons); $89 per hour (in-home lessons). Pay-as-you-go, no contract — card charged 24 hours after each lesson. | "First lesson covered by our 100% happiness guarantee – if you aren't happy after the first lesson it's on us" (effectiv… |
| Burwood TutoringSome details unconfirmed | Lists "Selective & OC exam preparation" as a core service within its Years 1-9 (some sections say 1-12) maths and English tutoring, delivered 1-on-1 or in small groups, online or in-centre … | Not published | Free assessment and trial lesson, claimed by direct-messaging promo code "Tutor 2026" … |
| Cluey Learning | Cluey Learning offers "Selective School Tutoring" — 1-to-1, live online tutoring in English and Mathematics (plus small-group options) aimed at Years 6–10 students preparing to sit the NSW S… | Not published — the pricing page states cost "depends on what the student needs and the individualised learning program that we design," with pay-as-you-go or session-pac… | A "Book a Trial Session" call-to-action is offered site-wide and the pricing FAQ says "you can start by committing only… |
| Erudite Tuition | One-on-one online or in-home tutoring for NSW Year 5 students preparing for the Selective High School Placement Test, covering reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning … | From $59/hour for online tutoring or $74/hour for in-home tutoring, pay-as-you-go with no long-term lock-in ("no lock-in or hidden fees... continue lesson by lesson"). | Not a free trial as such: a "satisfaction guarantee" on the first lesson. |
| Excel Academics | Online (and in-person) personalised 1:1 tutoring sold as "OC exam preparation (for NSW & Sydney students)" … | Online Lessons: "Prepaid 10-Hour Package at $750" or "Pay As You Go $80 per hour, billed after lesson". | "Free no-obligation 30-min trial" (also promoted as "Book a FREE Consultation, Expected response time: within 24hrs"). |
| Learnikx Education | "Selective Test Preparation Course" for the NSW Selective Test (Year 7 entry), run as small-group classes for Year 5 ("Selective Prep") and Year 6 ("16-Week Non-Stop Revision") … | Year 5: $121 per class (incl. GST) / $1,210 per term (10 classes, incl. GST). Year 6: $143 per class (incl. | None found. No free trial or free assessment offer is advertised. |
| NextStepAcademy | "Selective School Tutoring" is a one-on-one (no group sessions) tutoring programme for Year 4–6 students preparing for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, covering Reading … | $65 per hour lesson (online); $85 per hour lesson (in-home); pay-as-you-go, charged per lesson (24 hours after each session), no upfront payment or contract | "First Lesson Guarantee" — the first lesson is risk-free; if the matched tutor isn't the right fit … |
| NL English Academy | Small-group online English tutoring (max 6 students/class) for Years 3–12, run as 10-week Term Programs and intensive Holiday Programs explicitly branded "OC … | Not published | None found — the site has an FAQ item titled "Why is there no free trial?" … |
| Olympus Learning | A dedicated "Selective School Tutoring" service preparing students for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test (reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning … | Not published | No free trial lesson or selective-specific assessment. Site-wide … |
| Primo Tutoring | A distinctly-priced "Test Prep" service line (separate tier from general Maths/English/ESL tutoring) that explicitly names OC and Selective High School Placement Test preparation alongside N… | Not published | "Free Intro Chat" — an introductory consultation (not described as a free lesson or diagnostic assessment). |
| Selective Success Academy | Small-group, live-online (Microsoft Teams) coaching for students in Years 8-11 seeking lateral entry into NSW selective high schools, preparing specifically for the EduTest, HAST … | Live Term Course: $800 (early bird) / $900 (normal) per term (2-hour weekly lessons), or $90 per individual lesson. | A "Free Trial Class" is advertised (dedicated /freetrial page titled "Trial Class | EduTest … |
| Selective Test Prep | An AI-powered online practice-test platform wholly dedicated to the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, offering mock tests across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning … | Not published | Paid "Trial" tier at $10 for 12 months giving one mock test per subject (Reading, Maths, Thinking Skills … |
| Selectivetrial | Online exam-prep platform with a named "NSW Selective High School Practice Test" course (plus a separate OC/Year 4 practice course) offering timed, computer-based mock tests across Reading … | Varies by package: NSW Selective course – Pack 1/Pack 2 $69 each (3/6/9-month access), Elite 2027 $159 (valid until exam) … | "3 Days Free Trial" — instant access, no credit card required. |
| Shoreline Tutoring | A named "Selective High School Exam" preparation offering for Year 6 entry (plus a parallel "Opportunity Classes Exam" offering for Year 4 entry) … | One-on-one: $90/hr (Years 1–6, incl. Selective High School/OC Prep), or 20-lesson bundle $1,600 total ($80/hr). | Free complimentary first/trial lesson, "no obligation," described as "Experience our approach risk-free before committin… |
| Sprouts Academy | Sprouts Academy runs dedicated Selective School / OC Test and Thinking Skills selective-test tutoring (covering the writing task plus the mathematical reasoning … | Not published | Free trial class offered ("Book Your Free Trial Class Today!" … |
| Thrive Coaching College | The "Booster Program Plus+" is an online, subscription-based OC (Year 4) and NSW Selective High School Placement Test (Year 6) preparation program combining weekly trial tests … | "$39/week" via direct debit (site states "PRICE GOING UP TO $59/WEEK SOON – DUE TO HIGH DEMAND"); cancel anytime. No fixed-term/one-off price published. | None found — no free trial or free assessment offer is advertised … |
| Tutoring4All | A distinct "NAPLAN, Opportunity Classes & Selective High School" service line offering intensive one-on-one tutoring to prepare primary students for the OC placement test and the NSW Selecti… | Not published | A trial lesson is offered, bookable via the contact form; no length, price or free/paid terms specified on the site. |
The preparation a Blacktown classroom can't cover
Every centre above teaches content — that's what you'd be paying for. What no weekly class gives your child is hours on the real on-screen format — the timer, the flag button, the question grid they'll actually face on test day. Our practice papers are full-length, matched to the real question counts and timing, and sat in a player built to mirror that screen.
The arithmetic is hard to argue with: the centres above charge roughly $35 to $95 for a single class. A Day Pass to every one of our papers is $12 — less than half of one coaching hour — and one paper in each subject is free, no card required. Whichever centre you choose, or if you prepare at home, it's the piece of preparation a classroom can't cover.
Frequently asked
Questions Blacktown parents ask.
What is the closest selective high school to Blacktown?
Blacktown Boys and Blacktown Girls high schools both run partially selective streams in the suburb itself. The nearest fully selective school is Girraween High School, about 7 km east on the Western rail line.
What score do you need for Girraween or Penrith High?
The Department no longer publishes a per-school minimum entry score on the current out-of-120 scale. A place goes to the lowest-ranked applicant who accepts an offer that year, so the number shifts annually with the applicant pool. Both are among the more competitive Western Sydney schools.
When do Blacktown children sit the selective test?
In Year 6, for entry to Year 7 the following year. The test runs in early May each year — the next sitting is early May 2027 for 2028 entry — with applications opening the year before through the DoE online portal.
Are there opportunity classes near Blacktown?
Yes. Blacktown South and Blacktown West public schools both run OC classes, with Quakers Hill Public School a short drive north. OC entry is via a separate Year 4 test for Year 5 placement.
How much does selective coaching in Blacktown cost?
Western Sydney centres tend to be competitively priced: group classes commonly start around $30–$40 an hour, with term courses a few hundred dollars per subject. Several local centres publish no price and require an enquiry.
How many selective-prep centres are in Blacktown?
Blacktown is one of the busiest tutoring markets in the west, with around nine selective-prep campuses at last count, second only to Parramatta in the region.
Sources
The school, opportunity-class and test facts on this page were checked against:
- NSW DoE — selective high schools + placement-test format — checked 27 July 2026
- Blacktown Boys HS — partially selective enrolment — checked 27 July 2026
- TestRoom — OC schools by suburb — checked 27 July 2026