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Selective & OC coaching in Eastwood: 7 tutoring centres compared
7 tutoring providers run a named NSW Selective Test program at a centre in Eastwood — every one below with published prices where they exist, checked against the provider's own site.
Eastwood sits at the heart of Sydney's densest tutoring corridor, alongside Epping and Carlingford. Seven providers run a named selective program in the suburb, in a community with a deep culture of supplementary education — the centres here range from national chains to specialists that have coached local children for years.
The gravitational pull, as across this corridor, is James Ruse Agricultural High School in nearby Carlingford — the most sought-after selective school in the state. Every Eastwood centre we could verify is listed below.
Whichever Eastwood 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 Eastwood families target
| School | Selective status | Year 7 places | Distance from Eastwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryde Secondary College | Partially selective, co-ed | 60 | In adjoining Ryde |
| James Ruse Agricultural High School | Fully selective (agricultural), co-ed | 120 | A short trip north-west in Carlingford |
| Normanhurst Boys High School | Fully selective, boys | 120 | North on the Northern line, at Normanhurst |
| Cheltenham Girls High School | Partially selective, girls | — | In nearby Beecroft |
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 Eastwood
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 Ryde Public School (The nearest OC, in adjoining Ryde); Epping West Public School (One suburb north — one of the top-performing OC schools in NSW); Murray Farm Public School (West of Eastwood, a strongly performing Carlingford OC).
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 Eastwood.
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
- Eastwood's closest selective option is Ryde Secondary College (partially selective); the aspirational fully-selective targets are James Ruse and Normanhurst Boys, both a short train ride away on the Northern line.
- The area is one of Sydney's strongest OC belts — Epping West and Carlingford (Murray Farm) are among the highest-performing OC schools in the state — which feeds a very competitive cohort.
- Cheltenham Girls (Beecroft) gives Eastwood girls a partially selective option to the north, on top of the fully selective schools further out.
Selective coaching & tutoring centres in Eastwood
| 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 | 1st Floor, 263 Rowe St, Eastwood NSW 2122 |
| James An Collegefull profile → | Selective Reading & Maths Reasoning, Thinking Skills, Writing Skills; NST mock | Not published (sales-gated) | Free assessment test at enrolment | Suite 3A, 14 Glen Street, Eastwood NSW 2122 |
| 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 | Suite 1&2, 225 Rowe Street, Eastwood NSW 2122 |
| AVANT Academy (AVANT OC & Selective) | OC (Year 4) and Selective (Year 5-6) test-preparation courses covering Reading, Thinking Skills, Mathematics and Writing … | Individually priced per named course, no single headline price. Examples from avant.school/course-list/: "Y5 Selective Mathematics" $750.00 … | None found. No free trial lesson or free assessment is advertised on the homepage, admission, or contact pages. | 243 Hillview Lane, Eastwood NSW 2122 |
| 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 … | Suite 2, 10 East Parade, Eastwood NSW 2122 |
| Phoenix Education | Phoenix Education runs a named "Selective High School Test Preparation Course" (also branded the Selective Trial Test Course / STTC) … | Holiday intensive (Selective High School Test Preparation Course, Year 6): "From $899.00" per the current course page (billing period/inclusions not itemised on that page… | "Redeem A Trial" — a free trial lesson, offered per campus (separate booking links for each centre). | 207a Rowe Street, Eastwood, NSW 2122 |
| Vision Academics | Named "Selective Intensive Course" (Years 5–6, all four selective-test subjects: Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills … | Selective Intensive Course: two subjects — Early bird $650 / Regular $720 per 10-week term (from $32.50/hr) … | "Book a Free Trial" / "Book a Free Diagnostic Lesson" — a free diagnostic session described as pinpointing where the stu… | Shop 116/62-80 Rowe St, Eastwood NSW 2122 |
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 Eastwood 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 Eastwood 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 Eastwood parents ask.
What is the closest selective high school to Eastwood?
Ryde Secondary College, a partially selective co-ed college in adjoining Ryde. The nearest fully selective schools are James Ruse (Carlingford) and Normanhurst Boys, both a short trip away.
What score do you need for James Ruse or Normanhurst Boys?
There is no published minimum on the current out-of-120 scale. James Ruse is the most competitive selective place in NSW, so it sits at the very top of the range; Normanhurst Boys is also high-demand. Each year's cut-off is simply the score of the lowest-ranked student who accepts an offer.
When do Eastwood children sit the selective test?
In Year 6, for Year 7 entry 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 via the DoE portal.
Are there opportunity classes near Eastwood?
Yes — it's a strong OC belt. Ryde Public School (adjoining), Epping West Public School (one of the top OC schools in NSW) and Murray Farm Public School in Carlingford all run OC classes. Entry is via a separate Year 4 test.
How much does selective coaching around Eastwood cost?
Across providers near Eastwood and Epping, group classes start at roughly $33 an hour, weekly term courses run from about $360 to $770 per subject per 10-week term at the major colleges, and several local centres publish no price.
Why is the Eastwood area so competitive for selective entry?
Eastwood sits between James Ruse (Carlingford) and a cluster of top OC schools (Epping West, Carlingford), so the local cohort is unusually strong and the tutoring market is dense.
Sources
The school, opportunity-class and test facts on this page were checked against:
- NSW DoE — selective test format + no published per-school cut-offs — checked 27 July 2026
- AcePath — school selective status + Year 7 places — checked 27 July 2026
- TestRoom — OC schools by suburb (Ryde, Epping West, Murray Farm) — checked 27 July 2026