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Selective & OC coaching in Parramatta: 10 tutoring centres compared
10 tutoring providers run a named NSW Selective Test program at a centre in Parramatta — every one below with published prices where they exist, checked against the provider's own site.
As the geographic centre of greater Sydney, Parramatta draws selective-prep families from across the west. Ten providers run a named program in the suburb — the national chains plus established local centres — most within walking distance of the station and the CBD.
Western Sydney families here often aim at Girraween High School, one of the state's fully selective schools, a short trip away. Every Parramatta centre we could verify is listed below with published prices where they exist.
Whichever Parramatta 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 Parramatta families target
| School | Selective status | Year 7 places | Distance from Parramatta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parramatta High School | Partially selective, co-ed | 60 | In Parramatta itself |
| Girraween High School | Fully selective, co-ed | 120 | About 6 km away in Girraween |
| James Ruse Agricultural High School | Fully selective (agricultural), co-ed | 120 | About 6 km north-east in Carlingford |
| Baulkham Hills High School | Fully selective, co-ed | 180 | About 9 km north in Baulkham Hills |
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 Parramatta
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 North Rocks Public School (About 7 km north — the nearest verified OC to the Parramatta CBD (30 places)); Murray Farm Public School (About 8 km north-east, runs an OC); Matthew Pearce Public School (About 9 km north (30 places)).
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 Parramatta.
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
- Parramatta High is partially selective (60 Year 7 places) and sits in the suburb; the nearest fully selective schools are Girraween and top-ranked James Ruse, both about 6 km away.
- Parramatta is a major transport hub — the T1, T5, Metro West and light rail — widening reach to the Hills and Ryde selective schools.
- There is no OC class in the Parramatta CBD itself; North Rocks, Murray Farm (Carlingford) and Matthew Pearce (Baulkham Hills) are the nearest verified hosts.
Selective coaching & tutoring centres in Parramatta
| 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 | Unit 55, 2 O'Connell Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| 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 | Level 3, 1-3 Fitzwilliam St, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| Matrix Educationfull profile → | Year 5 & 6 Selective Test Prep — term, holiday intensive, or Matrix+ online | Term $528/term (9 lessons); Holiday $960 (4-day); Matrix+ $369/module | Free trial; first-lesson money-back guarantee | 1 Fitzwilliam St, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| 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) | Suite 7 / 5 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| 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 101, 25 Grose Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| Talent 100full profile → | Years 5/6 Selective — Maths, English, Thinking Skills (per subject) | $495/term per subject (10-week term, incl. GST) | Free trial + free diagnostic test | Level 3, 1-3 Fitzwilliam St, Parramatta |
| Test Academyfull profile → | Selective Mastery Class (live weekly); self-paced practice-test packs; ACST paid mock | Live class $35/hr ($122.50/week, billed per term); packs $269–$369; ACST mock $100 | Free first session | Suite 107, 18-20 Ross Street, Parramatta |
| 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 … | Level 2/25 Sorrell St, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| Ngo & Sons | "Selective and O.C. Training" (delivered via NSPC, Year 1-6) prepares primary students for the NSW Selective High School Placement Test and Opportunity Class placement test through weekly gr… | Not published (general tutoring fees like "$44.00/lesson" for Maths are listed on the Fairfield/Cabramatta fees page … | None found | Level 3, 1-3 Fitzwilliam St, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
| Schoolola | Schoolola runs "Selective TMRW" and "SPTC" (Selective Practice Test Course), in-centre group classes (8-10 students) for Year 6 students preparing for NSW Selective High School entry … | $770 per 10-week term (incl. GST), or $77 per week; course books $77 extra (Selective TMRW course). | "Book Free Assessment" — a free assessment offered to identify a child's strengths and personalised learning pathway … | 12 Ross Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 |
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 Parramatta 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 Parramatta 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 Parramatta parents ask.
Which selective school is closest to Parramatta?
Parramatta High School, in the suburb itself, is partially selective with 60 Year 7 selective places — so there is a local selective stream. The nearest fully selective schools are Girraween High and James Ruse (Carlingford), both about 6 km away.
What is the most competitive selective school near Parramatta?
James Ruse Agricultural High in Carlingford, roughly 6 km away, is the most sought-after and hardest-to-enter selective school in NSW; Girraween and Baulkham Hills are also strong fully selective options.
What score do you need for Girraween or Parramatta High?
The Department publishes no official cut-off — required scores move each year with demand. Girraween (fully selective) is more competitive than the partially selective stream at Parramatta High.
When do Parramatta children sit the selective test?
The Selective High School Placement Test is sat in Year 6, for Year 7 entry the following year — early May each year, next in early May 2027 for 2028 entry. The OC test for Year 5 entry runs in the same window, sat in Year 4.
Is there an opportunity class in Parramatta?
The Parramatta CBD itself does not host an OC in the current DoE list; the nearest OC classes are at North Rocks Public (~7 km), Murray Farm Public in Carlingford, and Matthew Pearce Public in Baulkham Hills.
How much does selective coaching in Parramatta cost?
Western Sydney centres in our directory sit at roughly $300–$920 per ~10-week term — among the more affordable entry points in Sydney — with several smaller centres publishing no price.
Sources
The school, opportunity-class and test facts on this page were checked against:
- NSW DoE — no official minimum entry scores — checked 27 July 2026
- AcePath — school selective status + Year 7 places — checked 27 July 2026
- NSW DoE — opportunity classes list — checked 27 July 2026