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Selective & OC coaching in Penrith: 7 tutoring centres compared
7 tutoring providers run a named NSW Selective Test program at a centre in Penrith — every one below with published prices where they exist, checked against the provider's own site.
Penrith anchors selective preparation in Sydney's far west, where the nearest selective schools involve a genuine commute — which makes local coaching, and realistic at-home practice, matter more. Seven providers run a named program in the suburb, a mix of national chains and local centres.
The Penrith centres are listed below with published prices where they exist, each checked against the provider's own website.
Whichever Penrith 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 Penrith families target
| School | Selective status | Year 7 places | Distance from Penrith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penrith High School | Fully selective, co-ed | — | In Penrith itself — the only fully selective school in the outer west |
| Girraween High School | Fully selective, co-ed | 120 | East on the Western line, in Girraween |
| Blacktown Boys High School | Partially selective, boys | — | Mid-corridor at Blacktown, east on the Western line |
| Blacktown Girls High School | Partially selective, girls | — | Mid-corridor at Blacktown, east 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 Penrith
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 Penrith Public School (In the suburb itself — a new OC class from 2025, the first in Penrith); Quakers Hill Public School (To the north-east, on the Western line).
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. Our full-length practice papers cover those OC sections too, and the first in each subject is free.
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
- Penrith High School is the one fully selective school actually in Penrith, so it anchors local demand — most families list it first and Girraween second.
- The outer-west location means many families combine local group classes with online providers; the test is fully computer-based, so remote preparation is no disadvantage.
- Penrith Public School's new 2025 OC class matters locally — before it, outer-west families faced a long trek to the nearest opportunity class.
Selective coaching & tutoring centres in Penrith
| 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 | 4/282 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750 |
| 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 | Penrith |
| James An Collegefull profile → | Selective Reading & Maths Reasoning, Thinking Skills, Writing Skills; NST mock | Not published (sales-gated) | Free assessment test at enrolment | Suite 1, 481 High Street, Penrith NSW |
| 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 | 8/483 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750 |
| 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, 374 High St, Penrith NSW 2194 |
| 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 … | 78 Derby Street, Penrith NSW 2750 |
| 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… | 4 Colless St, Penrith NSW 2750 |
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 Penrith 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 Penrith 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 Penrith parents ask.
What is the closest selective high school to Penrith?
Penrith High School, a fully selective co-ed school in Penrith itself — the only fully selective school in the outer west. The next nearest is Girraween High School, east on the Western rail line.
What score do you need for Penrith High School?
There is no published minimum on the current out-of-120 scale. The Department sets each year's cut-off as the placement score of the lowest-ranked student who accepts an offer, so it moves with the applicant pool. Penrith High is one of the more competitive schools in the west.
When do Penrith 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 online portal.
Is there an opportunity class in Penrith?
Yes — Penrith Public School opened a new OC class from Term 1, 2025, the first in the suburb. Quakers Hill Public School to the north-east also runs an OC. Entry is via a separate Year 4 test.
How much does selective coaching in Penrith cost?
Group classes start at roughly $35 an hour, and weekly term courses run from about $360 to $920 per subject per 10-week term at the larger colleges. Several local centres publish no price and ask you to enquire.
How many selective-prep centres are in Penrith?
Around seven selective-prep campuses at last count, plus the Parramatta and Blacktown clusters within reach along the Western line, and online providers that serve the outer west at the same price as Sydney.
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
- NSW DoE — new opportunity classes in 2025 (Penrith Public) — checked 27 July 2026
- TestRoom — OC schools by suburb — checked 27 July 2026