Although Selective schools are not the only place students will receive a great education, many parents focus on preparing their children for the Selective Test. This is for good reason - there are many factors which lead parents to favour Selective schools over private and local high schools. In this blog, we examine these factors.

Learning Environment

Selective schools bring together students with a similar dedication towards study, which allows in-class learning to be focused and effective. The competitive atmosphere of some Selective schools can also help to keep students motivated and performing at the top of their capacity.

Like-Minded Cohort

As all students have gained entrance to these schools via the Selective Test, they will be at the same academic level and can more easily share knowledge with each other and thrive off each other. Students tend to have similar goals in terms of university admissions which help keep them on track and not become complacent towards their goals.

Teaching and Support Systems

Selective schools prioritise the academic progress of their students. Therefore, students are more closely monitored than they would be in other schools and additional help is provided where necessary. Many selective schools also have extra support systems in place, such as additional tutors, after class tutorials, and extension homework to ensure that students are challenged and well positioned for optimal HSC marks and university entrance.

Knowledge of University Entry Requirements

Most Selective schools will ensure that students are aware of and will meet the entry requirements for certain degrees or universities they may wish to study at. For example, some universities require students to study Chemistry as a pre-requisite for Medicine. Therefore, many Selective schools will inform students about these requirements before they make their subject selections to guarantee they are later able to apply for the courses they want.

Higher HSC Marks

In the HSC, the student’s final mark is the sum of their external HSC assessment marks and internal school assessment marks throughout the year. The internal (school) marks are based on a student’s ranking within their school cohort and the performance of their cohort in the HSC exams compared to other schools. Therefore, Selective school students who rank well within their school but perform poorly in the actual HSC exams still benefit from the high performance of their school, which is much less likely to occur at other schools with a less academically focused cohort.

Although this is not a complete list of factors to consider when choosing a school for your child, these are the main advantages of Selective schools provide for high-achieving students that help prepare them for future education.

Published 21 January 2020, last edited 19th February 2022