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For parents · Reviewed 23 October 2026
Start with what your child finds difficult. These five themes bring together concerns raised by families and students, with links to the evidence.
These are qualitative examples, not a ranking or a representative survey. NSW and Victorian entry processes differ. Public accounts are self-reported; our practical suggestions are editorial guidance.
Work out which skill needs attention before adding more papers.
Strong classroom results may leave a family unsure why an application did not succeed. Review the particular tasks rather than treating a result as a verdict on ability.
Source: A Victorian parent's account of an unsuccessful applicationA confident practice performance may not match the test-day result. Familiarity, conditions and the questions can differ.
Source: A Victorian parent's account of an unsuccessful applicationA strength in maths can sit alongside difficulty with writing or verbal tasks. A broad label such as 'bright' does not identify the next practice need.
Source: A Victorian parent's account of an unsuccessful applicationStudents describe particular question types they cannot yet approach reliably. Ask them to explain the first decision, not just compare final answers.
Source: A Victorian student's last-minute preparation concernsFamilies ask what to use once available papers have been attempted. Repeating more material is not always the most useful next step.
Source: Sydney family discussion about selective-school preparationRepeated papers can become familiar. A fresh example and an explanation of the reasoning help check what the student can actually reuse.
Source: Sydney family discussion about selective-school preparationAfter months of preparation, a family may still lack a specific next focus. Turn an observed mistake into one manageable task.
Source: A Victorian parent's account of an unsuccessful applicationBalance timed practice with rest and a realistic timetable.
Knowing a method and using it within the available time are different skills. Practise pacing without making every study session a race.
Source: A Victorian student's last-minute preparation concernsThe UTS research account describes intensive preparation, including multiple coaching settings. More scheduled work can leave little room to recover.
Source: UTS: why some primary students follow intense study routinesResearch accounts describe children studying while tired. A preparation plan needs room for rest as well as tasks.
Source: UTS: why some primary students follow intense study routinesFamilies debate the trade-off between preparation and a balanced childhood. Keep the child's wider life in the conversation.
Source: Sydney family discussion about selective-school preparationA last-minute student account shows uncertainty about where to begin. A realistic short plan is more useful than an impossible catch-up promise.
Source: A Victorian student's last-minute preparation concernsMake room for mistakes and keep one result in perspective.
Students can describe the exam in all-or-nothing terms. Adults can keep alternative pathways visible and avoid turning one outcome into an identity.
Source: A Victorian student's last-minute preparation concernsThe UTS account discusses perfectionism in intensive study settings. A lesson should make room for a wrong attempt and a useful explanation.
Source: UTS: why some primary students follow intense study routinesNSW guidance recognises that outcome conversations need care. Help a child separate a competitive placement decision from their worth or potential.
Source: NSW Education: selective-school outcomesDiscuss value, family priorities and school fit.
A parent account describes substantial spending and disappointment. Ask what the lesson will address and how the tutor will explain the follow-up.
Source: A Victorian parent's account of an unsuccessful applicationFamilies seek recommendations and compare approaches. Relevant experience and a clear conversation are more informative than a promise of entry.
Source: Sydney family discussion about selective-school preparationCommunity discussions can make tutoring feel unavoidable. NSW Education explicitly says coaching is not necessary.
Source: NSW Education: practice tests and preparationFamily discussions raise differences over selective, private and other options. The child's preferences belong in that decision too.
Source: Family discussion about private and selective schoolingFamily discussions also consider workload and suitability. Getting an offer and thriving in the school are related but different questions.
Source: Family discussion about private and selective schoolingSeparate learning needs from placement decisions and uncertainty.
NSW comparative performance information does not provide a complete list of concepts a child should revisit. Work samples and explanations can inform that separate conversation.
Source: NSW Education: selective-school outcomesA reserve outcome leaves a family with uncertainty. Follow official instructions; a tutor or unofficial tracker cannot promise a later offer.
Source: NSW Education: selective-school outcomesABC reported fairness concerns around rescheduled NSW tests in 2025. That specific event illustrates a concern outside a student's study plan.
Source: ABC: parents' concerns about rescheduled tests in 2025Placement depends on the selection process and available places. Preparation is not a guarantee, regardless of the tutor or tool a family chooses.
Source: NSW Education: selective-school outcomesPublic parent account, 2023; Victorian selective entry. One family's experience.
Public discussion, 2023; mixed family and former-student accounts.
Public student discussion, 2025; not a parent survey.
Public family discussion, 2025; individual opinions, not verified outcomes.
Research account, May 2025; interviews with 38 families across six Sydney schools, not a representative national survey.
Official NSW information. Performance reports and offers serve different purposes from a learning diagnosis.
Official NSW guidance. Coaching is not necessary and providers are not endorsed.
Parent interviews about a specific NSW incident in May 2025; not a claim about every test year.