Why Every Student Should Do The NSW Opportunity Class (OC) Exam

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Hi, my name is John and today I will be going through the benefits of trying out for the OC test even if you don’t think you have much chance of actually getting in.

So if you are not sure what the OC exam is, it is a test here in NSW done in year 4 for gifted students wanting to join a class full of other gifted students. There are only some schools in the entire state that have an OC class and the only way to join one is through competing in a competitive test. There is a minimum entry score required where for some schools like Matthew pierce, which is ranked 1st in the state in NSW currently has a really high entry score while other OC classes which are still good have a lower score making it comparatively easier to get in.

There are quite a lot of benefits of attending an OC class namely being the people around you, the added marks for the Selective exam if you wanted to go that route in year 6 for high school as well as reputation and prestige. I’m not going to dive deep into the benefits here but instead, I will be going through why I believe all students in NSW in year 4 should do the OC exam.

So first, let me go through 3 reasons why you might not do the exam and my thoughts on each one.

1. The focus is the selective exam, not the O.C Class

I totally get this but the O.C exam is fantastic for revision. Three components are the same being the Reading, Maths and Thinking Skills section. Although the selective exam has additional questions and a writing component, the O.C exam is a really good run-through on what to expect. Cambridge Assessment is the same organisation that created the O.C exam and the Selective exam so there are going to be some clear parallels and similarities. There is no other situation where you are going to go to a local high school with hundreds of other students to undertake multiple exams. If you want practical experience before you do the selective, then definitely do the O.C exam. On top of this as well, students who do not try the O.C exam perform poorer compared to students who did in selective. This is reflected in the marks of students that we have taught, and this is largely due to the O.C exam being similar to the selective exam.

I personally love using the O.C test score as another point of information for me to benchmark potential selective scores. Depending on their result, I can already tell the general level they are at and which schools you should be applying for in terms of their entry scores. If you had a low O.C mark and you think you can get into a top selective school, then it would be quite unrealistic. Like the CSS framework I shared in a previous video and article, you have to have a really good self-awareness of your own ability otherwise you will squander any chances you have at all. Doing the O.C exam will allow you to objectively know how you are performing as the NAPLAN and school marks alone is often not enough.

2. Even if we make it in, we are not going to go anyway

Some parents come to me and they say they didn’t go for O.C because even if they made it in, logistically it would be too difficult for them to attend another school. They might not be able to take them to another school especially if they already have a sibling who attends the school. My rationale is that it is a perfectly valid reason. I know that families have to make decisions based on their work requirements and if it is not possible, then I understand. However, circumstances change all the time. Potentially it would be possible to transfer both siblings to that school. Or there will be extra flexibility with work arrangements. Personally, my workplace has provided me with a lot of flexibility with working remotely because I am really productive at home. You just never know and if you don’t have your child try for the O.C exam, you are not giving yourself the opportunity at all. Regardless of the result, I already mentioned that there is a real benefit of attempting the exam even if you decide not to go.

Another reason could be the friends they might be leaving behind. You want them to maintain the relationships which is why you want them to still attend the school they go to. However, they can always make new friends and still hang out with their old friends. We live in an age where even the young students I teach play games like Minecraft, Roblox and use their emails to talk to each other. They are going to be absolutely fine and you are overthinking it. If anything, when they go to high school, children will have to make new friends anyway, so I don’t think this is a big enough excuse.

3. It is a waste of time and effort

Some parents come to me and when I ask them about their educational goals, they have none for their child. They are uncertain when they speak about it or even if they do have a goal, there are no concrete steps on how to reach it. That’s why they think that the preparation and time invested in preparing for the O.C exam will not be worth it because when students are in year 3 or 4, parents have different priorities. It can be for self-development in doing extra-curricular activities and if you are really serious about the O.C test, you will have to do a lot of practice. Tutoring, daily work and lots of homework can be difficult if you play tennis, violin and chess for instance. It will also take away from some family time and holidays. This is especially true if they are not ahead of the curve. If they are struggling with the NAPLAN exam, for instance, the chances will be so low for the O.C exam. In saying that though the test is a point in time assessment and there is always a chance. As there is no writing, there will only be multiple choice so if you are lucky, you never know unless you give it a go. Let this be clear, your attempt to get into a selective school will give children profound benefits as they will be able to develop their exam technique, study habits and have a clearer idea of where they fit in compared to other students their age. Therefore, how can it ever be a waste of time or effort?

So those are the 3 main points I hear from parents when they are against the O.C exam and my thoughts on each one. If you think of another reason outside of this, let me know and I will be happy to share my opinion on it.

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