Free OC sample papers, with answers
The three NSW Department of Education OC sample tests, linked to the Department with their answer keys and explained answers, and two of our own full OC sets to sit online.
Checked against the NSW Department of Education page on 30 October 2026.
What the OC test looks like now
Each section is worth a third of the result. The test is computer-based and every question is multiple choice. There is no Writing section.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 14 | 33 | 40 min | 3 questions have several parts; each response is worth 1 mark |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 40 min | Five options per question |
| Thinking Skills | 30 | 30 | 30 min | Four options per question |
Source: NSW Department of Education, checked 30 Oct 2026. More on the format: The OC test guide · OC practice tests.
Sample test 1
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Paper | Answers | Explained answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 14 | 33 | 40 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 40 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
| Thinking Skills | 30 | 30 | 30 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
NSW Department of Education sample test (© Cambridge University Press & Assessment). Copyright in the sample tests is owned by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. They are provided for personal, non-commercial use; they are not Test Academy content. The links open the publisher’s own copies. Source page, checked 30 Oct 2026.
Sample test 2
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Paper | Answers | Explained answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 14 | 33 | 40 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 40 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
| Thinking Skills | 30 | 30 | 30 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
NSW Department of Education sample test (© Cambridge University Press & Assessment). Copyright in the sample tests is owned by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. They are provided for personal, non-commercial use; they are not Test Academy content. The links open the publisher’s own copies. Source page, checked 30 Oct 2026.
Sample test 3
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Paper | Answers | Explained answers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 14 | 33 | 40 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 40 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
| Thinking Skills | 30 | 30 | 30 min | Questions PDF | Answer key PDF | Explained PDF |
NSW Department of Education sample test (© Cambridge University Press & Assessment). Copyright in the sample tests is owned by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. They are provided for personal, non-commercial use; they are not Test Academy content. The links open the publisher’s own copies. Source page, checked 30 Oct 2026.
Sit a full paper on screen, auto-marked
The real test is on a computer. These are our own papers, free with a Test Academy account: timed like the real sections, marked as soon as your child finishes, with an explanation for every question.
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Sit this paper online, auto-marked
OC Set 01
Our first full OC set in the computer-based format: Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills.
Reading 14 questions, 40 min · Mathematical Reasoning 35 questions, 40 min · Thinking Skills 30 questions, 30 min
See where your child sits among 166 Test Academy students who have sat this set (Test Academy students, a self-selected prep cohort, Nov 2025 to Oct 2026).
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Sit this paper online, auto-marked
OC Set 02
A second full OC set, for after you have reviewed the first.
Reading 14 questions, 40 min · Mathematical Reasoning 35 questions, 40 min · Thinking Skills 30 questions, 30 min
See where your child sits among 93 Test Academy students who have sat this set (Test Academy students, a self-selected prep cohort, Nov 2025 to Oct 2026).
Also free: The Department's online practice test, which shows the real test screen.
How to use the OC sample papers
The OC test is sat in Year 4 for a Year 5 place. A Year 4 student gets most from a short, timed sitting and a conversation about the mistakes afterwards.
One section at a time, timed
The current test gives 40 minutes for Reading, 40 minutes for Mathematical Reasoning and 30 minutes for Thinking Skills. The sample PDFs are older paper-based versions, so use them for the question styles and the pace, not as an exact copy of today's sections.
Mark it, then talk it through
Mark with the answer key, then use the Department's explained answers for each question your child missed. Asking them to explain their thinking out loud catches misreadings that a score alone hides.
Then practise on screen
The OC test is computer-based. When the paper sittings feel comfortable, move to the online OC sets above, which are timed and marked as soon as your child finishes.
How the result is used
Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills each carry a third of the result. There is no Writing section in the OC test.
What these papers are and are not
- These links open the Department’s own copies; we have not rehosted the OC samples.
- The Department says the PDF samples are older paper-based versions and do not reflect the current test format.
FAQ
Are these OC papers free?
Yes. They are the NSW Department of Education sample tests, free for personal use. The two online OC sets are free with a Test Academy account.
What is in the OC test now?
Reading (14 questions, 40 minutes), Mathematical Reasoning (35 questions, 40 minutes) and Thinking Skills (30 questions, 30 minutes), each worth a third of the result, sat on a computer.
How should my child use the OC sample papers?
One section at a time, timed, then marked with the answer key and reviewed with the explained answers. Year 4 students learn most from talking through the questions they got wrong.