Hello, Aussie Learning Hub families! The Selective Test is a significant milestone for many students and their parents. Once the test is done, the next step is to understand the outcomes. This can sometimes feel overwhelming, but don’t worry! We’re here to break it down for you in the simplest way possible.
Placement Outcomes Explained
When the initial outcomes are released, you might receive different types of notifications regarding your child’s application. Here’s what they mean and what you need to do next:
1. Offer
What it Means: Your child has secured a place at one of the schools you applied to.
Next Steps:
- Accept or Decline: You need to decide whether to accept or decline the offer by the specified due date. If you miss this date, the offer will be withdrawn.
- Changing Your Mind: You can accept an offer and later decline it if circumstances change, but once declined, the offer cannot be reinstated.
2. Reserve List Only
What it Means: Your child is on the waiting list for a school.
Next Steps:
- Monitor the Reserve List Position: Your child might still get an offer if spots become available. This can happen up until the end of Term 1 in the entry year.
- Reserve Bands: These bands (A to F) give you an idea of how likely it is for your child to receive an offer based on past years’ data. However, these are only estimates and not guarantees.
- Withdraw if Necessary: If you are sure you don’t want your child to be placed in the school showing ‘Reserve’, you can select ‘Withdraw’ in the application dashboard.
3. Offer and Higher Choice Reserve List
What it Means: Your child has an offer from one school and is on the reserve list for a higher preference school.
Next Steps:
- Hold the Offer: Accept the current offer and wait to see if a spot opens up at the higher choice school.
- Decide by the Reserve Decision Date: You must decide whether to keep the accepted offer or withdraw to stay on the higher choice reserve list by this date.
4. Unsuccessful
What it Means: Unfortunately, your child didn’t secure a place at any of the schools you listed.
Next Steps:
- Consider Reapplication or Alternatives: Look into other educational options and enrichment programs.
5. Not Applicable
What it Means: This is for schools lower in your preference list than the school your child received an offer for.
Next Steps:
- No Further Action Needed: Only the highest preference for which your child qualified is considered, so no action is required for lower choices.
Understanding How Decisions Are Made
Students are offered places based on their performance on the test. For a small number of students (up to 5%) who were unable to sit the test for a valid reason, they are given a ranking based on alternative evidence of academic merit – see Illness or Misadventure.
Equity Placement Model: Up to 20% of places at each school are held for:
- Students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
- Students from rural and remote locations
- Students with disabilities
These students still receive offers based on their test performance according to the Equity Placement Model. This makes access fairer for high potential students who experience educational disadvantage – see Fair Access.
Selection Committee Decisions: Some outcome decisions need to be decided by the selection committee. Their decisions are based on academic merit and are made using consistent selection criteria.
Performance Report
The performance report shows how your child performed in the test compared to other candidates. It includes:
- Top 10% of Candidates
- Next 15% of Candidates
- Next 25% of Candidates
- Lowest 50% of Candidates
This report helps you understand your child’s relative performance but does not provide exact scores or placement ranks.
Appeals and Enquiries
If you have concerns about the outcome, there are several types of appeals and enquiries you can consider:
Appeals
- Outcome Appeal: If you believe there was an error in the processing of your child’s results.
- Residency Appeal: If you need to clarify or correct residency information.
- Malpractice Appeal: If there was an allegation of malpractice during the test.
Writing Test Results Enquiry (Selective High School Applicants Only)
If you believe your child’s Writing test was incorrectly marked, you can submit a results enquiry. This involves a review by a senior examiner to ensure the marking criteria were correctly applied. There is a $40 administration fee for this service, which must be submitted within 7 days of the original outcome notification.
Viewing Your Outcome
The outcomes will be available on your application dashboard. You’ll receive an email notification once the results are posted. Here are the key dates to remember:
| Key Dates | Event | Date (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Selective High School Outcomes | Year 7 entry in 2025 | 23 August 2024 |
Summary of Actions
| Outcome | Next Steps |
|---|---|
| Offer | Decide whether to accept or decline. |
| Reserve List Only | Monitor the reserve list position; decide to withdraw if necessary. |
| Offer and Higher Choice Reserve List | Hold the offer and wait for higher choice; decide by the reserve decision date. |
| Unsuccessful | Consider reapplication or alternative options. |
| Not Applicable | No further action needed. |
We hope this guide helps clarify the steps you need to take after receiving your child’s Selective Test outcomes. For any further questions, feel free to reach out to us at Aussie Learning Hub. We’re here to support you every step of the way!
Good luck, and congratulations to all the students for their hard work and dedication!
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