The NSW Government has accepted all recommendations of an independent review into the delivery of this year\u2019s selective education placement tests, with the 2026 tests and beyond to be held at smaller venues and logistics to be overseen directly by the NSW Department of Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Respected education academic Dr Michele Bruniges AM examined the issues that caused significant disruption to 2025 testing held at larger testing venues. Dr Bruniges has also chaired the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development\u2019s Programme for International Student Assessment Governing Board since 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Disruptions on the first day of testing resulted in the department shifting subsequent testing to alternative smaller venues, managed by departmental staff. This approach will continue in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Bruniges\u2019 recommendations for the department, include holding only one placement test session per day per school, with a maximum number of 300 students in large school venues and 180 students in the smaller school venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her report, Dr Bruniges notes the department\u2019s successful establishment of computer-based test design and delivery outside of the three large testing venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Planning is underway for the 2026 tests. The first round of offers for next year\u2019s selective high school cohort will be today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with the Bruniges Review, separate independent advice into the fairness and integrity of the 2025 tests was provided by Professor Jim Tognolini, Director of the Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment at the University of Sydney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Tognolini\u2019s work examined whether students who sat the test twice due to disruption had an advantage and whether all test versions were comparable and equally difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His review found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe NSW Government is accepting all of Dr Bruniges recommendations including that future tests take place in smaller cohorts at local schools, ensuring we don\u2019t see the disruption we saw this year again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery student deserves a fair go, and I thank Dr Bruniges and Professor Tognolini for their work to ensure we deliver fair and well-run tests for entry to selective schooling and opportunity classes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will implement all recommendations of the Bruniges review to ensure a smooth process for students participating in next year\u2019s tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe disruption experienced at the larger testing centres earlier this year was not acceptable, and I\u2019m pleased our steps to address the issues delivered a fair outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Michele Bruniges AM said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor NSW families and their children, a decision to sit for placement tests for entry into selective education is significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe use of large testing centres this year caused disruption, and the review has made recommendations to ensure the disruption experienced is not repeated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professor Jim Tognolini said:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDespite disruption to testing at major centres, students resitting the tests did not receive an advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere was minimal difference between scores on the original and re-sit tests, with proven testing methods ensuring fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The NSW Government has accepted all recommendations of an independent review into the delivery of this year\u2019s selective education placement tests, with the 2026 tests and beyond to be held at smaller venues and logistics to be overseen directly by the NSW Department of Education. Respected education academic Dr Michele Bruniges AM examined the issues … Continue reading “Independent review outlines path for improved selective education test experience”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aussie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34470"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34471,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34470\/revisions\/34471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}