Reading Mock Test 1: 2026 NSW Selective Format

Build stamina with literary and informational passages, cloze items, and cross-text synthesis in our 38-question mock test—aligned to the Janison-style NSW Selective Reading paper.

Duration

45 Minutes

Format

2026 NSW Format

Questions

38 multiple-choice

Level

Official Selective Test Level

Skills Covered in this Test

This mock test mirrors the official weightings of the NSW Department of Education exam.

The breakdown

  • Sentence Insertion (Cloze): Placing a sentence so the passage reads logically from start to finish.
  • Dropdown Word Selection (Cloze): Choosing the word that best fits meaning and grammar in context.
  • Inference & Deduction: Drawing conclusions that are strongly supported but not directly stated.
  • Character Motivation: What drives characters’ actions and decisions from evidence in the text.
  • Vocabulary in Context: Meaning of words and phrases as used in this specific passage.
  • Tone & Mood: The writer’s attitude and the feeling created for the reader.
  • Figurative Language: Metaphor, simile, and imagery—what they imply in context.
  • Main Idea & Theme: Central message, controlling idea, and how details support it.

Sample Questions from Test 1

The first two questions of this mock test (same order and wording as the timed exam).

Reading

Which extracts include a passenger in a vehicle?

Question 1 · Multiple choice

Question

Which extracts include a passenger in a vehicle?

Options

  • A. Extract A
  • B. Extract B
  • C. Both
  • D. Neither

Correct answer

C. Both

Explanation

Both extracts describe passengers in a vehicle. Extract A describes girls in a horse-drawn coach, and Extract B describes students in a bus.

Reading

In Extract A, what is the primary mode of transport?

Question 2 · Multiple choice

Question

In Extract A, what is the primary mode of transport?

Options

  • A. A steam train
  • B. A horse-drawn coach
  • C. A motor bus
  • D. Bicycles

Correct answer

B. A horse-drawn coach

Explanation

Extract A explicitly mentions the "buttoned tarpaulin flaps of the horse-drawn coach" and Mr Hussey watering his "horses".

Core Competencies

Author's PurposeCharacter MotivationCross-Text ComparisonDropdown Word Selection (Cloze)Extracting InformationFact vs. OpinionFigurative LanguageIdentifying BiasInference & DeductionLogical Text FlowMain Idea & ThemePoetry AnalysisSentence Insertion (Cloze)Synthesising SourcesText Structure & SequencingTone & MoodVocabulary in Context

Prepare with Precision

  • Practise cloze flow, vocabulary in context, and evidence-based inference.
  • Get comfortable with the Janison-style interface and text panels.
  • See which text types and skills to revisit before exam day.

This public page is designed so students and parents get rich, accurate information about the test structure and skills assessed. The full timed mock—including the rest of the 38 questions, scoring, and detailed review—is available to enrolled members after sign-in, matching how premium preparation platforms balance discoverability with protected content.

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