Offer Strategy Guide
Your child got a placement outcome — now what?
An offer, a reserve band, both at once — the NSW placement system can be confusing. Here is how it actually works, and what NSW parents should do at each step, based on the Department of Education's process.
Understanding your outcome letter
When placement outcomes are released (typically in August for selective schools, and shortly after for Opportunity Classes), your child will fall into one of four situations. The system is designed around your school choices, ranked in order of preference on your application.
1. An offer only
Your child qualified for their highest-ranked school they were eligible for. You have a firm place. Accept it.
2. A reserve list position only
Your child did not quite reach the cutoff for their listed schools, but they are on a reserve list with a band (A to F). No offer yet — you wait.
3. Both — an offer AND a reserve position
This happens when your child qualifies for a lower-choice school (offer) and is also waitlisted for a higher-choice school (reserve). You get the best of both worlds: a firm place to fall back on, and a shot at moving up.
4. No offer and no reserve position
Your child did not qualify for any of their listed schools. The placement system cannot place them. Consider the local public school option (every child has a guaranteed place at their local school) or other pathways.
The one rule NSW parents need to remember
Always accept the offer you have.
Accepting an offer never hurts you. It does not remove your child from any reserve list. If a higher-choice school later makes an offer from the reserve list, you can switch — the Department of Education will release your original place automatically. If you decline every offer, your child forfeits all placement in the system and cannot be considered for further rounds.
The only exception is if you have decided you would rather your child attend their local school regardless of any placement outcome. In that case, declining an offer is fine — you are not losing anything you wanted.
The “both” scenario: your best strategy
If your child received an offer for their second-choice school AND a reserve position for their first choice, here is exactly what to do:
Accept the offer you have, right now
Accepting your second-choice offer secures a place. It costs you nothing and does not affect your first-choice reserve list position at all. The two processes run independently.
Check your first-choice reserve band
Your outcome letter shows a band from A (best) to F (unlikely). Use our reserve list estimator to check how far the list moved at that school in 2024 and 2025. If your band has historically received offers, the chances are strong.
Watch the reserve list and wait
The Department publishes reserve list movement updates during the placement period. If your first-choice school's list reaches your child's band, you will receive a new offer. At that point, you accept the new offer and your original place is released. No drama, no forms — the system handles the switch.
How reserve lists really work (and how fast they move)
Reserve lists are not a queue where every child moves one by one. Here is the actual mechanism:
- Each school has an enrolment target. When families with offers decline their place, a spot opens up and the next student on the reserve list (by score order) receives an offer.
- The bands (A to F) are the Department's estimate of when that child might be reached, based entirely on how far the list moved at that school in previous years.
- Bands are not guarantees. In 2025, some OC schools' lists moved all the way to Band A while others never left Band F. Movement depends entirely on how many families decline — no two years are identical.
- You do not need to “do” anything while on a reserve list. You simply wait. If an offer comes, the Department contacts you.
Band A
Within ~1 month
Band B
Within ~2 months
Band C
Within ~3 months
Band D
Within ~4 months
Band E
Within ~5 months
Band F
Unlikely
Approximate timeline (typical year)
October–February
Applications open for the following year's entry
May
Placement test (computer-based, held in one sitting)
August–September
Outcomes released: offers, reserve list bands, and unsuccessful notices
September–October
First round of reserve list offers begins (Band A starts receiving offers)
October–December
Reserve lists continue to move; Bands B–C often receive offers during this window
January–March
Further reserve movement; some lists move through Band D and beyond
End of Term 1
Reserve lists typically close or slow to a halt. Most movement has finished by this point
These dates are indicative — the Department of Education publishes exact dates each year on the selective high schools and opportunity classes website. Check the official site for current-year timelines.
Frequently asked questions
Should I accept an offer if my child is also on a reserve list for a higher choice?
Yes, always. Accepting the offer you have does not remove your child from any reserve list. The NSW Department of Education allows you to accept an offer and then switch to a higher-choice offer if one comes through later from a reserve list. There is no downside to accepting.
What happens if I decline every offer?
If you decline all placement offers, your child forfeits all placement in the OC or selective school system. They will not be considered for further rounds, and their reserve list position (if any) is void. Only decline if you have decided you do not want any selective or OC placement.
How long do reserve lists stay active?
Reserve lists remain active until at least the end of Term 1 of the school year, and sometimes beyond. The bulk of movement — especially for Bands A, B, and C — typically happens between September and December. By February or March, most lists have slowed or stopped.
Can I be on two reserve lists at once?
No. You are placed on the reserve list for the highest-choice school where you did not quite reach the cutoff, but only one reserve list — not multiple. Your lower-ranked choices are superseded.
If my band is lower than what the list reached last year, does that mean no chance?
It means an offer is less likely, but not impossible. In 2025 some schools' lists moved further than in 2024, and some moved less. The band is an estimate, and every year is different. Use the historical data as a guide, not a sentence.
What if my child's outcome letter shows no band at all?
If your outcome letter does not show a reserve band, your child is not on a reserve list. Check the letter carefully — if there is no band listed, your child either received a firm offer (check the offer section) or was unsuccessful for all listed schools.
Do I need to do anything to stay on the reserve list?
No. The reserve list is automatic. You do not need to respond, accept, or confirm anything to stay on it. If a place becomes available and your child is next in line, the Department contacts you directly.
Can I change my school choices after outcomes are released?
No. Your school choices are locked once applications close. You cannot add, remove, or re-order schools after the placement test.
This guide is based on the NSW Department of Education's placement process as published on education.nsw.gov.au. Always refer to the Department's official communications for current-year timelines and rules, as processes can change.