This publication assists applicants for Year 7 entry to selective high schools to become more

familiar with the Selective High School Placement Test. Some of the items have not been included
for copyright reasons. In the actual Selective High School Placement Test there are 45 questions
in reading, 40 in mathematics and 60 in general ability.
The Selective High School Placement Test measures ability and is set to discriminate at a very
high level. Students who are accustomed to answering most questions in tests correctly should not
be discouraged if they get a number of questions wrong. It is very rare for even the highest scoring
candidates to score full marks on all components of the Selective High School Placement Test.
Selective high school entry does not depend entirely on a student's performance in the Selective
High School Placement Test as school assessment scores in English and mathematics are
provided by the primary schools.
It is important to note that selection committees and appeals panels will not accept students'
performance in this past paper as evidence of academic merit for the purposes of entry into a
selective high school in any future year.

1047921_Common_Text_Cs4.indd 52

13/02/14 4:19 PM

SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST

SAMPLE
TEST 2
MATHEMATICS
DO NOT OPEN THIS SECTION UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD
INSTRUCTIONS
1

You have 40 minutes to complete the Mathematics test. It contains 40 questions.

Mark your answer to each question by colouring A, B, C or D in pen in the

Mathematics section of your answer booklet.

If you decide to change your answer, cross it out with X and mark your new answer
clearly.

If you want to work anything out, you may write in this question booklet, but remember
to show your answer in the answer booklet NOT in this question booklet.

In the tests you will find Answer Check boxes like this:
ANSWER CHECK (Mathematics No. 1)
Look at your answer booklet was the last bubble you filled in for Question 15?
If it was, keep going. If it wasnt, put your hand up now for help.
This is to ensure you are answering the question in the right answer bubble.

6 Wait for instructions to begin the Mathematics test.

Published by the Australian Council for Educational Research

Prospect Hill Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124.
Copyright 2014 NSW Department of Education and Communities.

WDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUNITIESCOPYRIGHT2014NSWDEPARTMENTOFEDUCATIONANDCOMMUN

M1

Lena is tiling a square oor with each

side 3 metres long. Tiles cost $45 per
square metre.
Which calculation gives the total cost of
tiling the oor (in dollars)?
45 6
45 9
45 6
45 9

A
B
C
D

12

4
3

If the pattern in the three boxes above is

repeated in the three boxes below

Q
2

then Q =
A
B
C
D

2
3
4
12

When George and Athena were married,

120 of the guests were Athenas family or
friends. This was 60 per cent of the total
number of guests.
How many guests were there altogether?
A
B
C
D

22

180
192
200
720

Questions 4 6 refer to the following information:

This is part of the timetable for the bus to the city.
Stop
number
1 (Depot) 6:50
2
6:55
3
6:58
4
7:04
5
7:07
6
7:10
7
7:15
8
7:19
9
7:22
10
7:26
11
7:31
12
7:33
13
7:36
14
7:38
15 (City) 7:41

BUS TIMES TO THE CITY

7:10
7:15
7:18
7:24
7:27
7:30
7:35
7:39
7:42
7:46
7:51
7:53
7:56
7:58
8:01

7:30
7:35
7:38
7:44
7:47
7:50
7:55
7:59
8:02
8:06
8:11
8:13
8:16
8:18
8:21

7:50
7:55
7:58
8:04
8:07
8:10
8:15
8:19
8:22
8:26
8:31
8:33
8:36
8:38
8:41

Kylie can walk from home to bus stop

number 6 in eight minutes.
What is the latest time she can leave
home to be sure of getting to the city by
8:30?
A
B
C
D

7:22
7:42
7:50
8:02

8:10
8:15
8:18
8:24
8:27
8:30
8:35
8:39
8:42
8:46
8:51
8:53
8:56
8:58
9:01

8:30
8:35
8:38
8:44
8:47
8:50
8:55
8:59
9:02
9:06
9:11
9:13
9:16
9:18
9:21

Which one of these statements about the

bus timetable is correct?
A
B
C

D
5

Peter travels from stop number 8 to the

city each morning. His return journey
each evening takes the same time as his
morning bus ride.

9:00
9:05
9:08
9:14
9:17
9:20
9:25
9:29
9:32
9:36
9:41
9:43
9:46
9:48
9:51

9:30
9:35
9:38
9:44
9:47
9:50
9:55
9:59
10:02
10:06
10:11
10:13
10:16
10:18
10:21

The longest time between stops is

5 minutes.
The total trip from the depot to the
city always takes 61 minutes.
From 8:30 onwards it takes
10 minutes longer to get from the
depot to the city.
From 8:30 onwards it is 10 minutes
longer between buses leaving the
depot.

If he leaves the city at 5:41 pm what time

will he reach stop number 8?
A
B
C
D

5:19 p.m.
6:03 p.m.
6:19 p.m.
7:03 p.m.

23
23

The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and

12 can be arranged around this star so
that the sum along each straight line is
the same. Four of the numbers are
missing.

Rita and Minh look at some blocks from

opposite sides.

Rita
Minh

Minh sees
5

10

What does Rita see?

S

The number missing at S is

A
B
C
D

1
2
4
12

C
8

A piece of cardboard is folded to make

six strips the same size. The strips are
numbered as shown. The cardboard is
bent along the folds and joined to make a
hexagonal tube.

10

Irenes grandfather arrived in Sydney

from Athens at 10 pm on Friday after a
25-hour trip. The ight began at 12 noon
on Thursday, Athens time.
What is the time difference between
Athens and Sydney?

When the tube is made the side numbered

6 is opposite the side numbered
A
B
C
D

1
2
3
4

A
B
C
D

24

Athens time is 9 hours behind

Sydney time.
Athens time is 9 hours ahead of
Sydney time.
Athens time is 15 hours behind
Sydney time.
Athens time is 15 hours ahead of
Sydney time.

Questions 1113 refer to the following

information:

Information for Question 13

The following chart is called a Vedic Square.

Each number in the chart is found by
multiplying the number at the top of its column
by the number at the left of its row.

Scholars and artists use this Vedic

Square to draw a design. A row of numbers
and an angle of rotation are selected. Each
number in the row gives the length of the line
to be drawn.

When a product has more than one digit in it,

these are added to give a single digit.
For example, 8 2 = 16; 1 + 6 = 7.

For example, using an angle of rotation of

90 degrees and the number sequence in row 3
gives:

11

12

90

6
o
90

90

Continuing this sequence of numbers and

rotation leads eventually to this design.

The Vedic Square shown is incomplete.

The number missing at P is
A
B
C
D

0
1
2
7

Different designs result when a different angle

of rotation or a different row from the Vedic
Square is chosen.
13

Which row was used to create this

design?

The complete pattern for row 7 is

A
B
C
D

7
7
7
7

5
5
5
5

3
3
3
3

1
1
1
1

2
7
8
8

4
5
6
6

6
3
4
4

8
1
1
2

1
7
9
9

A
B
C
D

row 2
row 4
row 6
row 8
25
25

Questions 1415 refer to the following information:

The numbers 1, 7, 19, 37, . . . are sometimes called snowake numbers because they
can be pictured as a pattern of dots, like this:

1
7
19
37
A second number sequence is obtained by counting the number of dots on the lines
shown in the pictures.
snowflake number
(number of dots)

number of dots
on the lines

first

second

third

19

13

fourth

37

19

fifth

14

The fth snowake number is

A
B
C
D

26

49
55
61
67

15

How many dots on the lines would there

be in a picture showing the fth
snowake number?
A
B
C
D

19
25
31
37

Questions 16 18 refer to the following information:

140
130

The air above the Earths surface

is divided into different layers.
The temperature of the air at
different heights above sea level
and the positions of the different
layers are shown in this graph.

120
110
thermosphere

height above 100

Earth's surface
(km)
90
80
70

mesosphere

60
50
40
stratosphere

30
20
10

troposphere
sea level

16

What is the approximate air

temperature 40 km above sea level?
A
B
C
D

17

0 20
o
temperature C

40

60

33C
20C
20C
33C

According to the graph, if the

temperature is 60C, the height above
sea level is
A
B
C
D

18

-120 -100 -80 -60 -40 -20

25 km.
85 km.
either 77 km or 93 km.
either 71 km or 98 km.

According to the graph the lowest

temperature normally reached in the
mesosphere is
A
B
C
D

105C.
50C.
2C.
95C.

27
27

19

The number pattern in triangle P is

repeated in triangle Q.

A
B
C
D

20

2
51
102
408

40

15
P

What is the value of X?

B
C
D

204 102 = 204.

=

X
45

21

22

The area of this door

1
--2
2
3
20
198 cm

20

Four children each made a pattern by

folding paper and punching holes through
all the layers.
81 cm

Here is Duongs pattern.

in square centimetres (cm2), is about

Which one of these is Duongs folded

paper?

28

280 cm2 .

560 cm2 .

1 600 cm2 .

16 000 cm2 .

Questions 23 24 refer to the following information:

The lines on this graph give a way to convert between the metric system of length units and the British
system of length units. The metric system uses units of centimetres, metres and kilometres. The British
system uses units of inches, yards and miles. For example, point X on the graph shows that 80 metres
in metric units is 88 yards in British units.

100

cent

50
40

es

to

om
etr

ime

60

rd

kil

tres

70

mi
le

ches
to in

80

METRIC UNITS

90

o
st

ya

e
etr
m

30
20
10
0
0

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
BRITISH UNITS

23

An English tourist has a map which shows the distance from Gosford to
Hornsby as 40 kilometres.
The graph shows that this distance in British units is

24

25 miles.

65 miles.

44 miles.

100 miles.

This diagram is from an American book. The measurement is in inches.

30"

How tall is the dog in centimetres?

A

12 cm

48 cm

28 cm

76 cm
29
29

Questions 2527 refer to the following information:

Photocopying paper is sold by the ream. A ream is 500 sheets of paper. The most
common size of paper used is A4. An A4 sheet measures 297 mm 210 mm. It is
part of the A series of paper sizes which is based on the A0 size. An A0 sheet
measures 1189 mm 841 mm and is almost exactly 1 square metre in area.
25

How many A4 sheets are needed to cover

an A0 sheet?
A
B
C
D

A1

26

8
16
32
64

Most photocopying paper weighs

80 grams per square metre.
How much does one sheet of A4
photocopying paper weigh?

1189 mm
A3

A
B
C
D

A2
A5

5g
20 g
32 g
50 g

A4
A6

27

The length of the longer side of an A5

sheet is closest to

841 mm
An A0 sheet of paper

As the diagram shows,

an A1 sheet is half the area
of an A0 sheet
an A2 sheet is half the area
of an A1 sheet
an A3 sheet is half the area
of an A2 sheet
and so on.

30

A
B
C
D

420 mm
297 mm
210 mm
149 mm

28

A cubic container this size will hold 1000

litres (or 1 kilolitre) of water.

30

Paul is making a cabinet. He has drawn a

sketch to show its size.
The timber he needs is 600 mm wide.
1030 mm

1m

1m

1m

950

The swimming pool shown is lled to a

depth of 2 metres.
600 mm
10 m

Altogether the length of timber he needs

is about

25 m
Swimming pool: top view

A
B
C
D

Swimming pool: side view

How much water is there in the pool?

A
B
C
D

29

50 kilolitres
140 kilolitres
250 kilolitres
500 kilolitres

57 29 + 57 11 = 57 (50 ) .
=
A
B
C
D

0
10
40
319

31

3 metres.
4 metres.
5 metres.
6 metres.

Gina estimated that it cost her about $45

per week for petrol for her car. She had
the car converted so that it would also run
on gas. Gas is much cheaper than petrol
so it only cost her about $20 per week for
gas. The conversion cost about $1000.
How long will it take for the savings in
using gas to equal the cost of the
conversion?
A
B
C
D

about 15 weeks
about 40 weeks
about 50 weeks
about 65 weeks

31
31

Questions 32 33 refer to the following

information:

34

So, 10 0.25 =

The letter H has half turn symmetry. If it is

rotated about its centre through 180 it appears
unchanged.

32

Which one of these letters A E S U

has half turn symmetry?
A
B
C
D

A
E
S
U

Note that 100 2.5 = 40 .

A
B
C
D

35

0.40
4.0
40
400

This is the net for a closed rectangular

box.
40 cm

20 cm

33

Greg is making a crossword puzzle grid

with half turn symmetry.
He has
completed the rst four rows. He has two
more squares to colour black to complete
his grid.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

The two squares to colour black are

32

20 cm

The volume of the completed box will be

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A
B
C
D

15 cm
15 cm

row 5, column 4 and row 7, column 2

row 5, column 5 and row 5, column 8
row 8, column 7 and row 2, column 4
row 4, column 1 and row 5, column 8

A
B
C
D

280 cubic centimetres

900 cubic centimetres
1 800 cubic centimetres
12 000 cubic centimetres

36

The diagram shows the area of one

hectare and one acre, drawn to scale.

38

Trang is helping the P.E. teacher. She

wants to ll the long jump pit with sand
about 0.3 metres deep.

100 m

5 metres
ONE HECTARE
100 m

63.6 m

ONE ACRE

How much sand does she need?

63.6 m
Which of these four areas is the biggest?
A
B
C
D

37

2 metres

200 metres 200 metres

2 hectares
3 acres
30 000 square metres

Zanna is making a magic hexagon using

this design and the numbers 1 to 19. The
numbers in each diagonal and column
must add up to 38.

A
B
C
D

30 cubic metres
20 cubic metres
4 cubic metres
3 cubic metres

END OF MATHEMATICS
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
LOOK BACK OVER YOUR WORK

3
17
16

*
10

18

5
8
15

The number that goes at position * is

A
B
C
D

2
4
12
17

33
33

MATHS
Item

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40

KEY
B
B
C
B
B
D
C
C
A
A
B
D
A
C
B
C
D
D
A
B
D
D
A
D
B
A
C
D
B
C
B
C
A
C
D
A
A
D