Selective Trial Test Online
Same interface. Same timing. Real exam conditions.
A trial test is only worth sitting if it is sat the way the real one is. MockStar runs the full Selective paper on screen, timed section by section, and reports on it while the sitting is still fresh.
7-day free trial on registration. No credit card required.
The real thing, on screen
Timed sections, on-screen navigation and flagged questions — the shape of a computer-based placement test, not a PDF printed at home.
A report you can act on
A score per section, a ranking against the other students who sat the same paper, and the specific skills that cost marks.
Practice aimed at the misses
Every wrong answer feeds a targeted practice queue, so the next trial test measures whether the gap actually closed.
What's in the test
| Section | What it covers | Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Comprehension, inference and text analysis across several passage types. | 45 min | 25% |
| Mathematical Reasoning | Multi-step problem solving and data interpretation, all multiple choice. | 40 min | 25% |
| Thinking Skills | Critical thinking, spatial reasoning, logical deduction and data extraction. | 40 min | 25% |
| Writing | One open-response task against the clock, returned with a marked-up report. | 30 min | 25% |
Four sections, each worth 25% of the placement score, all delivered on computer. The section times and weightings above are the ones set out on our Selective rankings and cutoff scores page.
Paper trial test vs computer-based
Both give your child a full paper to sit. The difference is what happens around it.
| Paper trial test | MockStar trial test | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | A printed booklet, answers marked on paper. | The same computer-based interface the placement test now uses. |
| Marking turnaround | Hand-marked, so results usually come back days later. | Multiple-choice sections are scored on submit; the writing task comes back with a marked-up report shortly after. |
| Diagnostic depth | A total score, sometimes a section breakdown. | A per-skill breakdown that names which sub-skills cost marks — and turns them into the next practice set. |
What it costs to start
Registration opens a 7-day free trial with full access to mock exams, smart practice and detailed reports — no credit card required. After that, plans are monthly; you can cancel at any time and keep access until the end of the period you have paid for.
Trial test FAQ
- What is a trial test?
- A trial test is a full rehearsal of the placement test: the same sections, the same question types, the same timing, sat end to end in one go. It exists to answer one question — where does my child actually stand right now, under exam conditions?
- Is it the same as the real Selective test format?
- The Selective High School Placement Test moved to computer-based delivery from 2025, and it is four sections — Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing — each worth 25%. MockStar's trial test follows that structure on screen, writing task included. The questions are written by our team — they are not reproductions of the real test.
- How many free tests do I get?
- Registering starts a 7-day free trial with full access to mock exams, smart practice and detailed reports — no credit card required. What each plan includes after that is on the pricing page.
- Do I need to book a time?
- No. There is no session to book and no centre to drive to — the trial test runs in a browser, whenever suits. It is timed once your child begins, so pick a stretch where they won't be interrupted.
See where your child actually stands
Sit the first Selective trial test on the free trial. The report is waiting as soon as the paper is submitted.