How to Prepare Your Child for Both the OC Test and Selective Test

You can see the road ahead - the OC test in Year 4, the Selective test in Year 6 - and you are caught between two worries: push too hard, too soon, and risk burning your child out; leave it too late, and risk gaps that are hard to close. It is a genuine balancing act, and most parents feel it. The reassuring news is that there is a steady, phased path that builds skills early without overwhelming a nine-year-old, and peaks at just the right moment. This guide shows you how to structure it.

If your goal is for your child to attend a Selective High School in Year 7, the preparation journey often starts years earlier. The OC test, taken in Year 4, is widely considered the best preparation for the Selective High School Placement Test in Year 6.

Preparing for both exams requires a balanced, phased approach. Overloading a 9-year-old with intense drilling can lead to burnout, while starting too late in Year 6 can leave gaps in foundational knowledge.

Phase 1: Building the Foundation (Years 3 and 4)

The focus in the lead-up to the OC test should be on developing core academic skills and introducing multiple-choice reasoning in a low-pressure environment.

• Reading: Encourage a wide range of reading materials. Discuss texts to build vocabulary and inference skills.
• Maths: Move beyond basic arithmetic to problem-solving and real-world application.
• Thinking Skills: Introduce logical and spatial reasoning puzzles as fun activities.
• Exam Technique: Keep practice sessions short (20-30 minutes) and familiarise your child with the computer-based format.

Phase 2: The OC Experience (Year 5)

Year 5 is crucial for consolidating skills and preparing for the increased demands of the Selective test.

• Writing: Begin regular practice in structuring essays and creative pieces. The Selective test includes a typed writing component.
• Typing: Ensure your child practices typing regularly, aiming for 30-35 words per minute by the end of Year 5.
• Stamina: Gradually increase the length of study sessions to build endurance for the 150-minute Selective test.

Phase 3: Targeted Selective Preparation (Year 6)

The final months before the Selective test should focus on targeted practice, time management, and refining exam techniques under realistic conditions.

• Full-Length Practice Exams: Transition to completing full, timed practice exams to build endurance.
• Time Management: Teach your child how to allocate time effectively across all four sections.
• Review and Refine: Carefully review mistakes to identify and address remaining knowledge gaps.

The Value of the Journey

Even if your child does not gain entry to an OC or a Selective High School, the preparation process builds strong study habits, resilience, and advanced cognitive skills that benefit them throughout their education.

Are you ready to start the journey? Test Magic offers comprehensive packages for both the OC and Selective tests, tailored to the new computer-based formats. Begin your child’s preparation with Test Magic today!

Practising for both does not have to mean twice the work. Our OC practice papers and Selective practice papers share the Reading and Thinking Skills ground the two tests have in common. For what actually differs, see the key differences between the two tests.