A term by term timeline for the Selective test.

The Selective High School Placement Test is sat in Year 6. The reading, mathematical reasoning and thinking skills sections all reward students who read widely and work quickly. Neither habit can be built in a few weeks.

Year 5, Terms 1 and 2

Focus on reading volume and number fluency. Twenty minutes of reading a night is more useful than a workbook. In maths, make sure times tables, fractions and multi-step word problems are secure.

Year 5, Terms 3 and 4

Introduce question types. Students meet thinking skills questions for the first time and learn to read the question stem carefully. Timing is not a priority yet.

• One short reading task each week, marked and discussed.
• One set of thinking skills questions each week.
• Writing practice against the marking criteria once a fortnight.

Year 6, Term 1

Add timing. Sit sections under exam conditions and review every wrong answer. The review matters more than the score.

Students who review their errors each week improve faster than students who sit more papers.

Year 6, Term 2

Sit full papers, then rest. In the fortnight before the test, reduce the workload and keep sleep steady. Preparation is already done by this point.

What to avoid

Avoid stacking three programs at once. Two focused sessions a week, done properly, beat five rushed ones. If your child is losing confidence, cut the volume and go back to the basics. Read more about our Selective School Prep program.