Summer Holiday Exam Preparation Guide
-
Test your child’s skills with our free OC & Selective mock test.
-
Connect with other parents and access exclusive free study resources & tips.
The summer holidays are here! Make the most of this crucial preparation period for your child’s OC and Selective Test in 2026. This is the perfect time for students to get ahead, consolidate knowledge, and build confidence before the big exam in May.
For parents, this period can be stressful if students lack motivation or guidance. To help, we’ve put together a guide with actionable steps for keeping your child on track, including building foundations through theory, practicing via timed drills, and taking trial tests.
BUILDING FOUNDATIONS THROUGH THEORY
A strong understanding of theory is the foundation of doing well in an exam. For students with some time before their exams, the holidays are the perfect opportunity to learn new concepts and consolidate prior knowledge.
Most students preparing for the Selective or OC Test next year should already be familiar with key topics examined in the test, but there’s always new material to learn. Every extra concept mastered reduces the likelihood of being caught off-guard in the exam.
Tips for building theory:
Create a study plan: Focus on learning something new each week.
Identify new question types in Mathematical Reasoning & Thinking Skills that your child has not encountered before and practice applying theory.
Vocabulary building: Learn 5–10 new words weekly, identify three synonyms for each (tests often assess word associations), and try using each word in a sentence to understand its context.
📌 Want structured support for building foundations? Our OC and Selective test preparation Courses help students strengthen their understanding of key concepts and prepare confidently for the OC and Selective Tests. Book a free trial today!
REPETITIVE PRACTICE THROUGH TIMED DRILLS
Timed drills are the perfect way to bridge theory and exam application. They train students to solve questions accurately and quickly under time pressure.
How to implement timed drills:
Time your child while completing worksheets focusing on a specific concept (e.g., Area of Triangles).
Track time and aim to gradually reduce completion time without sacrificing accuracy.
These drills improve:
Application of theory
Speed in recognizing small details
Ability to eliminate incorrect options efficiently
We regularly share free worksheets in Alpha One’s Facebook Groups, so your child can continue practicing even during the holidays:
📌 Need more practice under timed conditions? Our OC & Selective Mock Test Courses provide structured timed drills and detailed explanations to help students become exam-ready. Book your free trial now!
TRIAL TESTS
Taking trial papers under exam conditions is the final stage in preparing for the OC or Selective Test. It is important to note that students who lack theoretical knowledge may find this step challenging, so we recommend parents focus on the first two stages—building foundations through theory and practicing timed drills—before attempting trial tests.
However, trial papers are by far the most valuable form of practice, and we highly suggest students dedicate time to this stage in the final months leading up to the exam.
Every year, we notice that students who have sat more trial papers are more confident on the day of the exam. For these students, the ‘big daunting exam’ feels just like any other paper they have practiced before. Students with less experience in trial tests often feel higher stress and pressure, which usually stems from inadequate preparation. By familiarising themselves with the exam format and timing through repeated trial papers, students can treat the actual test as just another practice paper, which helps reduce anxiety and manage stress on exam day.
Trial papers are extremely effective for developing key test-taking skills, including:
Time management
Error checking
Eliminating incorrect answers
Making informed guesses
Finding shortcuts to solving questions
It is important that students take trial papers in a quiet environment with minimal distractions and under the same time constraints as the real exam. This helps them become accustomed to exam conditions and reduces anxiety.
Trial papers are also the best way to identify areas for improvement. After completing a paper, review each question with your child and determine why marks were lost. Common issues include:
Struggling to maintain concentration for the full duration of the exam
Careless mistakes
Running out of time
Weakness in a particular concept
Many of these errors are typical among all students and can be easily addressed once identified. For example, a lack of focus can be improved by starting with short drills and gradually increasing the length until your child can maintain concentration for the full exam duration. By ironing out avoidable mistakes, students can become more consistent and confident in their test-taking abilities.
Support Your Child with Alpha One
For parents preparing their children for the 2026 Selective Test, Alpha One offers online trial test packs that include timed papers, instant marking, and detailed explanations to boost your child’s preparation.
Don’t miss our popular Holiday Program, designed for comprehensive test-taking skill development before the 2026 OC/Selective Test. Limited spots are available!
📎 To learn more about the program structure, pricing, and booking details, visit:
READY FOR TERM 1?
📍 Term 1 enrolments for 2026 are now open. If you’ve been considering extra support for your child’s test preparation, don’t wait—book a free trial today and secure their place!
Take the Next Step for Selective Test Success:
