What is the OLSAT Test?
January 20th, 2013

OLSAT stands for Otis-Lennon School Ability Test

Used for several purposes, the OLSAT test is given to children ranging in age from preschool through twelfth grade. Standing for the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, the examination measures verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning. These skills are determined via twenty-one sub-tests, divided into subjects including comprehension, reasoning and figures.

In preschool settings, the OLSAT test is administered singly. In all other grades and age groups, the test is administered in a group setting. Scores are useful in determining grade placement, identifying areas for needed improvements and ensuring that students are advancing properly as they progress through grades. For this reason, it’s important for your child to be as prepared as possible for the test, since more preparation means a better chance of a higher score. A higher score, in turn, means that your child has a better chance of getting into the school or program of your or your child’s choice.

To maximize your child’s chances of doing well, you should spend at least an hour a day preparing for the OLSAT test. You can do this using practice materials like practice tests, online games, or similar materials that appear in any of your child’s school or academic materials. Once your child is familiar with the content and format of the Otis Lennon, he will have a better chance of doing well on the exam.

For very young children, the test may include only 40 questions instead of 60. Scores are compared against those of other children in 3-month age groups for maximum accuracy. When assessing younger children, teachers and counselors often use the examination as a budget-friendly method of identifying gifted or advanced children. Immediate or future placement in advanced courses often results from a high or above-average testing score. For more information and details on the examination, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis%E2%80%93Lennon_School_Ability_Test.