My 3.5 year old is bilingual, with English spoken at school, not at home. How do I evaluate his language skills to see whether he can do well on the OLSAT® in English? What I can I do to enhance his skills? Is there research on whether being bilingual presents a disadvantage for children being tested?
Research on bilingual language development is actually very encouraging. In children without underlying language or hearing difficulties, bilingualism is generally considered a long-term cognitive advantage rather than a disadvantage. Many bilingual children develop strong problem-solving abilities, mental flexibility, memory skills, and enhanced executive functioning as they grow.
However, when very young children take English-based standardized tests such as the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT), language exposure can influence performance — especially on the test’s verbal sections.
Does Bilingualism Affect OLSAT Performance?
The OLSAT includes verbal reasoning and listening components that require children to:
- understand spoken English directions,
- recognize vocabulary,
- identify relationships between words,
- and process language quickly.
A bilingual child may fully understand concepts intellectually but still have less exposure to English vocabulary compared to children who hear only English all day. This does not mean the child is less intelligent — it simply reflects differences in language exposure.
In many cases, bilingual children catch up quickly as English exposure increases through school, reading, and conversation.
How Can You Evaluate Your Child’s English Skills?
At 3.5 years old, the best assessment is usually informal and play-based rather than highly structured.
One helpful approach is to observe whether your child can comfortably:
- follow multi-step directions in English,
- answer simple questions,
- understand stories read aloud in English,
- identify objects, actions, and categories,
- and participate naturally in conversations with English-speaking adults or peers.
Because your child associates home with another language, they may respond differently if you suddenly switch entirely to English. For that reason, it can sometimes be useful to have an English-speaking preschool teacher, speech-language professional, or trusted caregiver casually interact and play with your child while observing their comfort level and comprehension.
How to Strengthen English Skills Naturally
The best way to build English language skills at this age is through relaxed, engaging interaction — not formal drilling or pressure.
Some highly effective activities include:
- Reading picture books in English daily
- Singing songs and nursery rhymes
- Listening to audiobooks and stories
- Playing pretend games in English
- Asking open-ended questions
- Narrating daily routines in English
- Watching limited high-quality educational programs together and discussing them
Storytelling and shared reading are especially powerful because they expose children to rich vocabulary, sentence structure, listening comprehension, and conversational thinking all at once.
Don’t Abandon the Home Language
Parents often worry that they should stop speaking their native language at home before testing. In most cases, that is not necessary. Maintaining a strong home language supports emotional connection, identity, family communication, and overall language development.
Instead of replacing your home language, focus on gradually increasing meaningful exposure to English through books, play, and conversation.
Keep Testing Preparation Positive
At this age, the goal should be confidence and comfort, not intensive “test prep.” Young children learn best through play, curiosity, and interaction.
A child who feels relaxed, engaged, and exposed to rich language experiences in both languages is often developing exactly the skills needed for future academic success.
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