What one piece of advice do you think is most important in preparing your child to take these tests?
One of the biggest mistakes parents make when preparing young children for gifted testing, school admissions evaluations, or academic assessments is expecting too much progress too quickly. Young children learn very differently from older students and adults. Developmentally, preschoolers and early elementary-aged children simply cannot absorb and retain large amounts of new information overnight.
The most effective approach to test preparation is consistency over time. Small amounts of practice done regularly are usually far more powerful than long, stressful study sessions. In most cases, just 10 to 15 minutes a day of focused, positive learning can make a tremendous difference.
Children learn best when practice feels fun, encouraging, and low-pressure. Reading together, talking through patterns, practicing listening skills, solving simple reasoning problems, and building vocabulary naturally through conversation are all helpful ways to strengthen the skills commonly measured by assessments such as the OLSAT, WPPSI, NNAT, and other gifted or admissions tests.
It is also important to remember that young children have short attention spans. If a child becomes frustrated, tired, or overwhelmed, learning becomes much less effective. Stopping while your child is still engaged and confident often works better than pushing through long sessions. The goal is to gradually build familiarity, focus, confidence, and comfort with problem-solving—not to create anxiety or pressure around testing.
Parents should also understand that preparation is not about “cramming” or forcing children to memorize answers. Good preparation helps children become comfortable with listening carefully, following directions, thinking flexibly, and staying calm in a structured testing environment. These are skills that develop slowly over time through repetition and encouragement.
Another important factor is attitude. Children are highly sensitive to adult stress. If parents become overly anxious about scores or admissions outcomes, children often absorb that tension. Keeping the process positive and supportive helps children approach testing with more confidence and less fear.
In the end, slow and steady truly does win the race. A calm, consistent routine with small amounts of daily practice is usually the best way to help a child feel prepared, capable, and confident on test day.
Tell us about your experiences