The 10-Week OC Test Game Plan: How to Use the Final Weeks Wisely

Here's a week-by-week structure to keep preparation focused, effective, and stress-free.

Weeks 1-3: Find the gaps

The biggest mistake families make in the final stretch is practising everything equally. When you have limited time, smart preparation means focusing on the most important areas.

First start with a diagnostic test across all three sections: mathematical reasoning, reading, and thinking skills. This gives you a baseline. On OC Test Prep, we also break it down to individual categories within each section and benchmark across hundreds of students.

Maybe your child handles arithmetic confidently but struggles with word problems that require multi-step reasoning. Maybe their reading comprehension is solid on shorter passages but falls apart on longer ones. You won't know until you look at the data.

But not all gaps are equal. While the test changes from year to year, past trends show that certain areas come up far more frequently than others. A weakness in a topic that's tested heavily is much more urgent than a weakness in something that rarely appears. The smartest approach is to prioritise the gaps that overlap with the most commonly tested areas.

Three weeks of focused work on the right areas will do more than ten weeks of random practice.

Weeks 4-7: Build strategies, not just knowledge

This is where most preparation goes wrong. Families assume that doing questions equals better results. But if your child keeps making the same types of mistakes, more questions just means more of the same mistakes.

What changes outcomes is learning how to approach problems, not just practising them over and over.

For mathematical reasoning, that means building mental maths fluency. Strategies like friendly numbers (turning 47 x 6 into 50 x 6 minus 3 x 6), working backwards from the answer, or using number properties like divisibility rules can dramatically speed up your child's problem-solving. These are the methods strong mathematical thinkers use naturally.

For reading, it means practising on a screen, not just on paper. The OC test is digital, and reading on a screen is a fundamentally different skill than reading on paper. Children who only practise with printed worksheets are at a real disadvantage.

For thinking skills, it means learning to recognise pattern types and applying process of elimination strategically rather than staring at a question hoping the answer appears.

What's equally important is to review the questions to understand how to best solve them. On OC Test Prep, we provide detailed explanations for every question. This review process is as important as practice tests, if not more.

These four weeks are where the biggest gains happen, not through grinding, but through building a toolkit your child can rely on.

Weeks 8-9: Simulate test conditions

By now your child should have a solid foundation. These two weeks are about putting it all together under realistic conditions.

That means full-length, timed tests on a computer. Not one section at a time. Not untimed. Not on paper. The real test is 35 maths questions in 40 minutes, 25 reading questions in 30 minutes, and 30 thinking skills questions in 30 minutes, all on screen.

Your child needs to experience what that feels like before test day, not for the first time on test day.

After each practice test, review every wrong answer together. Not just “the answer was C.” Ask: what went wrong? Was it a silly mistake under time pressure? A concept they don't understand? A question type they haven't seen before? The review is where the learning happens, not the test itself.

Aim for one full practice test per week during this phase, with thorough review sessions in between.

Week 10: Wind down, don't cram

This is the week most parents get wrong. The instinct is to squeeze in as much practice as possible. Resist it.

By this point, your child knows what they know. Last-minute cramming doesn't add knowledge. It adds stress. And stress is the single biggest performance killer for children this age.

Keep the final week light. A short review session or two is fine. Focus on routine, rest, and confidence. Remind your child that they've put in the work. Talk through what test day will look like so there are no surprises.

A calm, well-rested child who trusts their preparation will outperform an anxious, exhausted one every time.

Start with a baseline

If you haven't already, the most useful thing you can do right now is take a free diagnostic test to see exactly where your child stands. Each test takes between 15-30 minutes and gives you a clear picture of strengths and weaknesses on each section.

Ten weeks is more than enough time to make a meaningful difference. But only if you spend them on the right things.

Want a structured weekly plan tailored to your child's diagnostic results? OC Test Prep provides personalised recommendations, strategy tutorials, and full-length practice tests in the same digital format as the real test.