Practice Secrets for OC Test Success
It’s tempting to sit your child down for a few marathon study sessions. After all, more time should mean better results. Cast yourself back to your own school days - does that sound right to you? The reality is that the spaced practice technique is a far more effective way to build lasting recall, reduce exam-day nerves and boost overall performance. In this post, you’ll learn exactly what spaced practice is and why it works.
What is spaced practice?
Spaced practice means breaking study into shorter sessions spread out over days or weeks, rather than cramming everything in one go. Practically, this means:
- Deliberate gaps between sessions on the same topic
- Short, focused drills paired with dedicated review
- Sustained active recall because each return to a topic forces the brain to retrieve information, strengthening memory far more than immediate repetition
By spacing out practice, you fight the natural “forgetting curve” and build durable mastery. So, when your child sits the real OC Test, they remember strategies and facts under pressure, not just immediately after learning them.
Why does spaced practice work?
Memory fades rapidly at first, then more slowly over time. Spaced review “resets” the curve just as recall begins to slip, preserving more knowledge long-term.
Our brains naturally forget new info unless they revisit it at the right times. Research shows that spacing out study sessions can boost memory by up to 300%! Instead of cramming, a quick review the next day (and again a few days later) locks things in for good.
Even better, mixing in simple self-quizzes makes a big difference. In one famous study, students who tested themselves three times after reading once remembered 62% of the material, compared with just 39% for those who simply re-read the same text four times. That’s why our 10 question mini-tests aren’t just extra work—they force your child to pull answers from memory, turning practice into real learning.
Trying to recall something after a gap is harder than immediately reviewing it. That difficulty is important because it cements learning.
What if…?
Our children aren’t robots. While we might like them to do exactly as we ask, this is an unreasonable expectation. Sometimes sessions don’t go to plan, so here are some suggestions that might help.
My child skips the review
The review is the most important part. Without it, mistakes get repeated. If you find that children get tired after the mini-test and don’t want to do the review, make the next session just a review of the last mini-test. A shorter session with only the review is better than one with just the test.
Sessions get missed
Test preparation isn’t the only thing in your/your child’s life. Life will get busy. Turn practice into a shared routine: calendar alerts, study buddies or even post-test rewards. Plan a calendar together so that your child doesn’t feel like this is being forced on them. Start with a few shorter sessions and try to work your way up rather than starting big and falling behind.
It feels too hard for my child
Remind your children that everything is hard to start with. Tell them about something that you find hard but still do - be vulnerable here. If you’re finding that their scores are low and they’re getting demoralised, go back to core concepts and fundamentals rather than test questions.
By spreading practice across days, pairing every test with dedicated review, and alternating sections each session, you’ll leverage the proven power of spaced practice to prepare for the NSW OC Test.
Ready to get started? Sign up now to let your take a diagnostic test —completely free— and see how OC Test Prep’s spaced practice tools can transform your child’s confidence.