Test Taking Strategies for The Selective High School Placement Test

Test taking strategies are techniques you can employ to improve performance and maximise results. Many children taking the selective high school placement test don’t have a lot of experience taking test in high pressure situations. Teaching them about the following strategies can help them get the best possible marks on the day.

1. Stay Calm

Test anxiety can negatively impact your performance. Take deep breaths, maintain a positive mindset, and stay focused on the task at hand. If you encounter a difficult question, put a circle around it and skip it temporarily. Come back to it later on with a fresh perspective.

2. Read Instructions Carefully

Take a moment to read and understand all instructions before starting. Misinterpreting instructions can lead to unnecessary errors, so pay attention to details such as word limits, required formats, or specific directions.

3. Answer Easy Questions First

Start with the easier questions to gain confidence and save time for more challenging ones. This approach helps you secure the points you know you can get while minimizing the chances of leaving questions unanswered.

4. Make an Educated Guess

Once you have finished the easy questions, return to the more challenging ones. If you are still unsure about an answer, try to eliminate obviously wrong options and make an educated guess. Use your knowledge of the subject matter and any relevant clues in the question to make an informed choice. You are better off having an answer, then no answer at all.

5. Manage Your Time

Make sure you don’t run out of time by understanding how many questions are in a test and how long you have to complete it. For example, the ‘Thinking Skills’ part of the Selective High School Placement test is 40 minutes long, and has 40 questions. This means if you were perfectly paced you would have finished 20 questions (half way) 20 minutes in to the test. This can help you see if you are giving too much time to a particular question or getting stuck early on. Make sure you have enough time to complete the entire test and not miss any easy questions. You don’t have to be perfectly paced, but just keep an eye on the clock and make sure you complete the test in its entirety.

6. Review Your Answers

If time allows, review your answers before submitting the test. Check for any errors, ensure you haven’t missed any questions, and make any necessary revisions.

Ready to have a go? Why not test out these skill on a practice test to see if you find them helpful. Practice, preparation, and a calm mindset are key to improving your test-taking skills. Good luck!

Primary School Tutor

Master Coaching offers Primary School tuition for the Selective High School Placement Test. We are located in Hurstville, Sydney, and also offer online tutoring to students across NSW.