Short answer: for most children, one to three hours a week is enough for most of the preparation period, rising to three to five hours in the last six weeks. That's spread over short sessions of 20 to 40 minutes, not one long weekend block. Daily reading counts too.
More isn't always better. The NSW Department of Education says children only need a small amount of preparation, and warns that too much coaching can affect wellbeing. The aim is familiarity and steady skill-building, not exhaustion.
A guide by stage
| Stage | OC (Year 4 test) | Selective or scholarship (Year 6 test) |
|---|---|---|
| More than 6 months out | 1 to 2 hours | 1.5 to 2.5 hours |
| 6 weeks to 6 months out | 2 to 3 hours | 2.5 to 4 hours |
| Last 6 weeks | 3 to 4 hours, including one timed test | 4 to 5 hours, including one timed test |
| Final week | Light review only | Light review only |
These are weekly totals of focused practice, plus daily reading. Younger children need shorter sessions.
Why short sessions work better
- Attention: most 9 and 10-year-olds focus best for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.
- Memory: spacing practice across the week helps skills stick far better than one long session.
- Mood: short sessions are easier to keep positive, which keeps your child willing to come back.
A full timed practice test is the exception. It's long on purpose, because your child needs to build stamina for the real thing.
A sample week (selective, two months out)
| Day | Session | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Thinking skills: one question type, untimed | 30 min |
| Tuesday | Reading: one passage, then discuss the answers | 30 min |
| Wednesday | Rest | |
| Thursday | Maths reasoning: 15 timed questions, then review | 30 min |
| Friday | Writing: one timed piece | 30 min |
| Saturday | Review the week's mistakes | 30 min |
| Sunday | Rest, or a full practice test in the last six weeks |
That's about 2.5 hours, with daily reading on top.
What to spend the time on
- Review beats volume. Ten questions with a careful review of each mistake teach more than forty questions marked and forgotten.
- The weakest section first. Spend about half your time there.
- Writing every week for the selective and scholarship tests. It's the section families most often leave too late. See our selective writing test guide.
- Timed practice only once accuracy is good. Speed comes after understanding.
How to tell if it's too much
Cut back if your child:
- is regularly tired, irritable or tearful at practice time
- is dropping sport, music or time with friends
- starts saying they're "not smart enough"
- is sleeping badly
Children perform best when they're rested and confident. See exam anxiety in children.
How to tell if it's too little
You might need a bit more if:
- your child still meets unfamiliar question types in practice tests
- they regularly run out of time
- the same kinds of mistakes keep coming back
Free 12-week prep planner
Want a plan you can print and stick on the fridge? Our free 12-week test prep planner has the four phases, weekly hours, a weekly planner page, a mistake log and a test-day checklist. Get the free planner and we'll email it to you.
Related guides
- When to start OC preparation
- Supporting your child through selective exam preparation
- How to mark your child's timed writing
Practise efficiently
- Free sample test to find the weakest section
- OC practice tests, NSW Selective practice tests and EduTest practice tests, with worked explanations so review time is well spent
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a week should my child study for the selective test? About 1.5 to 4 hours a week for most of the preparation, rising to 4 to 5 hours in the last six weeks, in short sessions.
Is an hour a day too much for a Year 4 child? For most Year 4 children, an hour of test practice every day is more than they need. Aim for shorter sessions most days, plus daily reading.
Should my child prepare during school holidays? A little, if they're happy to. Keep sessions short and leave plenty of time for rest.
Hour ranges are our own recommendations, based on teaching experience. Not official guidance. Department view on preparation from the NSW Department of Education application process page.