OC test preparation timeline: November 2026 to May 2027

The OC test for 2028 entry is on 11 and 12 May 2027. That gives you about six months. A steady routine works better than cramming, and it keeps learning enjoyable.

November–December 2026: find the starting point

• Apply online (applications close 15 February 2027).
• Have your child try a full practice test in learning mode (no timer), so they can see every question type without pressure.
• Use the parent report to find two or three weaker skills.
• Read every day, including poems and factual texts.

January 2027 (holidays): build habits

• Short sessions of 20–30 minutes, four or five days a week.
• Rotate: one Reading session, one Maths Reasoning, one Thinking Skills.
• Focus on the weak skills from the report, using one practice set at a time.

February–March 2027 (Term 1): widen and deepen

• Keep the short routine going alongside schoolwork.
• Talk through Thinking Skills questions together: ask your child to explain why the wrong options are wrong.
• Try one section under timed conditions every couple of weeks.

April 2027 (holidays and early Term 2): full practice

• Sit full mock tests in test mode, with the real timing and breaks between sections.
• After each mock, spend more time reviewing than testing: the explanations are where learning happens.
• Try the free official online practice tests so the test software feels familiar.

May 2027: test week

• Stop new learning a few days before. Light revision only.
• Good sleep, a normal breakfast and arriving early matter more than one more practice test.
• Remind your child that there is no negative marking: always choose an answer.

A healthy mindset matters. OC places are limited, and many capable children do not get one. Praise effort and progress, not just scores.