1. Starting Too Late (or Too Intensely Too Early)
Some families don't start preparing until a few months before the test, leaving insufficient time to build the deep skills required. Others start intensive tutoring in Year 3, leading to burnout years before the exam.
The fix: Start with light skill-building in Year 4 (reading, puzzles, maths enrichment) and transition to structured exam practice in Year 5. Consistency beats intensity.
2. Over-Tutoring and Burnout
Enrolling a child in 4–5 tutoring sessions per week is counterproductive. Studies consistently show that beyond a certain point, additional tutoring produces diminishing returns while increasing stress, fatigue, and anxiety. Burnt-out children often perform worse on test day.
The fix: One or two quality practice sessions per week, supplemented by daily independent reading and light maths practice, is more effective than intensive drilling.
3. Neglecting the Writing Component
Many families focus exclusively on the multiple-choice sections (Thinking Skills, Reading, Maths) because they're easier to practice and score. Writing is often treated as an afterthought — but it contributes to the composite score just like every other section.
The fix: Practise timed writing (30 minutes) at least 2–3 times per week. Have someone review the essays and provide feedback on structure, vocabulary, and ideas.
4. Not Practising Under Timed Conditions
Doing practice questions casually, without a timer, builds false confidence. The real exam is strictly timed — students who haven't practised under pressure often run out of time or rush through questions at the end.
The fix: Always use a timer when doing practice papers. Platforms like SelectiveExams enforce strict timers with no pausing — exactly like the real test.
5. Only Using Old Past Papers
The transition to Janison and Cambridge as the test provider changed the style and format of questions. Students who only practise with older papers may be unprepared for the current computer-based format, which includes new question types like vocabulary cloze in Reading and expanded abstract reasoning in Thinking Skills.
The fix: Use up-to-date practice materials that reflect the current 2026 format alongside older papers. Variety in practice materials is key.
6. Ignoring School Grades
Maintaining strong academic performance at school is important. Students who focus exclusively on test preparation while letting their school grades slip are undermining their overall development.
The fix: Maintain strong academic performance at school. Don't sacrifice homework or school assignments for test preparation.
7. Putting Too Much Pressure on the Outcome
Children absorb their parents' anxiety. When parents frame the selective exam as a make-or-break, life-defining event, it creates enormous pressure that can impair test-day performance. Test anxiety is a real and significant factor.
The fix: Frame it as an opportunity, not an ultimatum. "Let's see how you go" is healthier than "You need to get in." Remind your child that their worth is not defined by a test score.
8. Not Reviewing Mistakes
Many students do practice tests, check their score, and move on. The real learning happens when you review every wrong answer and understand why the correct answer is correct. Without this step, students repeat the same mistakes.
The fix: After every practice test, spend equal time reviewing mistakes as you did taking the test. Use platforms that provide worked solutions for every question.
9. Focusing on Quantity Over Quality
Doing 100 practice papers superficially is less effective than doing 20 practice papers thoroughly — with careful review, mistake analysis, and targeted follow-up on weak areas.
The fix: Do fewer practice tests, but review each one deeply. Track patterns in mistakes (e.g., "consistently gets geometry wrong" or "runs out of time on reading passages") and target those areas specifically.
10. Not Simulating Real Exam Conditions
Doing practice questions on the couch with the TV on is not realistic preparation. The real exam is in an unfamiliar room, with strict silence, a ticking clock, and the pressure of other students around you.
The fix: Regularly simulate real exam conditions. Sit at a desk, use a strict timer with no pausing, and complete the full test in one sitting. SelectiveExams provides free monthly mock exams designed for exactly this — strict timers, no second chances, and instant results.