⚖️

Balancing Trial Tests and WEMT

Optimising Preparation for Selective Schools

✒️

Writing

📚

English

🧮

Mathematics

🧠

Thinking Skills

Achieving the right balance between assessment and skill development to maximise your child's potential for top selective schools

💡

"Focus on building real skills, not just testing them"

Who This Advice Is For

Target Audience

✅ Parents aiming for top 10–20 selective schools
✅ Parents making serious attempts for selective and OC programmes
ℹ️ Advice may not apply to those with different academic goals

🎯

The Core Problem

⚠️

Imbalance

Too much testing, not enough skill development

⏳

Timeline Issues

Excessive trial tests too early in the preparation journey

💡

Misunderstanding

Confusion between testing knowledge and building knowledge

"Trial tests measure progress; they don't create it."

Understanding the Limits of Trial Tests

What Trial Tests Actually Do

📊
Measure ranking at a specific point in time
⚖️
Like stepping on a scale—shows your current position, not how to improve
📄
Provide limited exam technique practice after first few attempts

Key Insight

Doing trial tests without skill development in between is like weighing yourself repeatedly without changing your diet or exercise—the results won't change.

The Gym Analogy

🏋️‍♂️

Testing your one-rep max every day without training in between won't increase strength.

🏃‍♂️

Running a marathon weekly without proper training between races won't improve your time.

The Negative Effects

😢

Discouragement
Repeated testing without improvement leads to discouraged children

⏳

Wasted Time
Time on excessive testing could be used for actual skill development

The 80/20 Rule for Effective Learning

Common Mistake

📝 Doing Questions (80%) 🧐 Reviewing (20%)

❗ Students spend most time doing practice questions
❗ Minimal time spent reviewing mistakes
❗ Coaching centres often provide only 20–30 minutes of review time

Why This Happens

🔒 Many centres don't reveal test questions for review
😣 Reviewing mistakes is uncomfortable and challenging
❤️ Students prefer working on subjects they already excel in

Optimal Approach

🔍 Reviewing & Skill Building (80%) 📈 Testing (20%)

✅ Focus majority of time on reviewing mistakes and building skills
✅ Use testing sparingly (once per week) to measure progress
✅ Work deliberately on weakest areas, even when challenging

Memory & Learning Facts

🧠 Memory retention drops by 50% after one day without review
🔄 Concepts need to be reviewed 6–8 times before they’re memorised

Timeline & Frequency of Trial Tests

Start Y5

Term 4

Final Month

Early Preparation

❌ Avoid multiple tests/week
✅ Build core skills
✅ Max 1 test/week
✅ Prioritise WEMT

“Multiple tests at the start of Year 5 is a waste of time.”

Middle Phase

✅ Continue skill development
✅ 1 test/week
✅ Target weaknesses
✅ Thorough review

“Up until Term 4, keep tests minimal.”

Final Preparation

✅ Increase test frequency
✅ 3–4 tests/week
✅ Focus exam technique
✅ Quick weak-area reviews

“Ramp up only in the last month.”

Understanding WEMT: Comprehensive Skill Development

What is WEMT?

WEMT = the four core disciplines essential for selective success:

✒️ Writing – creative & analytical
📚 English – comprehension & conventions
🧮 Mathematics – numerical reasoning
🧠 Thinking Skills – logic & patterns

“You build real skills through focused WEMT development.”

Why WEMT Over Trial Tests?

🎯 Targeted development vs broad testing
🏗️ Builds foundational competencies
📝 Offers detailed, actionable feedback
📈 Supports progressive improvement

80%

WEMT skill development

20%

Strategic trial tests

Writing Practice: Beyond Trial Tests

Why Daily Writing Matters

✏️

One piece every two weeks is insufficient for top selective schools.

✅ Write daily, not just in tests
✅ Short, frequent practice beats occasional long essays
✅ Top 10% requires consistent, deliberate practice

“If you want to be in the top 10%, you need to do it daily.”

The Tennis Analogy

🏓

You wouldn’t reach state-level tennis with one practice per week.

Similarly, top writing requires consistent, deliberate practice that builds skills.

Parental Involvement & Home Learning

The Critical Role of Parents

“Most kids in top 10 schools get significant parental help.”

👀 Accountability & consistency
🔍 Thorough review of mistakes
❤️ Personalised care no tutor matches

Balancing Coaching & Home Learning

❌ Avoid 3–4 different coaching centres
✅ Limit to 1–2 quality centres
✅ Dedicate 2+ hours daily at home

🎓

Targeted coaching helps in specialised areas (e.g. scholarship writing).

Common Mistakes to Avoid & Best Practices

❗ Common Mistakes

🏫 Enrolling in 3–4 coaching centres causes fragmented learning.
📅 Early over-testing in Year 5 wastes preparation time.
⏳ Minimal review time means missed learning opportunities.
💔 Avoiding weak areas leads to uneven skill growth.

✅ Best Practices

⚖️ Strategic balance: 1–2 quality centres + focused home learning.
📆 Phased approach: skill-building year-round, ramp tests only pre-exam.
✍️ Daily writing practice with prompt feedback.
🎯 Target weaknesses: spend 80% of time reviewing & improving areas.

Conclusion: Achieving the Right Balance

Key Takeaways

⚖️ 80/20 Rule: 80% review & skill-building, 20% testing.
📆 Strategic Timeline: One test/week until final 1–2 months.
✍️ Daily Writing: Make writing a daily habit with feedback.
👪 Parental Involvement: Consistent support at home is crucial.

💡 Final Thought

“Quality of learning matters more than quantity. Focus on deliberate skill building, not just testing.”

Aim for 2 hours of focused work daily for top selective success.