Thinking Skills is one of the key areas students need to prepare for when sitting the NSW Selective High School Test.
Preparing ahead in Year 5 gives your child regular exposure to these skills, rather than relying on last-minute preparation before the exam.
Thinking Skills tests how your child thinks through a problem, rather than simply what they have memorised.
There isn't always a formula your child can simply remember.
They need to look at the information, work out what is happening and reason their way towards the answer.
This is what makes Thinking Skills different from many of the questions your child encounters at school.
This is an important distinction for parents.
Your child's school may develop general problem-solving, reasoning and critical-thinking abilities, but students are not normally given dedicated classroom preparation for the Thinking Skills component of the Selective School Test.
That means if your child is sitting the exam, they need to become familiar with these question types before exam day.
Parents can choose to prepare with their child at home using practice materials, or seek professional assistance through a tutoring program that specifically works on these skills.
Walking into the exam and seeing these question types for the first time can be very different from having already practised how to approach them.
Thinking Skills isn't about simply being "smart." It's about learning how to approach unfamiliar problems.
Identify what changes, what stays the same and what comes next.
Work out how different pieces of information are connected.
Use the information provided to eliminate possibilities and reach a conclusion.
Try a different approach when the first idea doesn't work.
Apply reasoning skills within the time available during the test.
Want to see what your child will actually be tested on?
We recommend parents look at the official NSW Selective School Test practice papers with their child. The papers cover the different areas of the test, including:
Tip for parents: Don't worry if your child finds some of the questions difficult. The purpose of practice is to identify what your child can already do and where they need more development.
Not sure how your child would approach these questions?
Every student is different, and a Selective School offer can never be guaranteed.
What we can provide is structured preparation, experienced teaching and extensive practice with the skills and question types students are expected to tackle.
Thinking Skills is part of METS, our 3-hour program for students who want to develop their Maths and English while also building higher-order thinking and reasoning skills.
Structured teaching, practice and regular revision to build strong Maths foundations.
Writing, reading comprehension, spelling, grammar and vocabulary.
Problem solving and reasoning, practised every week.
Weekly homework plus regular assessment and feedback.
METS: 3 hours per week, giving regular exposure rather than last-minute preparation
The skills developed through Selective preparation can also help students preparing for other competitive academic entry pathways.
These assessments can also require students to reason, analyse information, solve unfamiliar problems and work under time pressure.
So even if your ultimate goal isn't a Selective High School, developing these skills can still be valuable.
We want them to understand how to find it.
Because eventually:
What matters is whether your child can look at something unfamiliar and think: "I know how to work this out."
That's the skill we're developing.
Small classes. More opportunity to ask questions.
Our Year 5 METS classes have a maximum of 8 students, so our tutors can teach the group while still giving students individual attention.
Because children learn better when they feel confident enough to try.
With a maximum of 8 students per class, our tutors can teach the group while still giving students individual attention.
Students follow a carefully planned program rather than simply completing random worksheets each week.
Our tutors are trained to teach the Markitup approach and support students at different levels.
We check student work, identify gaps and use assessment to understand where students need more support.
We want children to feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes and having another go.
METS is our 3-hour program combining Maths, English and Thinking Skills: problem solving and reasoning.
Students receive structured homework designed to reinforce what they have learned in class.
Experience Markitup before making a commitment. Come in, meet our tutors and see how our classes work.
Because children learn better when they feel confident enough to try.
You don't have to take our word for it. Your child can experience a FREE Trial Lesson and see what learning at Markitup is actually like.
See how we teach. See how your child approaches challenging questions. Get a feel for our classroom. No pressure. Just come in, learn and experience Markitup for yourself.
Thinking Skills is about how your child thinks through a problem, rather than simply what they have memorised. Questions can involve patterns, relationships, rules and sequences, logic and reasoning, and unfamiliar information.
Thinking Skills is not a standard school subject. Your child's school may develop general problem-solving, reasoning and critical-thinking abilities, but students are not normally given dedicated classroom preparation for Thinking Skills.
Thinking Skills is part of METS, our 3-hour program combining Maths, English and Thinking Skills. ME is our 2-hour Maths and English program.
No. OC and Selective preparation is not necessary for every child.
However, if you are considering applying for the OC or Selective exam to see how they go, we would highly recommend spending some time preparing for it, as it makes a significant difference in your child's confidence level. As a parent we can provide the tools and opportunities, but the rest is up to them!
Every student is different, and a Selective School offer can never be guaranteed. What we can provide is structured preparation, experienced teaching and extensive practice with the skills and question types students are expected to tackle.
We can provide additional challenge through more complex questions, problem solving and reasoning activities. METS also provides additional Thinking Skills development.
Our classes have a maximum of 8 students.
Yes! We offer a free trial lesson so you and your child can experience Markitup before making a commitment.
Tell Miu your child's year level, what they're doing at school and what you'd like them to improve. Miu can answer questions about Year 5 Thinking Skills, METS, class times, centres and fees.
