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Skill Matrix and Recommendations to Prepare for the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test®

(The same OLSAT®  Test is used to test children in Gr 4 and Gr 5.  When scores are standardized to get a percentile ranking for each child an adjustment is made for age.  An older child needs to get more questions correct to get the same percentile ranking as a younger child.  If you have limited time or the recommendations here look too difficult for your child please browse the Gr 4 Level E recommendations.)

Skills Tested

Verbal Comprehension – Antonyms, Sentence Completion, Sentence Arrangement

Verbal Reasoning – Arithmetic Reasoning, Logical Selection, Word/Letter Matrix, Verbal Analogies, Verbal Classification, Inference

Figural Reasoning – Figural Analogies, Pattern Matrix, Figural Series

Quantitative Reasoning – Number Series, Number Inference, Number Matrix

How can I prepare my child to do well in a test of these skills?

Scroll down for information on the books and software recommended in the table.   

Overwhelmed by the choices?  Here are our recommendations in order for the typical child.  The first two are the most important. 

• Building Thinking Skills for core verbal and non-verbal reasoning skills
• Cranium Crackers for core quantitative reasoning skills and logic
• Think Analogies or Thinkanalogy Puzzles for the nitty gritty on verbal analogies and lots of examples
• Spectrum Test Prep for examples of how questions might look on a test and general information on how to approach a multiple choice test (if your child is a good test taker you can pass on this one)
• Run on Riddlers for word play within sentences
• Creative Thinking Puzzles for a variety of puzzles playing with language and numbers
• Mind Benders for logic 
• Think-a-Minutes for practice solving a variety of puzzles using skills that will be tested and similar skills.  Learn to brainstorm and move on when you just can't see the answer.
• Math Detective if math isn’t your child’s strong point and paying attention to the details within a question is something they need to practice
• Mathematical Reasoning if your child needs to work on core math concepts
• Spectrum Test Practice for a child who needs more practice with the format of multiple choice tests
• Visual Mind Benders to challenge your child to solve a problem presented as a matrix

OLSAT® and Otis-Lennon School Ability Test® are registered trademarks of NCS Pearson (previously Harcourt Assessment Services) who own rights to and publish the OLSAT-8®.  The recommendations made here are those of Think Tonight and are not endorsed by NCS Pearson.