Skill Matrix and Recommendations to Prepare for the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test®
OLSAT-8® Level E recommended for administration in Gr 5
(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.
|
Antonyms |
Building Thinking Skills Level 3 verbal
Brain Stretchers Book 1
|
|
Sentence Completion |
Run-on Riddlers B1
Spectrum Test Prep Grade 6
|
|
Sentence Arrangement |
Run on Riddlers B1
|
|
Arithmetic Reasoning |
Spectrum Test Prep Grade 6
Math Detective A1 book or software
Mathematical Reasoning Book 2 student and instructor
|
|
Logical Selection |
Mind Benders A3
Brain Stretchers Book 2
Creative Thinking Puzzlers B1
|
|
Word/Letter Matrix |
Creative Thinking Puzzlers B1
|
|
Verbal Analogies |
Think Analogies B1 or Thinkanalogy Puzzles B1
Building Thinking Skills Level 2 book or software
Spectrum Test Prep Gr 5
|
|
Verbal Classification |
Building Thinking Skills Level 3 verbal
|
|
Inference |
Brain Stretchers Book 1
|
|
Figural Analogies |
Building Thinking Skills Level 3 figural
|
|
Pattern Matrix |
Building Thinking Skills Level 3 figural
Visual Mind Benders B1
|
|
Figural Series |
Building Thinking Skills Level 3 figural
|
|
Number Series |
Brain Stretchers Book 1
|
|
Number Inference |
Brain Stretchers Book 1
|
|
Number Matrix |
Brain Stretchers Book 1
|
|
In General |
Think-a-Minutes C1 and C2
Spectrum Test Practice Gr 6 |
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
- Brain Stretchers 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
