NSW · Year 3 and 4 parents · Updated October 2026

OC test books vs online practice: what actually helps

You can spend very little or a few hundred dollars on OC practice. This page compares the three main choices, a printed book, the free tests from the NSW Department of Education and a paid online pack, so you can match the tool to your child.

The three choices side by side

Prices are what we saw when we checked in October 2026 and can change. Books come in sections: for example a Year 3 or Year 4 Thinking Skills book, or a Years 3 to 4 book covering all three sections.

One honest point first: the placement tests are developed with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which works with the NSW Department of Education on test design, content and marking. No book or pack can show you the real questions, so judge each one by how well it teaches the skills.

Start with what is free

The Department provides practice tests for Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills on its OC practice tests page. The online versions are timed and show the correct answers afterwards. Do these before you buy anything. They show you closely how the screen looks and how fast the test moves.

The real test has 14 Reading questions, 35 Mathematical Reasoning questions and 30 Thinking Skills questions, in 40, 40 and 30 minutes. Thinking Skills gives about one minute per question, which is why timing practice matters.

When a book is the right choice

• Your child likes paper. A book is quiet, has no screen time and is easy to share.
• You want to learn one question type at a time. Books are good at teaching a method, then giving a page of practice.
• Budget matters. One book can give weeks of practice for a low price.

The limit is that the real test is on a computer. Plan some practice on a screen as well, and keep a timer.

When an online pack is the right choice

• You want many timed tests. Packs are built for screen practice with a clock.
• You want video explanations. Some packs include them, which help if your child can follow a teacher on screen.
• Your child is a few months from the test. Longer access suits a steady plan, but only pay for the months you will use.

Before you pay, ask how many tests there are for Thinking Skills specifically, and whether you can try a few for free.

The gap many families find: understanding the explanation

Whatever you choose, a child learns most from the explanation of a wrong answer. If English is your second language, you may find you cannot explain the answer to your child in the way that helps. This is where we help.

Our free 20-question check gives an instant score for each skill, and the worked answers are written in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean and Thai. You can read the reasoning in your own language, then explain it to your child in the way that you both understand. It is not a replacement for books or the Department's tests. It is a simple way to see where your child is now.

A simple plan that costs little

1. Try the free Department tests first to see the format and timing.
2. Take our free check to find the weakest skill, with explanations in your language.
3. Add one book or pack for the section that needs the most work. Use our Thinking Skills guide to understand each question type.
4. Practise on a screen with a timer in the last month, as set out in the OC test guide.

More expensive does not mean more suitable. A child who practises 20 minutes, three or four times a week with an explanation they understand is usually better off than one who owns a large pack and rarely opens it.