Preparing students for success in the OC Placement Test. We have many success stories.
There are two main reasons why an opportunity class is a good option for your child. OC class enriches and academically challenges students. Students are kept engaged and stimulated, which may result in a higher level of mathematical skills and a more advanced level of English ability, which may lead to better chances of getting an offer for a selective school and being better prepared for high school.
There are many academic and non-academic advantages to being in a selective school, such as possible higher HSC results and being surrounded by like-minded peers.
Prepare your child for the Opportunity Class placement test with personalised, research-based coaching and without overwhelming them with tons of homework.
In our course, students learn not only Maths, English and Thinking skills. They learn the foundations of problem-solving and systematic thinking. They also learn critical thinking, which includes inductive and deductive reasoning. Our course teaches students how to think and how to apply their thinking skills under exam conditions.
Opportunity Class (also known as OC) is a program in government schools in NSW that caters to academically gifted and talented children in Years 5 and Year 6.
The class provides a rich and intellectually stimulating educational environment. Students who wish to be placed in an Opportunity Class in Year 5 need to sit the test in Year 4, which is in early May of each year.
Entry into OC is determined by two factors:
Global Education Academy encourages students to start their preparation as early as possible to improve their school results and enhance their skills, in addition to the actual preparation for the OC Placement Test.
Sessions at Global Education Academy are conducted in a supportive, friendly and engaging learning environment where the academic development of each student comes first. We offer our students many hours of extra support.
The course exposes students to all genres of texts. It includes all levels of Reading Comprehension and all types of questions that are required for the OC test:
Standard questions for a passage or poem that requires deep and inferential understanding.
Fill in the gaps questions that not only require high level of understanding the content but also understanding the structure of the text.
Extracts questions that require understanding the main idea and the angle of each extract.
In addition, in our tutoring classes, students are exposed to various types of texts. We also make sure students expand their vocabulary and learn grammar and punctuation in a structured environment.
The OC Maths test has moved from Maths to Mathematical Reasoning. Mathematical reasoning is subtly different to maths. Students need to not only know formulas and perform some calculations. They need to problem-solve, analyse and reason correctly.
Our unique strategy of problem solving, the UPSLTM strategy (understand, plan, solve and learn), gives students an advantage and a higher level of knowledge that can be applied to any setting or situation. Our tutors make sure that students understand each topic before moving to the next.
Thinking skills has two main components: problem-solving and critical thinking.
Problem solving consists of mathematical or logical problems embedded in a practical context. To solve them, students need mathematical knowledge, analytical skills and the ability to differentiate between redundant and essential information.
Critical thinking – when we analysed these questions, we found that they consisted of inductive and deductive reasoning.
Our tutors who teach the deductive reasoning are mathematics teachers, usually high school mathematics teachers who are also trained how to teach primary students
The program runs from Term 4 (10 weeks), of Year3 and Term 1 (10 weeks) of Year4 and 5 days over the April School Holidays.
Each term, your child will receive their own GEA Selective Program books.
The program includes 5 mock tests spread throughout the entire program and each test is accompanied with comprehensive feedback.
However, many of our students start tutoring from the beginning of year 3. In Year 3 we strengthen their maths and English and bring to an advanced level of both subjects.
Exam Techniques
Cognitive Load Techniques