Kindergarten to grade 8 · Ages 5-14
OLSAT Test Prep: One-to-One Tutor for Grades K-8
Calm, one-to-one practice with OLSAT question types and the reasoning skills behind them.
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How it works, in short
TaleemSquare OLSAT prep is live, one-to-one online help for children in kindergarten to grade 8 who will take the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test, often for gifted program screening. A tutor introduces the verbal, nonverbal and quantitative question types and builds the reasoning behind them, such as analogies, series and classification.
Pearson says OLSAT shows how well a student learns, not what has been learned, so cramming is not the goal and we never use real test items. Districts set their own cut-offs. We focus on familiarity and genuine skills. Plans start at $85 a month, with no contract.
- Format
- Live, one-to-one, online
- Lesson length
- 45 minutes
- Level
- Ages 5-14
- Price
- From $85 a month
- Per hour of tutoring
- About $14.17
- Families taught
- 500+ since 2023
What changes after a term of lessons
Familiar with every question type
Knows what figural analogies, picture series, number matrices and the other OLSAT item types look like, so test day holds fewer surprises.
Stronger reasoning skills
Practices spotting patterns, relationships and rules in words, pictures, shapes and numbers, skills that also help in class.
Calm and focused
Learns to listen to directions, work steadily and check each answer choice, without rushing or freezing.
What we cover
Lessons follow your child's own school or homeschool curriculum. These are the areas we work on most at this level.
Verbal comprehension
Following directions, antonyms, sentence completion and sentence arrangement, supported by vocabulary building.
Verbal reasoning
Verbal analogies, verbal classification, inference, logical selection and arithmetic reasoning, from Pearson's list of OLSAT item types.
Pictorial reasoning
Picture classification, picture analogies and picture series, practiced with simple, friendly images.
Figural reasoning
Figural analogies, figural classification, pattern matrices and figural series with shapes.
Quantitative reasoning
Number series, numeric inference and number matrices, the number side of the test.
Listening and recall
Following multi-step directions and recalling words and numbers, tasks Pearson lists for OLSAT.
Reasoning habits
Checking every answer choice, ruling out options and moving on when stuck.
Signs your child could use help
- Will take the OLSAT for a gifted or advanced program
- Has never seen this kind of reasoning question before
- Gets anxious with timed tests or new formats
- Strong in reading but unsure with shapes and number patterns
- Is in a grade where the district screens all students
- Wants to build reasoning skills beyond the classroom
One of these on its own is normal. Two or three together usually point to a specific gap, and finding it is what the free assessment is for.
Taught to your curriculum, wherever you live
Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT 8, Pearson)
OLSAT 8 has seven levels, from Level A for kindergarten to Level G for grades 9 to 12. It measures verbal, nonverbal and quantitative reasoning, is untimed with a 75-minute maximum, and reports a School Ability Index, percentile ranks and stanines.
For families moving from the UK
OLSAT is not part of the UK curriculum, so most children have not seen its question types. We introduce each format gently and build the reasoning skills behind it.
Level: Year 1 to Year 9
For families moving from Canada
OLSAT measures reasoning rather than what was taught in school, so a move from Canada does not put your child behind. We introduce the question types and practice them calmly.
Level: Kindergarten to grade 8
For families moving from Australia
OLSAT question types are likely new to children who studied in Australia. We introduce each format and build the word, picture, shape and number reasoning behind it.
Level: Foundation to Year 8
What an OLSAT prep lesson looks like
One 45-minute session. Tutors adjust the timings to your child.
5 min
Warm-up
A quick puzzle to get thinking.
12 min
Verbal reasoning
Analogies, classification or following directions, at your child's level.
13 min
Shapes and pictures
Figural analogies, pattern matrices or picture series.
10 min
Number reasoning
Number series, number matrices or numeric inference.
5 min
Wrap-up
A fun puzzle to try before the next lesson.
Who teaches your child
Every TaleemSquare math tutor passes the same five checks before their first class. Your child keeps the same tutor each week, and if the fit is not right we switch tutor at no cost. Tutors are based in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Pakistan and India, and all of them teach in English.
Identity and references checked
Every tutor is identity-verified and reference-checked before teaching a student.
Subject test
Tutors pass a subject test before they are matched with a child.
Spoken-English assessment
Lessons are taught in English, so every tutor passes a spoken-English assessment.
Live sample lesson
Tutors teach a live sample lesson before they are hired, to show they can explain clearly.
Open to parents
Classes are one-to-one in a password-protected room. Sit in on any class or ask for a recording.
How OLSAT prep lessons work
Start gently
The first lesson tries a few sample-style questions of each type to see which feel easy and which need work.
Teach the reasoning, not answers
We explain the thinking behind each question type with our own practice items, never real test questions.
Short, calm practice
Sessions mix question types in short sets, with steady pacing practice added only as test day gets closer.
Updates for parents
You get a short note after every lesson on what was covered and what to practice next.
Simple monthly plans
$85a month for 2 one-to-one math lessons a week
About $10.63 a lesson, or $14.17 per hour of live one-to-one tutoring.
- Free 45-minute trial assessment, no card details
- No contract, cancel any month
- No registration fee
- 4-class money-back promise
- Switch tutor at no cost
- WhatsApp update after every class
Starter
2 lessons a week, best for keeping up with school
$85/mo
EnrollGrowthMost chosen
3 lessons a week, best for catching up + building confidence
$119/mo
EnrollIntensive
4 lessons a week, best for exam prep & fast improvement
$149/mo
EnrollCommon worries, honest answers
“Is it fair to prepare for the OLSAT?”
Pearson describes OLSAT as showing how well a student learns, not what has been learned, so cramming is not the goal. We never use real test items. Seeing the question types once and building real reasoning skills simply helps your child show what they can do.
“My child is young. Is this too much pressure?”
For kindergarten to grade 2 we keep lessons short and game-like, with picture puzzles. If your child seems stressed, we slow down. The aim is a relaxed child who has seen the formats before.
“Will this guarantee a gifted placement?”
No one can promise that. Each district sets its own criteria. Westside Union School District in California looks for the 97th percentile or above in grade 4, while Westport, Connecticut, also uses teacher observation, work samples and other evidence.
Frequently asked questions
What does the OLSAT measure?
What are the OLSAT levels?
How long is the OLSAT?
How is the OLSAT scored?
What OLSAT score do you need for gifted programs?
How much does OLSAT prep cost?
Book a free 45-minute assessment
Your child meets a tutor for a real one-to-one session. You get an honest read on where they are and what would help, even if the answer is that they don't need tutoring right now.
- 1
We reply on WhatsApp
Usually within 10 minutes, to find a time that suits your family.
- 2
Your child meets the tutor
A relaxed 45-minute session to see their level and how they learn.
- 3
You decide
You get a recommendation and a plan. No card details, no pressure.