The New South Wales Education Department has issued a significant warning to parents about the potential dangers of excessive tutoring for children preparing to sit the selective high schools placement test. Department officials caution that pushing students too hard with intensive coaching could actually undermine their performance and harm their overall wellbeing.
The Risks of Over-Coaching
According to education experts, when children undergo too much test preparation, they may become overly reliant on coaching techniques rather than developing genuine problem-solving abilities. Excessive drilling can lead to increased anxiety, reduced confidence, and diminished performance when students face the actual examination conditions.
The department's concerns come amid growing competition for places in selective schools across NSW. Many families invest heavily in tutoring services, sometimes beginning preparation years in advance. However, education specialists note that this intensive approach often creates unnecessary stress for children and may not produce the desired results.
Finding the Right Balance
Education authorities emphasize that moderate preparation can be beneficial, but the key lies in maintaining balance. The selective schools test is designed to identify natural ability and potential, not just coaching outcomes. When students are over-prepared, they may struggle to adapt to unfamiliar question types or problem-solving approaches that differ from their tutoring materials.
Psychological research supports these concerns, showing that excessive academic pressure during childhood can lead to burnout, decreased motivation, and even long-term negative attitudes toward learning. The department recommends that parents focus on developing their children's general academic skills and resilience rather than narrowly targeting test-specific content.
Alternative Approaches to Preparation
Instead of intensive coaching, education experts suggest several more balanced approaches to selective schools test preparation:
- Encouraging regular reading to build comprehension and vocabulary skills naturally
- Developing mathematical reasoning through practical problem-solving activities
- Building test familiarity through occasional practice rather than constant drilling
- Maintaining a healthy balance of academic, social, and recreational activities
The department stresses that student wellbeing should remain the priority throughout the preparation process. Parents are encouraged to maintain realistic expectations and remember that multiple educational pathways can lead to success. Selective school placement represents just one option among many quality educational opportunities available to NSW students.
Education officials also note that the selective schools test itself continues to evolve to reduce the advantages gained through excessive coaching. The assessment increasingly focuses on measuring innate ability and potential rather than coached responses, making balanced development more important than ever for long-term academic success.
