Mock strategy for 10-year-olds
At ten, a mock is a short experiment with a clear review. Protect concentration and review one decision at a time.
Set up the sitting
- Tell him the one thing the sitting checks, such as moving on when stuck.
- Pencil, a separate answer grid, a quiet table. No calculator.
A simple pacing rule
| Moment | Child | Adult |
|---|---|---|
| First pass | Answer what he can | No hints |
| Stuck | Mark it and move on | Praise the decision |
| Review | Return to flagged items | Ask what changed the answer |
| Finish | Check the grid | Note one change for next time |
Guessing as a last step
- Cross out options that clash with the wording or units.
- Still unsure? Flag it and move on.
- At the end, answer every item. Wrong answers lose nothing.
- Record guesses apart from confident answers.
Worked example Review the decision, not the child
A child chooses an answer after crossing out two options, then changes it without checking the passage. What is the best review question?
- Why did you not know this word?
- Which sentence or rule would justify the change?
- Why were you slow today?
Answer: The second asks for evidence and builds a habit.
The trap: The others judge ability or speed and find nothing to fix.
Four review labels
| Label | Ask | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge | Which fact was missing? | Learn it, then two fresh examples |
| Reading | Which word or unit was missed? | Underline before calculating |
| Pacing | Did it take too long? | A stop-and-return drill |
| Transfer | Does the grid match? | One answer-grid line |