School admission season can be stressful for parents. Many private schools in Pakistan ask young children to take a short admission test or interview before joining Nursery, KG or Prep. Every school is different, but most check the same basic skills. Here’s what to expect and how to prepare calmly at home.

What do schools commonly check?

• English: recognising capital and small letters, letter sounds, simple words
• Urdu: recognising haroof-e-tahaji, sometimes simple joining
• Maths: counting objects, recognising numbers (often 1–20 or 1–50), simple before/after, bigger/smaller
• General knowledge: colours, shapes, fruits, animals, body parts, own name and parents’ names
• Fine motor skills: holding a pencil, tracing, colouring, drawing simple shapes
• Confidence and listening: following simple instructions and answering short questions

Always ask the school what their test covers. Many will share a syllabus or sample paper.

A simple 4-week home plan

Week 1: Get comfortable

Talk about the new school positively. Practise saying name, age and parents’ names. Start 15 minutes of daily worksheet time.

Week 2: Letters and sounds

Practise English and Urdu letters with tracing and matching. Play “I spy something that starts with b”.

Week 3: Numbers and shapes

Count everyday objects, write numbers, and name shapes and colours around the house.

Week 4: Practice “test” days

Sit at a table for 15–20 minutes and complete a worksheet together, just like a test. Keep it light and praise effort.

Tips for test day

• Make sure your child sleeps well and eats breakfast.
• Don’t say “it’s a test”. Say “you’ll do some fun activities with a teacher”.
• Stay calm: children pick up on parents’ worry.

Frequently asked questions

How early should we start preparing for an admission test?

Three to six weeks of short daily practice is usually plenty. Starting too early or pushing too hard can make children anxious.

What if my child doesn’t answer in the test?

That’s common with shy children. Teachers are used to it. Practising at home with a new adult (an aunt or neighbour asking questions) can help build confidence.

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