🎒August Action Plan: 7 Smart Tips (and Real Stories) to Help Your Child Prepare for Autumn Entry Assessments

August: for some families, it’s a final chance to unwind before school starts. For others, it’s the most important prep month before September or October school entrance assessments.

Many parents ask me, “What should we do now to make sure we’re ready?” 

My answer: Focus on confidence, not perfection.

I’ve worked with dozens of families during this make-or-break time. Here are some tried-and-tested tips, along with real stories of how other parents supported their children through this period.

1. Create a Light, Predictable Daily Routine

Children perform best when they know what to expect. During August, aim for a calm routine with 1–2 hours of structured revision, broken into small sessions with breaks.

📖 The Patel Family (Year 7 prep, London):They turned revision into a “morning mission”—from 9:00 to 10:30am, their son had “challenge time” for Maths and English. Afternoons were free for sports and outings. “He didn’t fight the study time because he knew it was limited and predictable,” Mrs. Patel shared.

✅ Tip: Use a visual timetable or a weekly planner stuck on the fridge.

2. Make Vocabulary Stick with Games

Vocabulary is vital for comprehension, verbal reasoning, and interview conversations. But instead of drilling lists, use fun methods.

🎲 The Zhang Family (Year 3 entry, Surrey):Each night after dinner, they played a “Word of the Day” game—whoever used the word naturally in a sentence three times won a sticker. Their daughter began using words like reluctant and peculiar in daily chat without even realising it.

✅ Try: Vocabulary bingo, flashcards, or storytelling with random word prompts.

3. Focus on the Format, Not Just the Content

Even bright children can underperform if they’re unfamiliar with test styles. Practise with past papers or sample questions.

🕐 The Williams Family (Year 9, boarding school application):Their son was strong academically, but in mock papers he kept running out of time. They introduced 10-minute “speed rounds” each morning to build fluency with verbal reasoning.

✅ Use a timer to simulate real exam conditions. Teach them to skip and return to difficult questions.

4. Writing Practice: Progress Over Perfection

Many children feel stuck when faced with a blank page. The goal in August is to develop structure, not flawless stories.

✍️ The Abdi Family (Year 6 prep):Their son hated writing. So instead of formal practice, they did daily 5-minute stories together at breakfast—sometimes silly, sometimes serious. “One day he wrote a story about a cheese-eating alien. It was nonsense, but it had a beginning, middle and end,” laughed his mum. His writing stamina grew quickly.

✅ Use pictures, silly headlines, or even short YouTube videos as story prompts.

5. Interview Readiness = Confidence + Curiosity

The interview is often where children shine—or freeze. Start casually, and build up to more formal Q&As.

🎤 The Ng Family (Year 7, international student):They practised “topic of the day” at the dinner table. Everyone had to speak for 1–2 minutes about a simple topic—favourite place, recent challenge, a time they helped someone. Their daughter became more confident speaking about herself in English.

✅ Use everyday moments to practise reflection and expression: “Why do you like that?” or “What would you do differently next time?”

6. Don’t Isolate—Create a Calm Team Atmosphere

This is a family journey. The key is to stay connected and supportive.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Thomas Family (applying to multiple schools):Instead of making the child carry all the pressure, they treated it as a team effort. Dad helped with Maths, Mum focused on reading, and their son had ownership of his own progress chart. “He felt supported, not judged,” they said.

✅ Show your child you’re proud of effort, not just scores.

7. Let Them Breathe

Children who feel emotionally safe learn better. If things get tense, pause. Go for a walk. Bake together. Watch a funny film.

🌿 The Lau Family (Year 7, first-time applicants):In mid-August, their daughter hit a wall—she refused to do any more comprehension practice. They paused for two days, went camping, and returned with fresh energy. “It reminded us what matters—her joy and mental well-being,” said her father.

✅ August isn’t just for prep—it’s for connection, play, and restoration.

Final Thoughts

The best preparation isn’t just academic—it’s emotional and mental readiness. Your child doesn’t need to be perfect. They need to feel supported, capable, and safe to try.

You’ve got this—and so do they.

If you’d like a personalised prep planner, mock interview practice, or last-minute school selection guidance, get in touch with our team. We’re here to support you through this exciting journey.