A Class-4 parent's guide to starting Olympiad prep (without burning out)

If your child is in Class 4 and is curious about Olympiads, you're at a wonderful starting point. The single biggest mistake parents make is jumping into mock tests on day one. Don't.

The right first month is about three things: building a habit, understanding the exam shape, and identifying genuine weak spots.

Week 1 — Shape, not speed

Spend the first week simply *looking* at past papers together. No timer. No score. Read the questions out loud. Ask, "What is this question really asking?" This is the single most underrated skill in Olympiad prep.

• Pick one SOF IMO sample paper and one ITO IMO Primary paper.
• Mark questions as "easy / makes-me-think / no-idea" with three coloured dots.
• Count the dots. You now have a starting map of strengths and gaps.

Week 2 — Plug the leaks

Pick the *two* topics with the most red dots. Just two. Spend the whole week on them. For Class 4 this is almost always either fractions, division word problems, or logical reasoning.

Week 3 — One mock under timed conditions

One. Not five. Sit beside your child if needed. After the mock, debrief like a coach: which questions were rushed? Which silly mistakes repeated? What pattern shows up?

Week 4 — Mix it up

Now alternate days: one day a fresh topic, one day mixed-bag practice. By the end of week 4 you'll have a child who isn't terrified by the paper — and that's worth more than any score.

The goal is steady curiosity, not sprint-then-collapse.