Does your child get defensive or upset when you review their practice test errors? In ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’, Harvard-educated performance coach W. Timothy Gallwey explains the critical difference between judgmental and non-judgmental observation. Learn how to help your child review their Selective Test, OC Test, HAST, and NAPLAN mistakes constructively, turning errors into pure learning opportunities without crushing their confidence.
One of the most challenging parts of preparing for competitive Australian exams like the Selective High School Placement Test, Opportunity Class (OC) test, HAST, or NAPLAN is the inevitable process of reviewing practice test mistakes. For many parents, this is when the tears start. A child who was happily completing a maths paper suddenly becomes defensive, upset, or completely shut down when they realise they got several questions wrong.
This reaction is not a sign that your child is overly sensitive or unable to handle the academic rigour of the Scholarship exams. According to W. Timothy Gallwey, a pioneer of modern performance coaching, it is a perfectly natural response to how the human brain processes judgment.
In his highly influential book The Inner Game of Tennis, Gallwey explains that every performer has two inner selves: Self 1 (the conscious, critical, judgmental mind) and Self 2 (the unconscious, natural, learning mind). The problem with how most students review their mistakes is that Self 1 completely takes over the process.
When a student gets a question wrong on a HAST practice test, Self 1 immediately labels the event as “bad”. It then often attaches a personal judgment to that label: “I’m terrible at abstract reasoning,” or “I’m never going to pass the Selective Test.”
Gallwey argues that this constant stream of negative judgment creates immense physical and mental tension. It triggers a stress response that actually blocks Self 2 from learning. The child becomes so focused on the emotional pain of being “wrong” that they cannot objectively analyse why they made the error.
The key insight of the Inner Game is that judgment interferes with learning. When a tennis player hits a ball out of bounds and yells at themselves, they are not learning how to correct their swing; they are simply reinforcing their own anxiety. The same is true for a student reviewing a NAPLAN reading comprehension error.
The solution Gallwey proposes is a skill he calls “non-judgmental observation”. This means seeing an event exactly as it is, without adding any emotional labels of “good” or “bad” to it.
As Gallwey writes: “Letting go of judgments does not mean ignoring errors. It simply means seeing events as they are and not adding anything to them.”
If a tennis ball lands outside the line, it is not a “terrible” shot; it is simply a shot that landed outside the line. If a student chooses option B instead of option C on an OC Test practice paper, it is not a “stupid mistake”; it is simply an incorrect selection based on a misunderstanding of the question.
By removing the emotional judgment, the student can approach the error objectively. Self 1 is quieted, and Self 2 is free to analyse the mechanics of the mistake and learn how to correct it for next time.
Teaching your child the art of non-judgmental observation transforms practice test review from a battleground into a powerful learning tool. Here is how Australian parents can apply this Inner Game principle to HAST, Selective Test, and NAPLAN preparation:
When you sit down to review a TestMagic practice exam with your child, pay close attention to the language you both use. Avoid words like “bad,” “careless,” or “silly.”
Instead, use neutral, observational language. If your child misread a maths question, say: “I notice you calculated the area instead of the perimeter here.” This simply states a fact. It does not judge the child’s intelligence or effort.
When a student gets a question wrong, the immediate focus is usually on what the correct answer is. While this is important, it doesn’t help Self 2 learn.
Instead, focus on why the error occurred. Ask your child neutrally: “Can you walk me through how you arrived at this answer?” This encourages them to observe their own thinking process without feeling attacked. They might realise they missed a key word in the NAPLAN prompt, or that they applied the wrong formula. Once they identify the why, they have learned the lesson.
The ultimate goal is to help your child view practice test mistakes not as failures, but as valuable data points. Every incorrect answer on a Selective Test practice paper is simply information highlighting an area where their Self 2 needs more experience.
By treating mistakes as neutral data, you remove the fear of failure. Your child will become more willing to attempt difficult questions, knowing that getting them wrong is just part of the learning process.
The best way to develop this skill is through regular, structured practice using high-quality materials. TestMagic provides a comprehensive platform of practice exams specifically designed for the Selective Test, OC Test, HAST, and NAPLAN.
By using these tests to practice non-judgmental observation, your child will build the mental resilience needed to handle the inevitable challenges of the real exam day.
For more insights on building a strong foundation for exam success, read our article on Raising Boys to Succeed: What Every Australian Parent Needs to Know.
