11+ Verbal ReasoningPractice Paper 3 · MathedUp
Instructions
- Do not begin until you are told to start. You have 50 minutes for 80 questions.
- Mark every answer on the separate answer sheet, not on this paper.
- Most questions want one answer (A–E): shade the matching lozenge in pencil.
- Some blocks ask you to find two words, one from each group. Those questions want TWO marks: one from A–C and one from X–Z.
- Others show five words and ask for the TWO that do not belong: fill two lozenges from A–E. Both must be right to score the mark.
- Work quickly and carefully. If a question is hard, move on and come back.
- Rub out any answer you want to change. Do not leave two marks for one question.
Example: to choose answer C, shade it like this:
ABCDE
Section 1Three-Letter Words
In these sentences, the word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. These three letters will make one correctly-spelt word without changing their order. Mark the correct three-letter word.
Worked example
She was the GREST runner in the county.
jarA
hubB
dinC
eatD
witE
Answer D — Putting EAT back into GREST makes GREATEST.
1
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
Waves crashed along the rocky SHLINE.
tryA
joyB
tagC
oilD
oreE
2
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
The machine kept PRING blank pages.
tinA
elmB
penC
wokD
kidE
3
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
The wind was FLATING the long grass.
elmA
tenB
sunC
busD
tonE
4
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
The heat left several of them FAING.
boyA
tinB
gelC
hidD
metE
5
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
It was a very ROTIC old stone bridge.
manA
gigB
ratC
nowD
hasE
6
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
He was FASING his coat against the wind.
tenA
endB
peaC
payD
wonE
7
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
They were OVERED at the good news.
agoA
rowB
guyC
ranD
joyE
Section 2Antonym Pairs
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning. Mark BOTH words.
Worked example
(dry hilarious roomy) (big wet courteous)
dryA
hilariousB
roomyC
bigX
wetY
courteousZ
Answer A Y — mark one word in each group. “dry” and “wet” are opposites.
8
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(open shrink forbid) (peer adjust expand)
openA
shrinkB
forbidC
peerX
adjustY
expandZ
9
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(buy assemble accept) (throw sell appease)
buyA
assembleB
acceptC
throwX
sellY
appeaseZ
10
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(public dingy fake) (far private terrified)
publicA
dingyB
fakeC
farX
privateY
terrifiedZ
11
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(gather collect amass) (scatter accumulate assemble)
gatherA
collectB
amassC
scatterX
accumulateY
assembleZ
12
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(render answer increase) (decrease shrink serve)
renderA
answerB
increaseC
decreaseX
shrinkY
serveZ
13
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(bemoan tighten praise) (bound raise loosen)
bemoanA
tightenB
praiseC
boundX
raiseY
loosenZ
Section 3Hidden Words
In these sentences, a word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains the hidden word.
Worked example
Another captain checked rough tankards methodically.
Another captainA
captain checkedB
checked roughC
rough tankardsD
tankards methodically.E
Answer B — The hidden word is INCH, across "captain checked".
14
A word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains it.
Cyclists squeezed gradually beside distant alleyways.
Cyclists squeezedA
squeezed graduallyB
gradually besideC
beside distantD
distant alleyways.E
15
A word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains it.
That explorer held slender bicycles methodically.
That explorerA
explorer heldB
held slenderC
slender bicyclesD
bicycles methodically.E
16
A word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains it.
The villager delivered large wagons cautiously.
The villagerA
villager deliveredB
delivered largeC
large wagonsD
wagons cautiously.E
17
A word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains it.
Plumbers raced slowly towards damp lanes.
Plumbers racedA
raced slowlyB
slowly towardsC
towards dampD
damp lanes.E
18
A word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains it.
The neighbour balanced sturdy crates briskly.
The neighbourA
neighbour balancedB
balanced sturdyC
sturdy cratesD
crates briskly.E
19
A word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains it.
Sailors shuffled slowly past empty ditches.
Sailors shuffledA
shuffled slowlyB
slowly pastC
past emptyD
empty ditches.E
20
A word of four letters is hidden at the end of one word and the beginning of the next. Find the pair of words that contains it.
Each teacher dropped dusty crayons cautiously.
Each teacherA
teacher droppedB
dropped dustyC
dusty crayonsD
crayons cautiously.E
Section 4Compound Words
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first. Mark BOTH words.
Worked example
(snow rail on) (way butter day)
snowA
railB
onC
wayX
butterY
dayZ
Answer B X — mark one word in each group. rail + way = railway.
21
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(foot mark note) (house book butter)
footA
markB
noteC
houseX
bookY
butterZ
22
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(fire back age) (out man snow)
fireA
backB
ageC
outX
manY
snowZ
23
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(table tooth man) (walk under age)
tableA
toothB
manC
walkX
underY
ageZ
24
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(sun car ache) (rot butter rain)
sunA
carB
acheC
rotX
butterY
rainZ
25
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(in sea car) (back ball form)
inA
seaB
carC
backX
ballY
formZ
26
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(every house king) (tooth back thing)
everyA
houseB
kingC
toothX
backY
thingZ
Section 5Number Series
Find the number that continues the series in the most sensible way.
Worked example
6 10 15 21 28 ?
28A
34B
37C
36D
35E
Answer D — Number series: the gap grows by 1 each step.
27
Which number continues the series?
3 6 12 24 48 ?
96A
95B
97C
94D
48E
28
Which number continues the series?
68 61 54 47 40 ?
34A
32B
33C
40D
35E
29
Which number continues the series?
35 30 36 28 37 ?
37A
27B
38C
25D
26E
30
Which number continues the series?
49 48 53 49 57 ?
57A
51B
61C
50D
49E
31
Which number continues the series?
66 37 68 35 70 ?
33A
70B
72C
34D
32E
32
Which number continues the series?
5 15 45 135 405 ?
405A
1215B
1218C
1216D
1214E
33
Which number continues the series?
68 89 72 88 76 ?
76A
80B
88C
87D
86E
Section 6Verbal Logic
Read the information, then find the answer that must be true.
Worked example
Anna is stronger than Kai. Ruby is stronger than Anna. Max is stronger than Ben. Kai is stronger than Max. Who is the strongest?
KaiA
MaxB
RubyC
BenD
AnnaE
Answer C — Chain the comparisons in order: Ruby is the strongest.
34
Read the information, then choose the statement that must be true.
Anna is heavier than Ruby. Jack is heavier than Anna. Ruby is heavier than Finn. Max is heavier than Jack. Which statement is true?
Ruby is heavier than Max.A
Max is heavier than Anna.B
Finn is heavier than Ruby.C
Finn is heavier than Max.D
Finn is heavier than Jack.E
Section 7Synonym Pairs
Find the two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning. Mark BOTH words.
Worked example
(pretty polite neat) (frightened smart dirty)
prettyA
politeB
neatC
frightenedX
smartY
dirtyZ
Answer C Y — mark one word in each group. “neat” and “smart” mean the same.
35
Find the two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning.
(thunderous preposterous sharp) (new erratic ridiculous)
thunderousA
preposterousB
sharpC
newX
erraticY
ridiculousZ
36
Find the two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning.
(hot cursory hectic) (superficial grimy tiny)
hotA
cursoryB
hecticC
superficialX
grimyY
tinyZ
37
Find the two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning.
(dry preposterous wealthy) (absurd speedy moist)
dryA
preposterousB
wealthyC
absurdX
speedyY
moistZ
38
Find the two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning.
(cruel kind icy) (considerate mercurial shadowy)
cruelA
kindB
icyC
considerateX
mercurialY
shadowyZ
39
Find the two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning.
(truthful easy fast) (amusing afraid painless)
truthfulA
easyB
fastC
amusingX
afraidY
painlessZ
40
Find the two words, one from each group, that are closest in meaning.
(wet funny huge) (gloomy wealthy hilarious)
wetA
funnyB
hugeC
gloomyX
wealthyY
hilariousZ
Section 8Letter in Two Brackets
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
Worked example
pu [ ? ] urse salo [ ? ] ip
rA
xB
bC
cD
nE
Answer E — n makes pun, nurse, salon, nip.
41
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
tuto [ ? ] est pa [ ? ] eef
cA
mB
wC
dD
rE
42
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
pu [ ? ] oy thum [ ? ] rew
pA
yB
gC
zD
bE
43
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
yo [ ? ] rn men [ ? ] sual
pA
nB
qC
rD
uE
44
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
musi [ ? ] limb pani [ ? ] oil
kA
zB
cC
oD
gE
45
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
glid [ ? ] go venu [ ? ] qual
dA
sB
vC
eD
uE
46
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
boot [ ? ] edge weig [ ? ] as
zA
eB
hC
sD
xE
47
The same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after. Find that letter.
stee [ ? ] ord coa [ ? ] evel
xA
kB
lC
nD
mE
Section 9Odd Two Out
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong and mark BOTH.
Worked example
brass · bus · tractor · car · silver
brassA
busB
tractorC
carD
silverE
Answer A E — mark TWO answers. Three are vehicles; “brass” and “silver” are metals.
48
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
cheek · train · foot · jeep · heel
cheekA
trainB
footC
jeepD
heelE
49
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
cricket · butcher · netball · tailor · painter
cricketA
butcherB
netballC
tailorD
painterE
50
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
coat · coach · train · jacket · taxi
coatA
coachB
trainC
jacketD
taxiE
51
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
butcher · rounders · nurse · tailor · cricket
butcherA
roundersB
nurseC
tailorD
cricketE
52
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
carnation · hip · thumb · elbow · daisy
carnationA
hipB
thumbC
elbowD
daisyE
53
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
foot · cherry · hip · hand · kiwi
footA
cherryB
hipC
handD
kiwiE
Section 10Double Meanings
Only one of the five possible answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Mark it on the answer sheet.
Worked example
(teach drill) (wagon carriage)
calmA
trainB
expressC
instructD
locomotiveE
Answer B — TRAIN can mean teach or drill, and it can also mean wagon or carriage.
54
Only one of the five answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Find it.
(firm solid) (difficult tricky)
toughA
testingB
demandingC
hardD
rigidE
55
Only one of the five answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Find it.
(lantern glow) (slight mild)
easyA
lightB
lampC
gentleD
beamE
56
Only one of the five answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Find it.
(tour excursion) (fall tumble)
tripA
outingB
slipC
journeyD
stumbleE
57
Only one of the five answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Find it.
(rod branch) (bond attach)
glueA
fastenB
caneC
stickD
twigE
58
Only one of the five answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Find it.
(globe planet) (dirt land)
groundA
worldB
sphereC
soilD
earthE
59
Only one of the five answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Find it.
(production show) (caper romp)
frolicA
dramaB
gambolC
performanceD
playE
60
Only one of the five answers will go equally well with both of these pairs of words. Find it.
(husk covering) (woof growl)
skinA
barkB
howlC
rindD
yelpE
Section 11Antonyms
Choose the word most opposite in meaning to the word in capitals.
Worked example
DESTROY
thawA
createB
pushC
shatterD
loseE
Answer B — The opposite of “destroy”.
61
Choose the word most opposite in meaning.
REMEMBER
loseA
beginB
crushC
allowD
forgetE
62
Choose the word most opposite in meaning.
GUILTY
shallowA
innocentB
dirtyC
happyD
sparklingE
63
Choose the word most opposite in meaning.
BRAVE
conceitedA
abhorrentB
daringC
boldD
cowardlyE
64
Choose the word most opposite in meaning.
DEEP
difficultA
drowsyB
shallowC
guiltyD
roughE
65
Choose the word most opposite in meaning.
DEPART
deploreA
arriveB
destroyC
scatterD
raiseE
66
Choose the word most opposite in meaning.
MODERN
cheerfulA
abhorrentB
dangerousC
cruelD
ancientE
Section 12Verbal Logic
Read the information, then find the answer that must be true.
Worked example
Anna is stronger than Kai. Ruby is stronger than Anna. Max is stronger than Ben. Kai is stronger than Max. Who is the strongest?
KaiA
MaxB
RubyC
BenD
AnnaE
Answer C — Chain the comparisons in order: Ruby is the strongest.
67
Read the information, then choose the statement that must be true.
Beth is richer than Ben. Jack is richer than Beth. Max is richer than Jack. Ben is richer than Nora. Which statement is true?
Beth is richer than Max.A
Nora is richer than Ben.B
Ben is richer than Beth.C
Nora is richer than Jack.D
Max is richer than Beth.E
Section 13Letters by Position
The three words in the second group should go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the word that is missing in the second group.
Worked example
(stock [pot] adopt) (tenth [ ? ] event)
theA
vetB
eveC
netD
henE
Answer D — pot is the 4th letter of adopt, the 3rd letter of adopt and the 5th letter of adopt. The same positions of tenth and event give net.
68
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(render [eel] appeal) (tumble [ ? ] labour)
butA
oatB
armC
ourD
rutE
69
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(wrong [wig] wrist) (spurt [ ? ] photo)
hopA
potB
tooC
proD
ourE
70
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(tiptoe [lie] appeal) (voyage [ ? ] danger)
anyA
ryeB
roeC
ragD
oarE
71
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(chase [yes] irony) (ultra [ ? ] creep)
putA
cueB
aptC
cupD
parE
72
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(roast [roe] nurse) (raise [ ? ] stray)
sitA
yesB
rayC
tarD
sayE
73
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(punish [ran] varied) (butter [ ? ] vessel)
letA
subB
busC
eveD
setE
74
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(voice [doe] drain) (young [ ? ] leaky)
logA
ageB
eyeC
keyD
nagE
Section 14Letter Series
Find the letters that continue the series and mark them on the answer sheet.
AlphabetA1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8I9J10K11L12M13N14O15P16Q17R18S19T20U21V22W23X24Y25Z26
Worked example
M O Q S U ?
VA
XB
WC
SD
UE
Answer C — Letter series — each letter moves by a fixed step.
75
Which letters continue the series?
HT JQ JM HH DB ?
YVA
JIB
ZVC
XUD
DBE
76
Which letters continue the series?
IL GP GU IA MH ?
QOA
SPB
GZC
TQD
MHE
77
Which letters continue the series?
MR KT KW MA QF ?
XMA
KZB
QFC
WLD
UKE
78
Which letters continue the series?
PK DM KN ZJ FQ VG ?
VGA
BUB
KTC
ATD
RDE
79
Which letters continue the series?
DE BJ AM AN BM ?
DJA
BMB
EKC
ZPD
CLE
80
Which letters continue the series?
RQ VL XI XH VI ?
ZFA
TJB
SMC
RLD
VIE