11+ Verbal ReasoningPractice Paper 4 · 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 1Letters 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.
1
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(shake [sea] crust) (stamp [ ? ] leaky)
seaA
skyB
letC
spaD
slyE
2
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(yeast [tie] knife) (upset [ ? ] craft)
sapA
satB
carC
tapD
aptE
3
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(cycle [ate] track) (trial [ ? ] leave)
allA
eveB
teaC
ratD
tarE
4
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(fudge [aid] cabin) (cheat [ ? ] guess)
getA
setB
seaC
tugD
useE
5
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(greet [woe] drown) (album [ ? ] crust)
camA
subB
catC
ramD
cutE
6
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(woman [man] tally) (brick [ ? ] dread)
bedA
carB
arcC
addD
irkE
7
The three words in the second group go together in the same way as the three in the first group. Find the missing word.
(white [hit] tight) (grown [ ? ] hasty)
wayA
oatB
toyC
hayD
norE
Section 2Word Analogy Pairs
Find the two words, one from each group, that complete the sentence in the best way. Mark BOTH words.
Worked example
fox is to (byre den sty) as horse is to (pen stable shoal)
byreA
denB
styC
penX
stableY
shoalZ
Answer B Y — mark one word in each group. fox → den and horse → stable (home of).
8
Find the two words, one from each group, that complete the sentence in the best way.
pilot is to (cockpit swarm stage) as judge is to (bakery court kid)
cockpitA
swarmB
stageC
bakeryX
courtY
kidZ
9
Find the two words, one from each group, that complete the sentence in the best way.
chef is to (burrow kitchen school) as baker is to (bakery cockpit cluck)
burrowA
kitchenB
schoolC
bakeryX
cockpitY
cluckZ
10
Find the two words, one from each group, that complete the sentence in the best way.
teacher is to (stable farm school) as sailor is to (court ship joey)
stableA
farmB
schoolC
courtX
shipY
joeyZ
11
Find the two words, one from each group, that complete the sentence in the best way.
bee is to (kitten hive nest) as sheep is to (pen shoal sty)
kittenA
hiveB
nestC
penX
shoalY
styZ
12
Find the two words, one from each group, that complete the sentence in the best way.
chef is to (kitchen shoal stage) as miner is to (ship hoot mine)
kitchenA
shoalB
stageC
shipX
hootY
mineZ
13
Find the two words, one from each group, that complete the sentence in the best way.
doctor is to (hospital ship pod) as farmer is to (farm gaggle school)
hospitalA
shipB
podC
farmX
gaggleY
schoolZ
Section 3Verbal 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.
14
Read the information, then choose the statement that must be true.
Sam is older than Kai. Kai is older than Beth. Beth is older than Lily. Max is older than Sam. Which statement is true?
Kai is older than Max.A
Lily is older than Sam.B
Beth is older than Sam.C
Lily is older than Beth.D
Max is older than Kai.E
Section 4Three-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.
15
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
The pupils were INMED of the change.
jogA
capB
boxC
badD
forE
16
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
The lake began to SMER at dawn.
hipA
himB
shyC
andD
vieE
17
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
The whale was absolutely EMOUS.
rutA
bagB
antC
norD
dogE
18
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
These are the STEST plums I have tasted.
jarA
weeB
shyC
letD
jetE
19
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
They crept along the narrow PASE.
satA
sagB
gagC
elkD
aidE
20
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
Knights would BDISH their swords.
dinA
podB
winC
ranD
ateE
21
The word in capitals has had three letters next to each other taken out. Those three letters make a word. Find it.
The boats were TLING for herring.
rawA
lapB
ledC
herD
sunE
Section 5Antonym 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.
22
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(amass gather collect) (scatter assemble accumulate)
amassA
gatherB
collectC
scatterX
assembleY
accumulateZ
23
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(detect scatter increase) (modify decrease shrink)
detectA
scatterB
increaseC
modifyX
decreaseY
shrinkZ
24
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(public soggy terse) (private cold timid)
publicA
soggyB
terseC
privateX
coldY
timidZ
25
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(expand attack spring) (defend throw decrease)
expandA
attackB
springC
defendX
throwY
decreaseZ
26
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(pretty deep slim) (frightened gracious shallow)
prettyA
deepB
slimC
frightenedX
graciousY
shallowZ
27
Find the two words, one from each group, that are most opposite in meaning.
(enjoy forbid succeed) (fail retort alter)
enjoyA
forbidB
succeedC
failX
retortY
alterZ
Section 6Move a Letter
In these questions, one letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
Worked example
replay soil
rA
eB
pC
lD
yE
Answer C — Move p: replay becomes RELAY, and soil becomes SPOIL.
28
One letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
suite bat
sA
uB
iC
tD
eE
29
One letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
flying read
fA
lB
yC
iD
gE
30
One letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
breach dip
bA
rB
eC
aD
cE
31
One letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
heard fog
hA
eB
aC
rD
dE
32
One letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
grind face
gA
rB
iC
nD
dE
33
One letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
grind read
gA
rB
iC
nD
dE
34
One letter can be moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words. The letters must not otherwise be rearranged and both new words must make sense. Find the letter that moves.
heard lay
hA
eB
aC
rD
dE
Section 7Compound 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.
35
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 table room) (form ache day)
inA
tableB
roomC
formX
acheY
dayZ
36
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(snow fire book) (case ache out)
snowA
fireB
bookC
caseX
acheY
outZ
37
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(out car butter) (ache side snow)
outA
carB
butterC
acheX
sideY
snowZ
38
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(fort ground walk) (foot book night)
fortA
groundB
walkC
footX
bookY
nightZ
39
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(cloth time book) (ache way table)
clothA
timeB
bookC
acheX
wayY
tableZ
40
Find the two words, one from each group, that together make one correctly spelt word. The word from the first group always comes first.
(book some board) (back out where)
bookA
someB
boardC
backX
outY
whereZ
Section 8Hidden 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".
41
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 heavy buckets evenly.
Each teacherA
teacher droppedB
dropped heavyC
heavy bucketsD
buckets evenly.E
42
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.
Gatherers darted onward near narrow woodlands.
Gatherers dartedA
darted onwardB
onward nearC
near narrowD
narrow woodlands.E
43
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.
Workmen darted patiently between sturdy farmyards.
Workmen dartedA
darted patientlyB
patiently betweenC
between sturdyD
sturdy farmyards.E
44
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 forester laid large bicycles steadily.
The foresterA
forester laidB
laid largeC
large bicyclesD
bicycles steadily.E
45
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.
Teachers squeezed together behind steep watermills.
Teachers squeezedA
squeezed togetherB
together behindC
behind steepD
steep watermills.E
46
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.
Bakers squeezed together behind broad lanes.
Bakers squeezedA
squeezed togetherB
together behindC
behind broadD
broad lanes.E
47
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 captain checked spare lockets correctly.
That captainA
captain checkedB
checked spareC
spare locketsD
lockets correctly.E
Section 9Verbal 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.
48
Read the information, then choose the statement that must be true.
Ben is faster than Eva. Eva is faster than Tom. Tom is faster than Nora. Max is faster than Ben. Which statement is true?
Tom is faster than Max.A
Ben is faster than Max.B
Nora is faster than Max.C
Max is faster than Tom.D
Nora is faster than Eva.E
Section 10Odd 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.
49
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
piano · wrist · cheek · oboe · cello
pianoA
wristB
cheekC
oboeD
celloE
50
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
tuba · viola · clarinet · cabinet · stool
tubaA
violaB
clarinetC
cabinetD
stoolE
51
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
hail · thunder · daisy · poppy · drizzle
hailA
thunderB
daisyC
poppyD
drizzleE
52
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
ferry · pansy · iris · tractor · daisy
ferryA
pansyB
irisC
tractorD
daisyE
53
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
cheek · raspberry · knee · heel · apple
cheekA
raspberryB
kneeC
heelD
appleE
54
Three of these five words go together. Find the TWO words that do not belong.
car · coach · yacht · sheep · wolf
carA
coachB
yachtC
sheepD
wolfE
Section 11Letter Codes
Work out the letter code from the first word, then use it on the last word.
AlphabetA1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8I9J10K11L12M13N14O15P16Q17R18S19T20U21V22W23X24Y25Z26
Worked example
DOG → GRJ :: NUT → ?
QXWA
NUTB
KRQC
QXXD
RXWE
Answer A — Each letter moves forward 3.
55
Crack the letter code, then code the last word.
DEAL → BHYO :: FINE → ?
FINEA
DLLIB
HFPBC
DGLCD
DLLHE
56
Crack the letter code, then decode the last group.
DRAG → YLTY :: ? → RYTC
WEALA
WEAKB
WDYHC
XFBHD
MSMUE
57
Crack the letter code, then decode the last group.
WEST → TZPO :: ? → KJQZ
NMTCA
PMVCB
NOTEC
NOTFD
HENUE
58
Crack the letter code, then decode the last group.
PEST → NAQP :: ? → QWDA
SAFEA
SAFFB
OSBWC
SYFCD
UYHCE
59
Crack the letter code, then decode the last group.
FACT → IWFP :: ? → EWUG
BARKA
ITYDB
HSXCC
BARLD
BTRDE
60
Crack the letter code, then code the last word.
VEST → TBQQ :: YARN → ?
WYPLA
WXPKB
YARNC
WXPLD
ADTQE
61
Crack the letter code, then code the last word.
WOLF → SMHD :: WORM → ?
SMNLA
AQVOB
SKNIC
WORMD
SMNKE
Section 12Word Analogies
Complete the second pair so that it matches the relationship in the first.
Worked example
actor : stage :: sailor : ?
rugbyA
shipB
stageC
courtD
wristE
Answer B — actor : stage = sailor : ? (place they work)
62
Complete the pair with the same relationship.
bee : swarm :: ant : ?
podA
ironB
colonyC
carnationD
swarmE
63
Complete the pair with the same relationship.
baker : bakery :: miner : ?
roundersA
mineB
bakeryC
kiwiD
shipE
64
Complete the pair with the same relationship.
whale : pod :: wolf : ?
podA
packB
jeepC
swarmD
deerE
65
Complete the pair with the same relationship.
bee : hive :: dog : ?
cowA
farmerB
styC
hiveD
kennelE
66
Complete the pair with the same relationship.
wolf : pack :: cow : ?
podA
packB
heelC
herdD
tubaE
67
Complete the pair with the same relationship.
goose : gaggle :: wolf : ?
tubaA
packB
chairC
swarmD
gaggleE
Section 13Letter 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.
68
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.
dram [ ? ] rk ide [ ? ] llow
tA
xB
wC
aD
gE
69
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.
colo [ ? ] obot laye [ ? ] oyal
sA
uB
hC
rD
kE
70
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.
men [ ? ] sual fl [ ? ] nder
gA
eB
dC
pD
uE
71
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.
grai [ ? ] un stu [ ? ] ice
mA
pB
tC
rD
nE
72
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.
len [ ? ] ong plu [ ? ] park
gA
eB
dC
sD
tE
73
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.
tri [ ? ] val mang [ ? ] pen
eA
oB
mC
vD
hE
74
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.
wee [ ? ] new stuc [ ? ] nee
dA
vB
kC
eD
sE
Section 14Number 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.
75
Which number continues the series?
86 22 90 19 94 ?
17A
98B
16C
15D
94E
76
Which number continues the series?
67 20 70 23 73 ?
73A
25B
26C
27D
76E
77
Which number continues the series?
6 8 13 21 32 ?
45A
47B
44C
32D
46E
78
Which number continues the series?
272 261 250 239 228 ?
218A
220B
228C
217D
216E
79
Which number continues the series?
4 7 13 22 34 ?
34A
49B
48C
47D
50E
80
Which number continues the series?
66 60 68 62 70 ?
72A
63B
64C
65D
70E