GL Assessment Style Numerical Reasoning Paper 1
GL Assessment's numerical reasoning paper presents maths problems set inside short real-life scenarios such as timetables, price lists, distances and recipe quantities, rather than as bare sums, and several questions in a row often share the same table or paragraph of data. It is non-calculator, and in many regions is delivered as multiple choice with a separate answer sheet, so pupils must select from several close options rather than write out full working.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Skim the whole data source (table, timetable or paragraph) once before reading question 1, so you know what information is available.
- Underline or note the exact numbers and units the question asks for, since many marks are lost to using the wrong row of a table or the wrong unit.
- Do the calculation on paper working space even in a multiple-choice paper, since GL deliberately includes close wrong options that match a common mistake.
- Where a data source is shared by several questions, re-check it for each new question rather than relying on memory of the first read.
- If a question uses unfamiliar units, such as converting between minutes and hours in a timetable, convert everything to the same unit before calculating.
- If short on time, answer every remaining question with your best estimate rather than leaving any blank, since an unanswered question scores the same as a wrong one.
- Leave a little time at the end, if you can, to check the answers you were least confident about rather than rechecking easy ones.
Worked example
A train timetable shows a train leaving Elmswood at 09:15 and arriving in Castlebridge at 10:52. A second train leaves Elmswood at 09:40 and takes 12 minutes less than the first train for the same journey. At what time does the second train arrive in Castlebridge?
- Find how long the first train takes: from 09:15 to 10:52.
- From 09:15 to 10:00 is 45 minutes, then from 10:00 to 10:52 is a further 52 minutes, so the journey takes 45 + 52 = 97 minutes.
- The second train takes 12 minutes less: 97 - 12 = 85 minutes.
- Add 85 minutes to the second train's 09:40 departure: 09:40 + 60 minutes = 10:40, then + 25 more minutes = 11:05.
- The second train arrives in Castlebridge at 11:05.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1A recipe for 4 people needs 320g of rice. How much rice is needed for 7 people?Show answer
Answer: 560g (320 divided by 4 = 80g per person; 80 x 7 = 560g).
Q2A shop sells pencils in packs of 6 for 1.80 pounds. What is the cost of one pencil?Show answer
Answer: 30p (1.80 divided by 6 = 0.30).
Q3Bus A leaves at 14:05 and arrives at 15:40. Bus B leaves at 14:20 and takes the same journey time as Bus A. What time does Bus B arrive?Show answer
Answer: 15:55 (Bus A's journey takes 95 minutes; 14:20 + 95 minutes = 15:55).
Q4A car park charges 2.50 pounds for the first hour and 1.20 pounds for each additional hour. How much does 4 hours cost?Show answer
Answer: 6.10 pounds (2.50 + 3 x 1.20 = 2.50 + 3.60 = 6.10).
Q5Apples cost 45p each, or 40p each when bought in a bag of 6. What is the cost of a bag of 6 apples?Show answer
Answer: 2.40 pounds (6 x 40p = 240p).
Q6A tank holds 180 litres and is filled at 15 litres per minute. How long does it take to fill from empty?Show answer
Answer: 12 minutes (180 divided by 15 = 12).
Q7A journey of 245km is covered at an average speed of 70km/h. How long does the journey take?Show answer
Answer: 3.5 hours, or 3 hours 30 minutes (245 divided by 70 = 3.5).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A cinema's ticket price list shows: Adult 8.50 pounds, Child 5.20 pounds, Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) 24.60 pounds. A group of 3 adults and 2 children buy tickets separately rather than as a family ticket. (a) Calculate the cost of buying separately. (b) Calculate how much they would save by instead buying one family ticket plus one extra adult ticket.
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A water tank is being filled by two pipes. Pipe A fills the tank at 7 litres per minute. Pipe B fills the tank at 5 litres per minute. Both pipes are opened together to fill an empty 150-litre tank. (a) How many litres per minute do the two pipes fill the tank together? (b) How long does it take to fill the tank, giving your answer in minutes and seconds?
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the gl assessment style numerical reasoning paper 1 worksheet pack - 6 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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