Trafford-Style Mixed Mock
The Trafford-Style Mixed Mock is modelled on the joint 11+ entrance test used by grammar schools in Trafford, Greater Manchester, including Altrincham Grammar and Sale Grammar schools, which has combined English, maths, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning elements in various forms over recent admissions cycles. This mock focuses on the verbal reasoning strand: question types such as letter sequences, hidden words, word codes, analogies and 'insert a letter' puzzles, testing logical thinking with words and letters rather than reading comprehension.
Method
- Learn each verbal reasoning question type as its own puzzle with its own method, since 'insert a letter', 'letter codes' and 'word analogies' are solved in completely different ways.
- For code-based questions, write out the alphabet with numbers underneath (A=1, B=2, and so on) on scrap paper so you can decode or encode letters quickly rather than counting on your fingers each time.
- For analogy questions, state the relationship between the first pair of words in your own words before applying it to the second pair.
- For 'insert a letter' questions, try each letter of the alphabet in your head against both gaps until one makes two real words, starting with common letters like S, E or T.
- Work at speed on familiar question types and bank the time you save for the trickier ones later in the section.
- If a question type genuinely stumps you, guess sensibly and move on rather than losing marks elsewhere on questions you could have answered.
Worked example
Insert a letter that will complete the first word and begin the second word: FIN( )ASH. What single letter fits in the brackets?
- Read the first part as an incomplete word: FIN followed by a gap, so the letter must complete a real word starting FIN.
- Read the second part as another incomplete word: the gap followed by ASH, so the same letter must start a real word ending in ASH.
- Test candidate letters against the first word: FIN + D = FIND, a real word.
- Check the same letter against the second word: D + ASH = DASH, also a real word.
- Confirm there is no better-fitting letter by testing an alternative, for example FIN + E gives FINE, but E + ASH does not make a real word, so E does not work.
- Final answer: D (completing FIND and beginning DASH).
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Which single word means the same as both 'quick' and 'sharp' (as in a knife's edge)?Show answer
Answer: Keen.
Q2Find the hidden four-letter word that runs across the join between two words in this sentence: 'We must act now.'Show answer
Answer: TACT (the last letter of 'must' plus all of 'act': mus-T-ACT).
Q3If the code for CAT is DBU (each letter moved one place forward in the alphabet), what is the code for DOG?Show answer
Answer: EPH (D to E, O to P, G to H).
Q4Complete the analogy: HAPPY is to SAD as HOT is to what?Show answer
Answer: COLD (the relationship is opposites).
Q5Move one letter from the word HEART to the front of the word AT, to leave two new real words. What are they?Show answer
Answer: HEAR and TAT (move the letter T from the end of HEART to the front of AT).
Q6Two odd ones out: which two words do NOT belong with the others - APPLE, CARROT, BANANA, POTATO, ORANGE?Show answer
Answer: CARROT and POTATO (they are vegetables; the others are fruits).
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
If each letter of a word is shifted one place forward in the alphabet (A becomes B, B becomes C, and so on), the code for a certain word is QMBOF. Decode it back into a real English word, showing your working for each letter. (3 marks)
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Complete the following pair to match the given pair: LOUD is to QUIET as GENEROUS is to what? Give your answer and explain the relationship in one sentence. (2 marks)
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the trafford-style mixed mock worksheet pack - 18 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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