Kent Test-Style Section Mix
The Kent Test is the 11+ used to select entry to Kent's grammar schools on behalf of Kent County Council, and in its current form consists of an English paper, a Maths paper and a Reasoning paper that combines verbal and non-verbal reasoning within one session. Kent Test-Style Section Mix focuses on the verbal reasoning content of that Reasoning paper: letter, word and code-based question types that switch quickly between several formats within one timed section.
Method
- Before you start a mixed verbal reasoning section, glance through it if you are allowed, to spot roughly how many different question types are used, since Kent-style reasoning papers can switch format every few questions.
- For each new question type, spend a second identifying which family it belongs to (letter code, word meaning, letter sequence, hidden word) before applying a method, rather than solving on instinct alone.
- Learn one clear method per question type in advance (for example, writing the alphabet out for letter-shift codes) so that recognising the type immediately tells you what to do.
- Work quickly through questions you find straightforward, since a mixed section rewards speed on the easy majority as much as accuracy on the few hard outliers.
- If a question type genuinely confuses you, guess sensibly and move on rather than spending disproportionate time on one mark, then return to it only if time remains.
- Double check letter and number codes by decoding your own answer back through the rule you used, since it is easy to apply a code rule one step in the wrong direction under time pressure.
Worked example
In a code, each letter of the alphabet is replaced by the letter three places later in the alphabet (so A becomes D, B becomes E, and so on). Using this code, what does the word 'CAT' become?
- Write out the shift rule clearly: each letter moves forward 3 places in the alphabet.
- Apply the rule to C: C, D, E - three places forward from C is F.
- Apply the rule to A: A, B, C, D - three places forward from A is D.
- Apply the rule to T: T, U, V, W - three places forward from T is W.
- Combine the coded letters in order: F, D, W.
- Final answer: CAT becomes FDW.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Using the same code (each letter moves 3 places forward), what does 'DOG' become?Show answer
Answer: GRJ (D to G, O to R, G to J).
Q2Which word is closest in meaning to 'ancient': (a) modern (b) old (c) fast (d) small?Show answer
Answer: (b) old.
Q3Find the hidden four-letter word for a type of animal, hidden across the join of these two words: 'flaCATalogue'.Show answer
Answer: CAT.
Q4Complete the sequence: B, D, F, H, ?Show answer
Answer: J (the letters skip one each time: B, D, F, H, J).
Q5Which two words are closest in meaning: HAPPY, ANGRY, JOYFUL, TIRED?Show answer
Answer: HAPPY and JOYFUL.
Q6If each letter of a word is coded by moving it forward one place in the alphabet (so CAT would be coded as DBU), decode the word 'EBSL' back to the original word it stands for.Show answer
Answer: DARK (each code letter is moved back one place: E to D, B to A, S to R, L to K).
Q7Which word means the opposite of 'generous': (a) kind (b) mean (c) wealthy (d) careful?Show answer
Answer: (b) mean.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
In a code, each letter is replaced by the letter two places earlier in the alphabet (so C becomes A, and E becomes C). Using this code, decode the word 'KGLB' back to its original word, and show the letter-by-letter working.
Show mark scheme
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Look at this pair of words: SILENT is to NOISY as GENEROUS is to ?. Choose the best word from: (a) kind (b) mean (c) wealthy (d) poor, and explain in one sentence the relationship the pair of words shares.
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Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the kent test-style section mix worksheet pack - 23 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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