11+ · Topic guide

Slough/SET-Style Mixed Mock

The Slough/SET-Style Mixed Mock is modelled on the SET (Sutton Excellence in Testing) consortium's 11+ test, used by Sutton's grammar schools and, in some years, for Slough's grammar school admissions, which has typically combined maths, English and verbal reasoning without a separate non-verbal reasoning paper. This mock focuses on the verbal reasoning strand: word-based logic puzzles including analogies, codes, synonyms and antonyms, and letter or number sequences.

Year 5-6 (11+)Verbal ReasoningGL AssessmentCEM

Before you start

Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:

Method

  1. Learn the common verbal reasoning question families (analogies, synonyms/antonyms, codes, sequences) so you recognise the type at a glance rather than puzzling out the format each time.
  2. For synonym and antonym questions, think of your own word first before scanning any options given, so you are not swayed by a plausible-looking wrong answer.
  3. For analogy questions ('A is to B as C is to...'), state the relationship between the first pair in a full sentence before applying it to the second pair.
  4. For number or letter code questions, write out the alphabet with position numbers underneath on scrap paper so you can convert quickly and accurately.
  5. Work at a fast, steady pace and do not dwell on any single question for more than a few seconds if you are unsure, since verbal reasoning papers usually contain many short items.
  6. Review any questions you skipped in the last couple of minutes rather than rechecking ones you already answered confidently.

Worked example

Complete the analogy: BOOK is to READ as SONG is to what?

  1. Identify the relationship between BOOK and READ: a book is something you read; READ describes the way you take in the content of a book.
  2. Apply the same relationship to SONG: think about the equivalent action typically done with a song.
  3. Test candidate words: LISTEN, SING and PLAY could all relate to a song, so choose the word that most directly parallels 'read a book' as the way you experience it, which is LISTEN (to a song).
  4. Confirm the relationship works both ways: 'you read a book' and 'you listen to a song' are parallel actions of experiencing each item.
  5. Final answer: LISTEN (to).

Practice questions

Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.

Q1Which word is closest in meaning to 'reluctant': eager, unwilling, curious, confident?Show answer

Answer: Unwilling.

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Q2Which word means the opposite of 'transparent': see-through, clear, cloudy, glossy?Show answer

Answer: Cloudy (the opposite of see-through/clear).

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Q3Complete the analogy: DOCTOR is to HOSPITAL as TEACHER is to what?Show answer

Answer: School.

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Q4If the code for TREE is 20-18-5-5 (each number is the letter's position in the alphabet), what number code represents the word CAB?Show answer

Answer: 3-1-2 (C is the 3rd letter, A is the 1st, B is the 2nd).

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Q5What is the next number in the sequence: 1, 4, 9, 16, ...?Show answer

Answer: 25 (these are square numbers: 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4, 5x5).

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Q6Which word does NOT belong with the others: HAPPY, CONTENT, JOYFUL, ANGRY?Show answer

Answer: ANGRY (the others all describe positive emotions).

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Exam-style questions

Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.

Q1[2 marks]

Complete the analogy and explain the relationship in one sentence: BIRD is to NEST as BEE is to what? (2 marks)

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Q2[3 marks]

Using the code where each letter's number is its position in the alphabet (A=1, B=2, and so on), the word FLAG is coded as 6-12-1-7. Using the same rule, decode the number sequence 19-21-14 into a real word. Show your working for each letter. (3 marks)

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Free printable worksheet

Want more practice on paper? Download the slough/set-style mixed mock worksheet pack - 19 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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