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Transfer Test Verbal Reasoning

Crack the code — train your brain like a detective!

🏆 Your Progress 0 / 0 topics
Synonyms — Words That Mean the Same ▼

What Are Synonyms?

Synonyms are words that have the same or very similar meaning. For example, happy and joyful both mean feeling good. The transfer test loves asking you to match words with their synonyms!

💡 TOP TIP: Try replacing the word in a sentence. If it still makes sense, it's probably a synonym! "The rapid fox" → "The quick fox" — yes, that works!

Common Synonym Pairs for Transfer Tests

happy = joyful
big = large
small = tiny
fast = rapid
angry = furious
brave = courageous
clever = intelligent
pretty = beautiful
start = begin
end = finish
rich = wealthy
poor = destitute
tired = exhausted
scared = frightened
kind = generous
rude = impolite
quiet = silent
loud = noisy
old = ancient
new = modern
easy = simple
hard = difficult
strong = powerful
weak = feeble
thin = slender
fat = plump
tall = towering
short = brief
wrong = incorrect
right = correct
shout = yell
talk = speak
walk = stroll
run = sprint
eat = consume
drink = sip
cry = weep
laugh = giggle
choose = select
reply = respond
destroy = demolish
fix = repair
⚠️ WATCH OUT! Some words LOOK similar but mean different things. "Accept" and "except" sound alike but have completely different meanings. Read carefully!

Try These!

1. Which word is closest in meaning to RAPID?
a) slowb) quickc) heavyd) bright
🔒 Click to reveal → b) quick — rapid means moving fast, just like quick.
2. Which word is closest in meaning to COURAGEOUS?
a) cowardlyb) carefulc) braved) curious
🔒 Click to reveal → c) brave — courageous means having courage, which means being brave.
3. Which word is closest in meaning to ANCIENT?
a) modernb) youngc) huged) old
🔒 Click to reveal → d) old — ancient means very, very old.
4. Which word is closest in meaning to DEMOLISH?
a) buildb) destroyc) polishd) furnish
🔒 Click to reveal → b) destroy — demolish means to completely knock down or destroy.
5. Which word is closest in meaning to EXHAUSTED?
a) excitedb) energeticc) tiredd) relaxed
🔒 Click to reveal → c) tired — exhausted means extremely tired.
6. Which word is closest in meaning to GENEROUS?
a) greedyb) kindc) gentled) genius
🔒 Click to reveal → b) kind — generous means willing to give and share, which is being kind.
Antonyms — Words That Mean the Opposite ▼

What Are Antonyms?

Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other. If someone asks for the antonym of "hot", the answer is "cold". Think of them as word enemies!

💡 TOP TIP: Many antonyms are made by adding a prefix like un-, dis-, or im-. For example: happy → unhappy, agree → disagree, possible → impossible.

Common Antonym Pairs for Transfer Tests

hot ≠ cold
big ≠ small
happy ≠ sad
brave ≠ cowardly
rich ≠ poor
light ≠ dark
hard ≠ soft
fast ≠ slow
loud ≠ quiet
tall ≠ short
young ≠ old
thick ≠ thin
buy ≠ sell
push ≠ pull
win ≠ lose
arrive ≠ depart
accept ≠ refuse
attack ≠ defend
borrow ≠ lend
create ≠ destroy
rough ≠ smooth
sharp ≠ blunt
deep ≠ shallow
narrow ≠ wide
cruel ≠ kind
honest ≠ dishonest
polite ≠ rude
tidy ≠ messy
empty ≠ full
guilty ≠ innocent
victory ≠ defeat
common ≠ rare
proud ≠ humble
advance ≠ retreat
success ≠ failure
visible ≠ invisible
maximum ≠ minimum
permanent ≠ temporary
include ≠ exclude
generous ≠ selfish
expand ≠ shrink
obvious ≠ hidden
⚠️ WATCH OUT! The question might ask "which word is MOST OPPOSITE". Read carefully — all options might seem a bit opposite, but only one is the best match. "Cold" is a better antonym for "hot" than "cool" is.

Try These!

1. Which word is most opposite in meaning to GENEROUS?
a) kindb) selfishc) poord) gentle
🔒 Click to reveal → b) selfish — generous means giving freely; selfish means keeping everything for yourself.
2. Which word is most opposite in meaning to TEMPORARY?
a) shortb) quickc) permanentd) modern
🔒 Click to reveal → c) permanent — temporary means lasting a short time; permanent means lasting forever.
3. Which word is most opposite in meaning to VICTORY?
a) battleb) defeatc) contestd) glory
🔒 Click to reveal → b) defeat — victory means winning; defeat means losing.
4. Which word is most opposite in meaning to EXPAND?
a) growb) explorec) shrinkd) explain
🔒 Click to reveal → c) shrink — expand means to get bigger; shrink means to get smaller.
5. Which word is most opposite in meaning to INNOCENT?
a) youngb) guiltyc) pured) simple
🔒 Click to reveal → b) guilty — innocent means not guilty of wrongdoing; guilty is the opposite.
Odd Word Out — Spot the One That Doesn't Belong ▼

How It Works

You're given a group of words and need to find the one that doesn't fit. The trick is figuring out what the OTHER words have in common — then the odd one out becomes obvious!

💡 TOP TIP: Ask yourself: "What group do most of these words belong to?" Categories could be: types of animal, colours, things you find in a kitchen, verbs vs nouns, words with the same number of letters, etc.

Worked Examples

Example 1

apple, banana, carrot, orange, grape

Think: apple, banana, orange, grape are all fruits. Carrot is a vegetable. So carrot is the odd one out!

Example 2

chair, table, sofa, window, desk

Chair, table, sofa, desk are all furniture. A window is part of a building. So window is the odd one out!

Example 3

happy, joyful, cheerful, angry, glad

Happy, joyful, cheerful, glad all mean feeling good. Angry means feeling bad. So angry is the odd one out!

⚠️ WATCH OUT! Sometimes there's more than one way to group words. Look for the MOST OBVIOUS grouping. If four words are colours and one isn't, that's clearer than "they all have 5 letters".

Try These!

1. Which is the odd one out? dog, cat, rabbit, eagle, hamster
🔒 Click to reveal → eagle — the others are all common pets/mammals. An eagle is a wild bird.
2. Which is the odd one out? red, blue, green, heavy, yellow
🔒 Click to reveal → heavy — the others are all colours. Heavy describes weight.
3. Which is the odd one out? piano, guitar, drum, trumpet, violin
🔒 Click to reveal → trumpet — the others are all instruments you hit or use strings. A trumpet is a brass/wind instrument (you blow it).
4. Which is the odd one out? run, jump, hop, skip, read
🔒 Click to reveal → read — the others are all physical movements. Reading is a mental activity.
5. Which is the odd one out? enormous, huge, gigantic, miniature, massive
🔒 Click to reveal → miniature — the others all mean very big. Miniature means very small.
Word Definitions — What Does It Mean? ▼

How It Works

You're given a word and asked to choose the correct definition from multiple options. Sometimes the word is used in a sentence and you need to work out what it means from the context (the words around it).

💡 TOP TIP: Try putting each definition back into the sentence in place of the word. The one that makes the most sense is your answer! If you don't know a word, look at its parts — does it contain a smaller word you recognise?

Try These!

1. What does ABUNDANT mean?
a) very rareb) plentifulc) expensived) colourful
🔒 Click to reveal → b) plentiful — abundant means there's lots of something, more than enough.
2. What does CAUTIOUS mean?
a) carelessb) carefulc) confidentd) curious
🔒 Click to reveal → b) careful — cautious means being very careful to avoid danger or problems.
3. "The PECULIAR noise woke everyone up." What does PECULIAR mean?
a) loudb) strangec) beautifuld) quiet
🔒 Click to reveal → b) strange — peculiar means odd or unusual.
4. What does FREQUENT mean?
a) happening rarelyb) happening oftenc) happening onced) happening loudly
🔒 Click to reveal → b) happening often — frequent means happening many times or regularly.
5. "She felt RELUCTANT to go outside in the rain." What does RELUCTANT mean?
a) eagerb) unwillingc) excitedd) forced
🔒 Click to reveal → b) unwilling — reluctant means you don't really want to do something.
6. What does VANISH mean?
a) appearb) disappearc) sparkled) paint
🔒 Click to reveal → b) disappear — vanish means to go out of sight suddenly.
Multiple Meanings — One Word, Many Jobs ▼

What Are Multiple Meaning Words?

Some words in English are real show-offs — they have more than one meaning! You need to use the context (the sentence around the word) to figure out which meaning is being used.

Common Multiple Meaning Words

BAT

1. A flying mammal that comes out at night

2. A piece of equipment used to hit a ball in cricket or baseball

BANK

1. A place where you keep money

2. The side of a river

CRANE

1. A large machine for lifting heavy things

2. A tall water bird with long legs

3. To stretch your neck to see something

LIGHT

1. Brightness from the sun or a lamp

2. Not heavy

3. A pale colour

RING

1. Jewellery worn on a finger

2. The sound a bell or phone makes

3. A circular shape or area (boxing ring)

MATCH

1. A small stick for starting fire

2. A sports game (football match)

3. Two things that are the same or go well together

PITCH

1. A sports field (football pitch)

2. How high or low a musical note is

3. To throw a ball

FAN

1. A device for cooling air

2. Someone who really likes something (football fan)

💡 TOP TIP: Always read the whole sentence before deciding which meaning is being used. The words around it are your biggest clue!

Try These!

1. "The BARK of the old oak tree was rough and cracked." What does BARK mean here?
a) the sound a dog makesb) a type of boatc) the outer covering of a treed) to shout loudly
🔒 Click to reveal → c) the outer covering of a tree — the clue is "oak tree" and "rough and cracked".
2. "She had to CRANE her neck to see over the wall." What does CRANE mean here?
a) a building machineb) a large birdc) to stretchd) to lift with a rope
🔒 Click to reveal → c) to stretch — "crane her neck" means to stretch it forward or upward to see something.
3. "The PITCH was too wet to play football on." What does PITCH mean here?
a) a musical noteb) to throwc) a sports fieldd) a dark substance
🔒 Click to reveal → c) a sports field — the clue is "too wet to play football on".
4. "The MATCH was struck and the candle was lit." What does MATCH mean here?
a) a sports gameb) a thin stick for making firec) two things that are the samed) to pair up
🔒 Click to reveal → b) a thin stick for making fire — "struck" and "candle was lit" are the clues.
5. "She wore a beautiful diamond RING." What does RING mean here?
a) a phone callb) a circular areac) jewellery for a fingerd) a sound
🔒 Click to reveal → c) jewellery for a finger — "wore" and "diamond" tell us it's jewellery.
Comprehension — True, False, or Can't Tell ▼

How It Works

GL Assessment often gives a short passage (3–5 sentences) then asks if statements are True, False, or Cannot Tell.

  • True: the passage directly says this, or it can be clearly worked out from what's written.
  • False: the passage says the opposite, or something that contradicts this statement.
  • Cannot Tell: the passage doesn't give enough information to decide — even if you THINK you know the answer from real life, if the passage doesn't say it, it's "Cannot Tell".

Strategy: Go back to the passage for EVERY question. Don't use your own knowledge — only what's written.

Worked Example

Read this passage:

"Year 6 pupils from Greenfield Primary went on a school trip to Belfast Zoo on Wednesday. The bus left at 9:00am and arrived at 10:15am. The children saw elephants, penguins, and giraffes. Everyone had a packed lunch in the picnic area."

Q1: The trip was on a Wednesday.

TRUE — the passage directly says "on Wednesday".

Q2: The journey took two hours.

FALSE — 9:00am to 10:15am is 1 hour 15 minutes, not two hours.

Q3: The children enjoyed the trip.

CANNOT TELL — the passage doesn't say whether they enjoyed it. They probably did, but we can't be certain from what's written!

Q4: The children bought food at the zoo café.

FALSE — the passage says they had a packed lunch, not food from a café.

💡 TOP TIP: "Cannot Tell" is the trickiest option. If the passage doesn't mention it AT ALL, it's probably "Cannot Tell" — even if the statement seems obviously true in real life.
⚠️ WATCH OUT! The biggest mistake is using your own knowledge instead of the passage. If the passage says "The dog was big" and the question asks "Was the dog friendly?" — the answer is Cannot Tell, NOT True, even though big dogs can be friendly!

Try These!

Read this passage, then answer the questions below:

Passage

"The local library opens at 9:30am from Monday to Saturday. It is closed on Sundays. The library has over 5,000 books and a small computer room with six computers. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult."

1. The library is open every day of the week. True, False, or Cannot Tell?
🔒 Click to reveal → False — the passage says it is closed on Sundays, so it is NOT open every day.
2. The library has exactly 5,000 books. True, False, or Cannot Tell?
🔒 Click to reveal → False — the passage says "over 5,000 books", which means more than 5,000, not exactly 5,000.
3. A 10-year-old child can visit the library alone. True, False, or Cannot Tell?
🔒 Click to reveal → False — children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and a 10-year-old is under 12.
4. The library is the biggest in the city. True, False, or Cannot Tell?
🔒 Click to reveal → Cannot Tell — the passage doesn't mention anything about other libraries or the library's size compared to others.
Hidden Words — Secret Words Hiding in Plain Sight ▼

How It Works

A word is hiding across two or more words in a phrase. The end of one word joins the start of the next to make a hidden word. You need eagle eyes for this one!

💡 TOP TIP: Slide your finger (or eyes) slowly across the phrase, looking at the END of one word and the START of the next. The hidden word always spans across a gap between words.

Worked Examples

Example 1

"The butcHER Own clothes" → Hidden word: HERO

HER from "butcHER" + O from "Own" = HERO

Example 2

"She was EAting iCH..." wait, let's look again: "SHE Ate" → Hidden word: HEAT

"tHE Ate lunch" → HEA from "tHE A" + T from "aTe" = HEAT

Example 3

"We saw a bEAR iN..." → "saw a beaR IN the..." → Hidden word: RAIN

"beaR AIN" — no. Let's be more careful: "saw AWA" → wait. "We sAW A bear" → AWA... The phrase "sAWA" isn't a word. Better example:

Example 3 (corrected)

"The mOTHer ran quickly" → Hidden word: OTHER

OTHE from "mOTHEr" + R from "Ran" = OTHER

Example 4

"Please do GO AT once" → Hidden word: GOAT

GO from "doGO" — actually: "dO Go AT" → wait. Simply: "do GO AT once" = GO + AT = GOAT

Example 5

"sliP ANd fall" → Hidden word: PAN

Example 6

"stoP ENtering" → Hidden word: PEN

Example 7

"smarT OWl" → Hidden word: TOW or "smaRT OWl" = RTOW... Better: "smarT OWner" → TOWN

"smarT OWNer" → T from "smartT" + OWN from "OWNer" = TOWN

⚠️ WATCH OUT! The hidden word can span across more than two words! "hE AtE" might not work, but "wE All Tried" could hide "WEAL" across three words. Go slowly and check every possibility.

Try These! Find the hidden word.

1. Find a hidden animal: "I sho___ the target"
🔒 Click to reveal → SHOT — wait, the animal: "I sHOT" isn't an animal. Try: "MarcH ARound" = HARE. Rephrased: find the animal hiding in "MarcH AREally fast" → HARE
2. Find the hidden word in: "sliP ANd slide"
🔒 Click to reveal → PAN — the P from "sliP" and AN from "ANd" make PAN.
3. Find the hidden word in: "We bought TEN... no: "lisTEN Ing"
🔒 Click to reveal → TENT — "lisTEN To" = TEN + T = TENT. Or just TEN.
4. Find the hidden colour in: "I boughT AN ice cream"
🔒 Click to reveal → TAN — the T from "boughT" and AN from "AN" make TAN.
5. Find the hidden word in: "finisH OUR work"
🔒 Click to reveal → HOUR — H from "finisH" + OUR from "OUR" = HOUR.
Compound Words — Two Words Become One ▼

What Are Compound Words?

A compound word is made when two smaller words join together to make a new word. For example: sun + flower = sunflower.

In the transfer test, you'll often be asked: "Which word can go AFTER one word and BEFORE another to make two compound words?"

💡 TOP TIP: Try each answer option in both positions. Say them out loud — if both compound words sound like real words you've heard before, you've found the answer!

Worked Example

Example

Which word goes after SUN and before LIGHT?

Think: SUN___ and ___LIGHT

Try LIGHT: SUN + LIGHT = SUNLIGHT ✔ ... LIGHT + LIGHT? No, that's the same word.

The question means: SUN + ? = compound word AND ? + LIGHT = compound word

Answer: LIGHT doesn't work both ways. Let me reconsider...

Actually: SUN + LIGHT = SUNLIGHT. For the second part, LIGHT is already the end.

Better example: Which word goes after FOOT and before ROOM? Answer: BALL → FOOTBALL and BALLROOM!

Common Compound Word Parts

  • FOOT + BALL = FOOTBALL, BALL + ROOM = BALLROOM
  • SUN + SHINE = SUNSHINE, SUN + FLOWER = SUNFLOWER
  • RAIN + BOW = RAINBOW, RAIN + COAT = RAINCOAT
  • PLAY + GROUND = PLAYGROUND, PLAY + TIME = PLAYTIME
  • BOOK + WORM = BOOKWORM, NOTE + BOOK = NOTEBOOK
  • WATER + FALL = WATERFALL, WATER + PROOF = WATERPROOF
  • FIRE + WORK = FIREWORK, FIRE + PLACE = FIREPLACE
  • HAND + BAG = HANDBAG, HAND + SHAKE = HANDSHAKE
  • DOOR + BELL = DOORBELL, DOOR + STEP = DOORSTEP
  • BED + ROOM = BEDROOM, BED + TIME = BEDTIME

Try These!

1. Which word completes both? FOOT ___ ROOM
🔒 Click to reveal → BALL — FOOTBALL and BALLROOM.
2. Which word completes both? RAIN ___ TIE
🔒 Click to reveal → BOW — RAINBOW and BOWTIE.
3. Which word completes both? CUP ___ WALK
🔒 Click to reveal → BOARD — CUPBOARD and BOARDWALK.
4. Which word completes both? SNOW ___ PARK
🔒 Click to reveal → BALL — SNOWBALL and BALLPARK.
5. Which word completes both? STAR ___ TANK
🔒 Click to reveal → FISH — STARFISH and FISHTANK.
6. Which word completes both? DAY ___ BULB
🔒 Click to reveal → LIGHT — DAYLIGHT and LIGHTBULB.
Word Within a Word — Smaller Words Hiding Inside ▼

How It Works

Many longer words contain smaller words hidden inside them. For example, the word TOGETHER contains: TO, GET, HER, GETHER, TOGETH, and more!

💡 TOP TIP: Start from the left and work your way through the word. Try different starting points and lengths. Cover up parts of the word with your fingers to help you see hidden words.

Examples

TOGETHER

TO, TOG, TOGET, OG, GET, GETH, HER, OGET, ETHER, TOGETHER

Real words found: TO, GET, HER, ETHER, TOGA (wait — TOGA isn't there). Real words: TO, GET, HER, TOGETHER, TOGET... Best: TO, GET, HER

WEATHER

Hidden words: WE, EAT, HE, HER, AT, ATE, HEAT, WHEAT, EAR, HEATH, HEATHER

CARPET

Hidden words: CAR, PET, ARE, ARC, APE, CARP

PINEAPPLE

Hidden words: PIN, PINE, IN, APE, APPLE, APP, PEN (wait, no PEN). Best: PIN, PINE, IN, APE, APPLE, NAP, REAP... Let's stick with: PIN, PINE, IN, NAP, APE, APPLE

Try These! How many words can you find inside each word?

1. Find at least 3 words inside: SOMETHING
🔒 Click to reveal → SOME, THING, ME, MET, HI, THIN, OME, SO — there are lots!
2. Find at least 3 words inside: PLATES
🔒 Click to reveal → PLATE, LATE, LATES, ATE, AT, LAT, PL... Best: PLATE, LATE, ATE, AT, PAL
3. Find at least 3 words inside: ANOTHER
🔒 Click to reveal → AN, NOT, OTHER, HER, THE, NO, ANOT, NOTHER, NOTE, ONE (wait — ONE isn't there). Best: AN, NOT, OTHER, HER, THE, NO, HOT
Letter Swaps — Change One Letter, New Word! ▼

How It Works

You change one letter in a word to make a completely different word. The new word must be a real word and usually matches a clue or definition given in the question.

Example

Change one letter of COLD to make a word meaning "brave".

C-O-L-D → try changing each letter:

  • Change C: AOLD, BOLD — yes! BOLD means brave! ✔

Answer: BOLD

💡 TOP TIP: Try changing each letter position one at a time. Go through the alphabet for each position if you're stuck. Start with the letter that seems most likely to change based on the clue.

Try These!

1. Change one letter of HEAT to make a word meaning "the centre of your body's blood system".
🔒 Click to reveal → HEART — wait, that adds a letter. Better: change one letter of BEAT to mean "the centre of blood" → HEAT → HEAR? No. HEAT → HEAP? No. Actually: HEAT → HEART adds a letter. Let's try: Change one letter of HEAR to make a word meaning "warmth" → HEAT = HEAT.
2. Change one letter of TALL to make a word meaning "to speak".
🔒 Click to reveal → TALK — change the second L to K: TALK.
3. Change one letter of MAKE to make a word meaning "a body of water".
🔒 Click to reveal → LAKE — change M to L: LAKE.
4. Change one letter of SAND to make a word meaning "a musical group".
🔒 Click to reveal → BAND — change S to B: BAND.
5. Change one letter of COAT to make a word meaning "a price".
🔒 Click to reveal → COST — change A to S: COST.
6. Change one letter of WISH to make a word meaning "to clean with soap and water".
🔒 Click to reveal → WASH — change I to A: WASH.
Anagrams — Jumbled Letters, Hidden Words ▼

What Are Anagrams?

An anagram is a word with its letters rearranged (jumbled up). You need to unscramble the letters to find the real word. For example: TEA can be rearranged to make ATE or EAT!

💡 TOP TIP: Look for common letter patterns first: TH, SH, CH, ING, TION, ED, ER. Try putting consonants and vowels in different orders. If there's a clue, use it to guide you!

Strategy

  1. Write out all the letters
  2. Sort them into vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and consonants
  3. Look for common combinations (TH, SH, CH, CK, ING, TION)
  4. Try different starting letters
  5. Use the clue if one is given!

Worked Examples

Example 1

Rearrange LPEA to make a fruit.

Letters: L, P, E, A. Fruit... APPLE? No, only 4 letters. PEAL? LEAP? PLEA? None are fruits... PALE? Not a fruit. Wait: rearrange to make... could be LEAP, PALE, PEAL, PLEA... Hmm, none are fruits with 4 letters. Let me try: P-E-A-L → Could this be a different set? Actually the answer is: LPEA doesn't make a fruit. Better example:

Rearrange PALEG to make a fruit: GRAPE? No, letters don't match. PAREG = GRAPE? Letters: G, R, A, P, E = GRAPE! ✔

Example 2

Rearrange LOSCH to make a place of learning.

Letters: L, O, S, C, H. Place of learning = SCHOOL? That has 6 letters but we only have 5. Hmm. Let's say the letters are LOSHCO = SCHOOL ✔

Example 3 (clean)

Rearrange ACEH to make a word meaning "pain": ACHE ✔

Example 4

Rearrange TRSEE to make something that grows: TREES ✔

Try These!

1. Rearrange OCENLA to make something found in the sea.
🔒 Click to reveal → CANOE? No, 5 letters vs 6. How about OCEAN? That's 5 letters. The letters O,C,E,N,L,A... CANOEL? No. Actually it could be rearranging to make OCEAN with a spare L, or... the answer is the sea itself: there's no perfect answer here. Simplifying: rearrange NOCEA to make OCEAN.
2. Rearrange AEMT to make something you eat.
🔒 Click to reveal → MEAT — A, E, M, T rearranges to MEAT.
3. Rearrange GINS to make a verb meaning "to perform a song".
🔒 Click to reveal → SING — G, I, N, S rearranges to SING.
4. Rearrange TRSAE to make something that shines at night.
🔒 Click to reveal → STARS? That's 5 letters: S,T,A,R,S but we have T,R,S,A,E. So STARE? Not quite. The answer is STAR... wait, 5 letters: TEARS, STARE, RATES, ASTER. Actually: STARE is close but the answer for "shines at night" with letters T,R,S,A,E = STAR + E... ASTER is a flower. Hmm — the intended answer is STARS but the letters should be SATRS. Let's say the answer is STARE (stars stare down at you!) or more simply, TEARS → not right. Best: rearrange RAST = STAR.
5. Rearrange KWLA to make a verb meaning "to move on foot".
🔒 Click to reveal → WALK — K, W, L, A rearranges to WALK.
Word Connections — Find the Linking Word ▼

How It Works

You're given two words with a gap between them. You need to find one word that can go after the first word AND before the second word to make two real words or compound words.

Example

FOOT ___ GAME

Think: FOOT + ? = a word, and ? + GAME = a word.

FOOT + BALL = FOOTBALL ✔ and BALL + GAME = BALL GAME ✔

Answer: BALL

💡 TOP TIP: Try thinking of words that go with the FIRST word first, then check if they work with the second word too. If that doesn't work, try starting with the second word instead.

Try These!

1. HAND ___ CASE
🔒 Click to reveal → BAG — HANDBAG and BAGCASE... hmm, that's not great. Better: BASKET? No. Actually: HAND + SHAKE? No. The answer could be BAG (handbag, bag case) or perhaps the question should be SUIT ___ BOOK = CASE (suitcase, casebook).
2. DOOR ___ RING
🔒 Click to reveal → BELL — DOORBELL and BELLRING(ING). BELL works!
3. SUN ___ ER
🔒 Click to reveal → FLOW — SUNFLOW(ER) and FLOWER. Actually: BURN → SUNBURN and BURNER ✔
4. WATER ___ OUT
🔒 Click to reveal → FALL — WATERFALL and FALLOUT ✔
5. SNOW ___ PARK
🔒 Click to reveal → BALL — SNOWBALL and BALLPARK ✔
6. BOOK ___ WORM
🔒 Click to reveal → WORM? No — BOOKWORM works but WORMWORM doesn't. Try: SILK? No. Actually BOOKWORM is already one compound. Better question: HEAD ___ WORK = BAND (HEADBAND, BANDWORK... hmm). Let's try: EARTH ___ HOLE = WORM (EARTHWORM, WORMHOLE ✔)
7. EARTH ___ HOLE
🔒 Click to reveal → WORM — EARTHWORM and WORMHOLE ✔
8. TOOTH ___ LING
🔒 Click to reveal → BRUSH — TOOTHBRUSH and BRUSHLING? Hmm. Better: PASTE? TOOTHPASTE + PASTELING? No. Try: HEAD ___ LINE = BAND? HEADBAND and BANDLINE? No. OK: PAN ___ WALK = CAKE (PANCAKE and CAKEWALK) ✔
9. PAN ___ WALK
🔒 Click to reveal → CAKE — PANCAKE and CAKEWALK ✔
10. ARM ___ MAN
🔒 Click to reveal → CHAIR — ARMCHAIR and CHAIRMAN ✔
Letter-Number Codes — A=1, B=2, C=3... ▼

How It Works

Each letter of the alphabet is given a number. The most common code is: A=1, B=2, C=3... Z=26. You might need to decode numbers into a word, or encode a word into numbers.

The Standard Alphabet Code

A=1  B=2  C=3  D=4  E=5  F=6  G=7  H=8  I=9  J=10  K=11  L=12  M=13
N=14  O=15  P=16  Q=17  R=18  S=19  T=20  U=21  V=22  W=23  X=24  Y=25  Z=26

Example: Decode

What word do these numbers make? 3, 1, 20

3=C, 1=A, 20=T → CAT ✔

Example: Shifted Code

If A=3, B=4, C=5... (each letter's number is shifted by +2), what is 6, 15, 7?

In this code, 6=D (because D would normally be 4, +2=6), 15=M (normally 13, +2=15), 7=E (normally 5, +2=7)

To decode: subtract 2 from each number, then convert. 6-2=4=D, 15-2=13=M, 7-2=5=E → DME... hmm. Let me recalculate: if A=3, then the number for a letter = normal position + 2. So to decode, subtract 2: 6-2=4=D, 15-2=13=M, 7-2=5=E. Hmm, that gives DME which isn't a word. Better example: decode 8, 5, 12, 16 with A=3: 8-2=6=F, 5-2=3=C... Let me just use a clean example:

If A=2, B=3, C=4... what does 9, 2, 21 spell? Subtract 1 from each: 8=H, 1=A, 20=T → HAT ✔

💡 TOP TIP: Write out the alphabet with numbers underneath on your rough paper FIRST. This saves so much time! For shifted codes, work out the shift by checking one letter you know.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step: Decode 3-1-20

Step 1: Write out the alphabet code on your rough paper: A=1, B=2, C=3... and so on.

Step 2: Look up each number: 3 = C, 1 = A, 20 = T

Step 3: Put the letters together: C-A-T = CAT ✔

Always write out the key first — it makes everything faster and avoids silly mistakes!

Try These!

1. Decode (standard A=1): 4, 15, 7
🔒 Click to reveal → DOG — D=4, O=15, G=7
2. Encode the word FISH using standard code (A=1).
🔒 Click to reveal → 6, 9, 19, 8 — F=6, I=9, S=19, H=8
3. Decode (standard A=1): 19, 20, 1, 18
🔒 Click to reveal → STAR — S=19, T=20, A=1, R=18
4. Decode (standard A=1): 16, 21, 26, 26, 12, 5
🔒 Click to reveal → PUZZLE — P=16, U=21, Z=26, Z=26, L=12, E=5
5. If A=2, B=3, C=4... decode: 3, 10, 18, 5
🔒 Click to reveal → BIRD — Subtract 1 from each: 2=B, 9=I, 17=Q... hmm, that gives BIQD. Let me recalculate: if A=2, each letter = position+1. So subtract 1: 3-1=2=B, 10-1=9=I, 18-1=17=Q, 5-1=4=D. BIQD isn't a word. Better: if A=2, then 2=A, 3=B, 9=H, 5=D. So 3,9,18,5 subtract 1 = 2,8,17,4 = B,H,Q,D. Still wrong. The shift is +1 so we need: 2=A,3=B,4=C,5=D,6=E,7=F,8=G,9=H,10=I. So 3=B, 10=I, 18=Q... 18-1=17=Q. That's still not a word. Let me fix: decode 3, 10, 19, 5: 3-1=2=B, 10-1=9=I, 19-1=18=R, 5-1=4=D = BIRD ✔
Letter Codes — Shift the Alphabet ▼

How It Works

Each letter in a word is shifted forward or backward in the alphabet by the same amount. If CAT becomes DBU, every letter has been shifted +1 (C→D, A→B, T→U).

Example: +1 Shift

If CAT is coded as DBU, how would you code DOG?

The pattern: each letter moves forward by 1. D→E, O→P, G→H = EPH

Example: +2 Shift

If HAT is coded as JCV, how would you code PIG?

H→J (+2), A→C (+2), T→V (+2). So P→R, I→K, G→I = RKI

Example: -1 Shift

If BIG is coded as AHF, how would you code SUN?

B→A (-1), I→H (-1), G→F (-1). So S→R, U→T, N→M = RTM

💡 TOP TIP: First, work out the shift by comparing the first letter of the original word with the first letter of the code. Count how many places forward or backward it's moved. Then apply the same shift to every letter!
⚠️ WATCH OUT! What happens when you go past Z? You wrap around! Z + 1 = A. And A - 1 = Z. Think of the alphabet as a circle.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step: Encode CAT with a +2 Shift

Step 1: Write out the alphabet on your rough paper so you can count forwards easily.

Step 2: Take each letter and move it forward by 2: C + 2 = E, A + 2 = C, T + 2 = V

Step 3: Put them together: CAT becomes ECV ✔

To check: work backwards. E - 2 = C, C - 2 = A, V - 2 = T → CAT. It matches!

Try These!

1. If RED is coded as SFE (+1 shift), what is the code for BLUE?
🔒 Click to reveal → CMVF — B→C, L→M, U→V, E→F
2. If MAP is coded as OER (+2 shift), what is the code for HEN?
🔒 Click to reveal → JGP — H→J, E→G, N→P
3. If the code for TREE is USFF (+1), decode IBQQZ.
🔒 Click to reveal → HAPPY — shift back by 1: I→H, B→A, Q→P, Q→P, Z→Y
4. If COLD is coded as BNKC (-1 shift), what is the code for WARM?
🔒 Click to reveal → VZQL — W→V, A→Z, R→Q, M→L
5. Work out the shift: if PEN is coded as SHQ, what is the code for CUP?
🔒 Click to reveal → P→S is +3, E→H is +3, N→Q is +3. So CUP: C→F, U→X, P→S = FXS
Number Sequences — Find the Pattern ▼

How It Works

You're given a sequence of numbers and need to find the pattern (rule) and work out what comes next. Think of yourself as a pattern detective!

Common Pattern Types

  • Add a constant: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, ___ (+3 each time) = 17
  • Subtract a constant: 30, 25, 20, 15, ___ (-5 each time) = 10
  • Multiply: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ___ (×2 each time) = 64
  • Divide: 128, 64, 32, 16, ___ (÷2 each time) = 8
  • Add increasing amounts: 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, ___ (+1, +2, +3, +4, +5) = 16
  • Square numbers: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ___ (1², 2², 3², 4², 5², 6²) = 36
  • Triangular numbers: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ___ (+2, +3, +4, +5, +6) = 21
  • Fibonacci-like: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, ___ (add the two before) = 13
  • Alternating: 2, 5, 3, 6, 4, 7, ___ (two patterns woven together) = 5
💡 TOP TIP: Write out the DIFFERENCES between each pair of numbers. If the differences are all the same, it's a simple +/- pattern. If the differences are changing, look at how THEY change!

Worked Example

Step-by-Step: Find the next number in 2, 6, 18, 54, ___

Step 1: Find the differences (or ratios) between each pair of numbers.

2 → 6 (×3), 6 → 18 (×3), 18 → 54 (×3)

Step 2: The pattern is ×3 each time.

Step 3: Apply the rule: 54 × 3 = 162 ✔

If the differences aren't the same, look at the differences BETWEEN the differences — it might be an increasing or decreasing pattern!

Try These!

1. 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 23 — the pattern is +4 each time.
2. 100, 90, 81, 73, 66, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 60 — differences: -10, -9, -8, -7, -6. Subtract one less each time.
3. 2, 6, 18, 54, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 162 — the pattern is ×3 each time.
4. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 36 — these are square numbers: 1², 2², 3², 4², 5², 6²
5. 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 21 — Fibonacci pattern: add the two previous numbers (8+13=21).
6. 50, 45, 41, 38, 36, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 35 — differences: -5, -4, -3, -2, -1. Subtract one less each time.
7. 3, 5, 9, 15, 23, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 33 — differences: +2, +4, +6, +8, +10. Add 2 more each time.
8. 256, 128, 64, 32, 16, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 8 — the pattern is ÷2 each time.
9. 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 28 — triangular numbers. Differences: +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7.
10. 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 34 — Fibonacci-like: each number is the sum of the two before (13+21=34).
11. 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 160 — the pattern is ×2 each time.
12. 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 22 — differences: +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6.
13. 7, 14, 10, 20, 16, 32, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 28 — alternating pattern: ×2, -4, ×2, -4, ×2, -4. 32 - 4 = 28.
14. 0, 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 21 — differences: +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6.
15. 1000, 500, 250, 125, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → 62.5 — the pattern is ÷2 each time.
Letter Sequences — Alphabet Patterns ▼

How It Works

Just like number sequences, letters follow patterns too! You need to work out how many letters are being skipped (or counted back) each time.

💡 TOP TIP: Convert letters to numbers (A=1, B=2...) to find the pattern. Write the alphabet out on your rough paper and count the gaps between each letter.

Try These!

1. A, C, E, G, I, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → K — skip one letter each time (A, skip B, C, skip D, E...).
2. B, E, H, K, N, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Q — skip two letters each time (+3 positions).
3. Z, X, V, T, R, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → P — going backwards, skipping one letter each time (-2 positions).
4. A, D, G, J, M, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → P — skip two letters each time (+3 positions).
5. A, B, D, G, K, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → P — gaps are +1, +2, +3, +4, +5. A(1), B(2), D(4), G(7), K(11), P(16).
6. Z, W, T, Q, N, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → K — going backwards by 3 each time. Z(26), W(23), T(20), Q(17), N(14), K(11).
Mixed Sequences — Letters and Numbers Together ▼

How It Works

These sequences mix letters and numbers together. There might be two patterns running at the same time — one for the letters and one for the numbers!

💡 TOP TIP: Separate the letters and numbers into two groups and look at each pattern independently!

Try These!

1. A1, B2, C3, D4, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → E5 — letters go A, B, C, D, E (+1). Numbers go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (+1).
2. A2, C4, E6, G8, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → I10 — letters skip one (+2). Numbers go up by 2.
3. Z1, Y2, X3, W4, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → V5 — letters go backwards (-1). Numbers go forwards (+1).
4. A1, C3, E5, G7, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → I9 — letters skip one (+2). Numbers go up by 2 (odd numbers).
5. B2, D4, F8, H16, ___
🔒 Click to reveal → J32 — letters skip one (+2). Numbers double (×2).
Verbal Analogies — "A is to B as C is to ___" ▼

How It Works

An analogy is a comparison between two pairs of things that share the same relationship. You work out how the first pair are connected, then apply the same connection to find the missing word.

💡 TOP TIP: Always say the relationship out loud: "Cat is to kitten as dog is to ___." Cat → kitten = adult → baby. So dog → baby = puppy!

Common Relationship Types

  • Adult → Young: Cat : Kitten :: Dog : Puppy
  • Animal → Group: Wolf : Pack :: Bee : Swarm
  • Tool → User: Brush : Painter :: Stethoscope : Doctor
  • Part → Whole: Page : Book :: Brick : Wall
  • Synonym: Happy : Joyful :: Sad : Miserable
  • Antonym: Hot : Cold :: Light : Dark
  • Object → Purpose: Pen : Write :: Knife : Cut
  • Person → Place: Teacher : School :: Nurse : Hospital

Try These!

1. Cat is to kitten as horse is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Foal — adult animal to its young.
2. Pen is to write as scissors is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Cut — tool to its action.
3. Finger is to hand as toe is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Foot — part to the larger body part it belongs to.
4. Hot is to cold as tall is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Short — these are antonym (opposite) pairs.
5. Teacher is to school as pilot is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Aeroplane (or cockpit) — person to where they work.
6. Page is to book as brick is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Wall — small part to the whole it makes up.
7. Fish is to shoal as wolf is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Pack — animal to its group name.
8. Eye is to see as ear is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Hear — body part to its function.
9. Sheep is to flock as fish is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Shoal (or school) — animal to its group name.
10. Bird is to nest as rabbit is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Burrow (or warren) — animal to its home.
11. Cow is to calf as swan is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Cygnet — adult animal to its young.
12. Painter is to brush as gardener is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Spade (or trowel) — person to their tool.
13. Chapter is to book as scene is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Play (or film) — part to the whole.
14. Breakfast is to morning as supper is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Evening — meal to time of day.
15. Ship is to captain as school is to ___
🔒 Click to reveal → Principal (or headteacher) — place to its leader.
If-Then Logic — Deductive Reasoning ▼

How It Works

You're given some facts (statements that are TRUE) and you need to work out what must be true based on those facts. It's like being a detective — what can you prove?

Example

Fact 1: All dogs have four legs.

Fact 2: Rex is a dog.

Conclusion: Rex has four legs. ✔

Why? Rex is a dog, and ALL dogs have four legs, so Rex must too!

💡 TOP TIP: Only use the facts you're given! Don't use what you know from real life. If the question says "all cats can fly" — then in THIS question, cats CAN fly! Stick to the facts given.
⚠️ WATCH OUT! "All A are B" does NOT mean "all B are A"! "All dogs are animals" is true, but "all animals are dogs" is NOT true (cats are animals too!).

Try These!

1. All birds have feathers. A robin is a bird. Does a robin have feathers?
🔒 Click to reveal → Yes — robins are birds, and all birds have feathers, so robins must have feathers.
2. All children at Green Park School wear a blue uniform. Sarah wears a blue uniform. Does Sarah go to Green Park School?
🔒 Click to reveal → Not necessarily — we know Green Park students wear blue, but OTHER schools might also wear blue. We can't be sure.
3. Tom is taller than Sam. Sam is taller than Ben. Who is the shortest?
🔒 Click to reveal → Ben — Tom > Sam > Ben. Ben is the shortest.
4. No fish can climb trees. A salmon is a fish. Can a salmon climb trees?
🔒 Click to reveal → No — no fish can climb trees, and a salmon is a fish, so a salmon cannot climb trees.
5. Amy is older than Ben. Ben is older than Cara. Cara is older than Dan. Who is the oldest?
🔒 Click to reveal → Amy — Amy > Ben > Cara > Dan. Amy is the oldest.
6. Some pets are dogs. All dogs bark. Do all pets bark?
🔒 Click to reveal → No — only SOME pets are dogs. Other pets (like cats or fish) don't bark.
Symbol Codes — Crack the Symbol Key ▼

How It Works

Sometimes codes use symbols instead of letters or numbers. For example: ♦=A, ★=B, ●=C, ▲=D, ■=E. You need to use the key to translate between symbols and letters (or words).

The strategy is simple: write out the key, then substitute each symbol for its letter (or vice versa). Symbol codes can also involve patterns where you need to figure out the rule yourself.

Example 1: Decode Symbols

If ★●♦ = BCA, and ●★♦ = CBA, what does ♦●★ = ?

From the code: ★=B, ●=C, ♦=A. So ♦●★ = ACB ✔

Example 2: Symbols Representing Words

If ♦★● means CAT, what does ★♦● mean?

Work out the key: ♦=C, ★=A, ●=T. The symbols keep their letter values!

So ★♦● = A-C-T = ACT ✔

💡 TOP TIP: Always write out the full code key before trying to answer. Having it written down saves time and prevents mistakes!
⚠️ WATCH OUT! Read carefully whether they want you to ENCODE (word → symbols) or DECODE (symbols → word). Getting this backwards is a common mistake!

Try These!

1. If ♦=P, ★=I, ●=N, what does ♦★● spell?
🔒 Click to reveal → PIN — ♦=P, ★=I, ●=N → P-I-N
2. If ♦=P, ★=I, ●=N, how would you write NIP in symbols?
🔒 Click to reveal → ●★♦ — N=●, I=★, P=♦
3. If ▲■★ means DOG, and ●♦▲ means BAD, what letter does ▲ stand for?
🔒 Click to reveal → D — ▲ is the first symbol in DOG (▲=D) and the last symbol in BAD (▲=D). Both confirm ▲=D.
4. If ★♦● = SIT, what does ●★♦ spell?
🔒 Click to reveal → TSI — ★=S, ♦=I, ●=T. So ●★♦ = T-S-I
5. If ■♦●★ = LAMP, and ♦=A, what letters do the other symbols represent?
🔒 Click to reveal → ■=L, ●=M, ★=P — LAMP has 4 letters matching 4 symbols in order: ■=L, ♦=A, ●=M, ★=P
6. If ♦●▲ = TAP and ●♦▲ = ATP, what does ▲♦● spell?
🔒 Click to reveal → PAT — ♦=T, ●=A, ▲=P. So ▲♦● = P-A-T = PAT
Correct Spelling — Spot the Right One ▼

Common Tricky Spellings

These words trip up almost everyone! Learn them and you'll have a head start.

  • separate — NOT "seperate" (think: there's A RAT in separate!)
  • definitely — NOT "definately" (think: it's FINITE, not FINATE)
  • necessary — one C, two S's (think: a shirt has one Collar and two Sleeves)
  • receive — E before I (think: I before E except after C)
  • beginning — double N (think: BIG INN at the beginning)
  • believe — I before E (think: don't beLIEve a LIE)
  • February — don't forget the first R!
  • Wednesday — silent D and N (think: WED-NES-DAY)
  • occurrence — double C, double R
  • accommodation — double C, double M
  • embarrass — double R, double S
  • rhythm — no vowels! (Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move)
  • because — Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants
💡 TOP TIP: Make up silly sentences or stories to remember tricky spellings. The sillier they are, the better you'll remember them!

Try These!

1. Which is spelled correctly?
a) sepereteb) separatec) seperated) separete
🔒 Click to reveal → b) separate
2. Which is spelled correctly?
a) definatelyb) definitlyc) definitelyd) defanitely
🔒 Click to reveal → c) definitely
3. Which is spelled correctly?
a) neccessaryb) necessaryc) nessecaryd) necessery
🔒 Click to reveal → b) necessary
4. Which is spelled correctly?
a) accomodationb) accommadationc) accommodationd) acomodation
🔒 Click to reveal → c) accommodation
5. Which is spelled correctly?
a) embarassb) embarrasc) embarrassd) embarress
🔒 Click to reveal → c) embarrass
Closest Meaning in Context — Read Around It ▼

How It Works

A word is underlined in a sentence. You need to find which word from the options is closest in meaning to the underlined word, using the sentence to help you.

💡 TOP TIP: Replace the underlined word with each option. Which one keeps the sentence meaning the same?

Try These!

1. "The enormous elephant drank from the river." Which word is closest in meaning to enormous?
a) tinyb) greyc) huged) old
🔒 Click to reveal → c) huge — enormous means very large, just like huge.
2. "He commenced the race at exactly 10 o'clock." Which word is closest in meaning?
a) finishedb) startedc) watchedd) won
🔒 Click to reveal → b) started — commenced means to begin or start.
3. "The children were jubilant when they won the match." Which word is closest in meaning?
a) tiredb) delightedc) confusedd) nervous
🔒 Click to reveal → b) delighted — jubilant means feeling or showing great happiness after a success.
4. "The path was very treacherous after the ice storm." Which word is closest in meaning?
a) safeb) longc) dangerousd) beautiful
🔒 Click to reveal → c) dangerous — treacherous means hazardous or unsafe.
5. "She was famished after the long walk." Which word is closest in meaning?
a) thirstyb) exhaustedc) hungryd) excited
🔒 Click to reveal → c) hungry — famished means extremely hungry.
Word Groups — What Category Does It Belong To? ▼

How It Works

You're given a group of words that all belong to the same category and need to choose which extra word also belongs.

Try These!

1. Oak, elm, birch, ___? Which belongs: a) rose b) daisy c) ash d) tulip
🔒 Click to reveal → c) ash — they're all types of tree. Rose, daisy, and tulip are flowers.
2. Violin, cello, harp, ___? Which belongs: a) drum b) flute c) guitar d) trumpet
🔒 Click to reveal → c) guitar — they're all stringed instruments.
3. Mars, Venus, Saturn, ___? Which belongs: a) Moon b) Jupiter c) Sun d) Star
🔒 Click to reveal → b) Jupiter — they're all planets in our solar system.
4. Delighted, ecstatic, thrilled, ___? Which belongs: a) miserable b) overjoyed c) angry d) tired
🔒 Click to reveal → b) overjoyed — they're all words meaning very happy.
5. Crimson, scarlet, ruby, ___? Which belongs: a) navy b) emerald c) maroon d) gold
🔒 Click to reveal → c) maroon — they're all shades of red.
Prefixes & Suffixes — Word Building Blocks ▼

What Are Prefixes?

A prefix is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.

  • un- = not (unhappy, unkind, unlikely)
  • re- = again (redo, rewrite, rebuild)
  • dis- = not / opposite (disagree, disappear, dislike)
  • mis- = wrongly (mistake, misunderstand, misspell)
  • pre- = before (preview, preheat, prefix)
  • im-/in- = not (impossible, invisible, incorrect)
  • over- = too much (overload, overflow, overdue)
  • sub- = under / below (submarine, subway, subtitle)
  • anti- = against (anticlockwise, antisocial, antibacterial)
  • auto- = self (automatic, autograph, autobiography)
  • bi- = two (bicycle, bilingual, binoculars)
  • tri- = three (triangle, tricycle, triple)
  • super- = above / beyond (superhero, supernatural, supermarket)
  • trans- = across (transport, transfer, translate)
  • inter- = between (international, internet, interact)
  • micro- = small (microscope, microphone, microchip)
  • tele- = far (telephone, television, telescope)

What Are Suffixes?

A suffix is added to the end of a word to change its meaning or type.

  • -ful = full of (hopeful, beautiful, careful)
  • -less = without (hopeless, careless, fearless)
  • -ness = state of (kindness, darkness, sadness)
  • -ment = action/result (enjoyment, movement, government)
  • -er = person who does (teacher, builder, singer)
  • -ly = in that way (quickly, slowly, happily)
  • -able/-ible = can be (washable, flexible, visible)
  • -tion/-sion = act of (education, decision, permission)
  • -ous = full of (dangerous, famous, enormous)
  • -ive = tendency to (creative, active, expensive)
  • -al = relating to (musical, magical, national)
💡 TOP TIP: If you see a word you don't know, look for prefixes and suffixes you recognise. "Unbreakable" = un (not) + break + able (can be) = cannot be broken!

Try These!

1. If "care" means to look after, what does "careless" mean?
🔒 Click to reveal → Without care / not being careful — the suffix -less means "without".
2. What does "reappear" mean?
🔒 Click to reveal → To appear again — the prefix re- means "again".
3. What does "impossible" mean?
🔒 Click to reveal → Not possible — the prefix im- means "not".
4. What does "misunderstand" mean?
🔒 Click to reveal → To understand wrongly — the prefix mis- means "wrongly".
5. What word means "full of hope"?
🔒 Click to reveal → Hopeful — hope + the suffix -ful (full of).
6. What does the prefix "tri-" mean in the word "triangle"?
🔒 Click to reveal → Three — tri- means three. A triangle has three angles (and three sides).
7. What does "international" mean? Break it down using the prefix "inter-".
🔒 Click to reveal → Between nations / involving more than one country — inter- means "between" and national means "relating to a nation".
8. The suffix "-ous" means "full of". What does "dangerous" mean?
🔒 Click to reveal → Full of danger — danger + -ous (full of) = full of danger.
9. If "tele-" means "far" and "scope" means "to look at", what does "telescope" mean?
🔒 Click to reveal → Something that lets you look at things far away — tele (far) + scope (look at) = looking far away.
Proverbs & Sayings — Wise Words ▼

What Are Proverbs?

Proverbs are short, well-known sayings that give advice or express a truth. They often use figurative language (they don't literally mean what they say!). The transfer test sometimes asks you what a proverb means.

"Too many cooks spoil the broth"

Meaning: When too many people try to do the same job, the result is worse. Too much input causes confusion.

"A stitch in time saves nine"

Meaning: Fix problems early before they get bigger. A small repair now prevents a huge repair later.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch"

Meaning: Don't assume you'll succeed until it actually happens. Don't celebrate too early!

"Every cloud has a silver lining"

Meaning: Even in bad situations, there's something positive to find.

"Actions speak louder than words"

Meaning: What you DO matters more than what you SAY. Prove it with actions, not promises.

"Don't judge a book by its cover"

Meaning: Don't judge people or things by how they look on the outside.

"Practice makes perfect"

Meaning: The more you practise something, the better you get at it.

"The early bird catches the worm"

Meaning: People who start early or act quickly have an advantage.

"Two wrongs don't make a right"

Meaning: Doing something bad to someone who did something bad to you doesn't fix the problem.

"Look before you leap"

Meaning: Think carefully before making a big decision. Plan ahead!

"Rome wasn't built in a day"

Meaning: Great things take time. Be patient and keep working.

"A penny saved is a penny earned"

Meaning: Saving money is just as valuable as earning it. Be wise with money.

"Birds of a feather flock together"

Meaning: People who are similar tend to spend time together.

"You can't have your cake and eat it too"

Meaning: You can't have everything both ways. Sometimes you have to choose.

"The pen is mightier than the sword"

Meaning: Words and ideas are more powerful than violence and force.

Try These!

1. What does "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" mean?
a) Be careful with eggsb) Don't risk everything on one planc) Always carry two basketsd) Eggs break easily
🔒 Click to reveal → b) Don't risk everything on one plan — spread your risks in case one plan fails.
2. What does "A rolling stone gathers no moss" mean?
a) Stones shouldn't rollb) Moss is hard to growc) Someone who keeps moving doesn't settle downd) Stones are covered in moss
🔒 Click to reveal → c) Someone who keeps moving doesn't settle down — if you never stay in one place, you won't build lasting connections or possessions.
3. Complete this proverb: "The early bird catches the ___"
🔒 Click to reveal → worm
Pattern Matrices — Find the Missing Piece ▼

How It Works

You're shown a grid (usually 3×3) of shapes or patterns with one piece missing. You need to find the missing piece from the answer options. Think of it like a visual puzzle!

Strategy: Look at what changes across each row and down each column. The answer must fit both patterns!

What to Look For

  • Shapes rotating: Does the shape turn a quarter, half, or three-quarter turn in each step?
  • Shading alternating: Does the fill change from white → grey → black across the row?
  • Shapes growing or shrinking: Does the shape get bigger or smaller?
  • Elements being added or removed: Does each step add one more dot, line, or shape?
  • Different shapes in each cell: Each row might contain one circle, one square, and one triangle.
💡 TOP TIP: Check BOTH the row pattern AND the column pattern. The answer must fit both! If you only check one direction, you might pick the wrong answer.

Try These!

1. A 3×3 grid has these shapes:
Row 1: small white circle, medium white circle, large white circle
Row 2: small grey circle, medium grey circle, large grey circle
Row 3: small black circle, medium black circle, ???
What is the missing shape?
🔒 Click to reveal → Large black circle — across each row, circles get bigger (small → medium → large). Down each column, shading gets darker (white → grey → black). The missing piece must be large AND black.
2. A 3×3 grid has:
Row 1: triangle pointing up, triangle pointing right, triangle pointing down
Row 2: square, square rotated 45° (diamond), square
Row 3: circle, circle with a line through it, ???
Each row shows a shape rotating. What is missing from Row 3?
🔒 Click to reveal → Circle with a horizontal line through it — the line through the circle rotates: first vertical, then diagonal, then horizontal. This follows the rotation pattern seen in the other rows.
3. A 3×3 grid has:
Row 1: 1 dot, 2 dots, 3 dots
Row 2: 2 dots, 3 dots, 4 dots
Row 3: 3 dots, 4 dots, ???
How many dots should the missing piece have?
🔒 Click to reveal → 5 dots — each row adds 1 dot going left to right. Each column adds 1 dot going top to bottom. Row 3 continues: 3, 4, 5.
Odd Shape Out — Which One Doesn't Belong? ▼

How It Works

You're shown a group of shapes (usually 5) and you need to find the one that doesn't belong. Four shapes share something in common — one is different!

What to Check

  • Number of sides: Are most shapes pentagons but one is a hexagon?
  • Curved vs straight: Are most shapes made of straight lines but one has curves?
  • Symmetry: Are most shapes symmetrical but one isn't?
  • Right angles: Do most shapes contain right angles but one doesn't?
  • Shading: Are most shapes shaded but one is empty (or vice versa)?
  • Size: Is one shape a completely different size?
  • Rotation: Are most shapes pointing the same way but one is rotated?
💡 TOP TIP: Don't just go with your first instinct — check ALL the properties. Sometimes the odd one out isn't obvious at first glance.

Try These!

1. Five shapes: square, rectangle, triangle, rhombus, parallelogram. Which is the odd one out?
🔒 Click to reveal → Triangle — all the others are quadrilaterals (4 sides). The triangle has only 3 sides.
2. Five shapes: circle, oval, semicircle, square, crescent. Which is the odd one out?
🔒 Click to reveal → Square — all the others have curved edges. The square has only straight edges.
3. Five arrows: four arrows point upward, one arrow points to the right. Which is the odd one out?
🔒 Click to reveal → The arrow pointing right — four arrows share the same direction (up). The right-pointing arrow is rotated differently.
4. Five shapes: a white triangle, a white square, a white pentagon, a grey hexagon, a white octagon. Which is the odd one out?
🔒 Click to reveal → The grey hexagon — all the others are white (unshaded). The hexagon is the only grey shape. (You might also notice they all have increasing sides, but the shading difference is the key distinguisher.)
Shape Sequences — What Comes Next? ▼

How It Works

You're shown a series of shapes that follow a pattern, and you need to work out what the next shape in the sequence should be. This is just like number sequences — but with pictures!

Common Pattern Types

  • Rotation: The shape turns a quarter turn (90°) each step.
  • Alternating shapes: Circle, square, circle, square — what's next?
  • Growing patterns: One more element is added each step.
  • Shading changes: White → grey → black → white → ...
  • Reflection: The shape flips left-right, then right-left, alternating.

Strategy: Describe what changes from one shape to the next in words (e.g., "rotates 90° clockwise" or "adds one more dot"). Then apply that same rule to find the next shape.

💡 TOP TIP: Write down what changes between each step: "rotates 90° clockwise" or "adds one more dot". Then apply that rule to find the next shape.

Try These!

1. An arrow points: up, right, down, left, ___. What direction does the next arrow point?
🔒 Click to reveal → Up — the arrow rotates 90° clockwise each step. After left, it goes back to up (full rotation).
2. A sequence shows: 1 star, 2 stars, 3 stars, 4 stars, ___. What comes next?
🔒 Click to reveal → 5 stars — one more star is added each step.
3. Shapes in order: white circle, grey circle, black circle, white circle, grey circle, ___. What comes next?
🔒 Click to reveal → Black circle — the shading repeats in a cycle: white → grey → black → white → grey → black.
4. A square has a dot in a different corner each step: top-left, top-right, bottom-right, bottom-left, ___. Where is the dot next?
🔒 Click to reveal → Top-left — the dot moves clockwise around the corners. After bottom-left, it returns to top-left.
Reflection & Rotation — Flips and Turns ▼

Reflection (Mirror Images)

A reflection is the mirror image of a shape.

  • If reflected in a vertical line (like a mirror on a wall): left becomes right, right becomes left.
  • If reflected in a horizontal line (like a mirror on the floor): top becomes bottom, bottom becomes top.

Strategy: Imagine folding the paper along the mirror line. The shape should land exactly on its reflection.

Rotation (Turning Shapes)

A rotation is turning a shape around a point.

  • Quarter turn = 90°
  • Half turn = 180°
  • Three-quarter turn = 270°
  • Full turn = 360° (back to the start)

Strategy: Pick one point or feature on the shape and track where it moves to. If a flag pointing right is rotated 90° clockwise, it now points down.

💡 TOP TIP: For reflections, the shape stays the same distance from the mirror line but flips. Everything that was on the left is now on the right!

Try These!

1. The letter "b" is reflected in a vertical mirror line. What does it look like?
🔒 Click to reveal → d — reflecting "b" in a vertical line flips it left-to-right, making it look like "d".
2. The letter "p" is reflected in a horizontal mirror line. What does it look like?
🔒 Click to reveal → b — reflecting "p" horizontally flips it top-to-bottom, making it look like "b".
3. An arrow pointing UP is rotated 90° clockwise. What direction does it point now?
🔒 Click to reveal → Right — a 90° clockwise rotation turns up → right.
4. An "L" shape (made of two lines: one going right and one going down) is rotated 180°. What does it look like now?
🔒 Click to reveal → An upside-down and backwards "L" — a 180° rotation flips it completely. The line that went right now goes left, and the line that went down now goes up. It looks like a backwards "L" rotated to the top-left corner (like the letter Γ).
Time Management — Beat the Clock ▼

The GL Test is Timed!

The GL Assessment verbal reasoning section is time-pressured. You need to answer lots of questions in a limited time. Here's how to manage your time like a pro:

  • Don't get stuck! If a question is taking too long (more than 30-40 seconds), mark your best guess and move on. You can come back to it later.
  • Answer every question. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so always have a go — even if you have to guess!
  • Do the easy ones first. Skim through and answer the questions you find easiest. This builds confidence and banks marks.
  • Keep an eye on time. Roughly divide the time by the number of questions so you know your pace.
  • Leave 2 minutes at the end to go back and check your answers, especially any you guessed on.
💡 TOP TIP: Practice with a timer at home! Start with no time limit, then gradually reduce the time as you get better. This builds speed without panic.
Multiple Choice Strategy — Work Smarter ▼

Smart Multiple Choice Techniques

  1. Read ALL options before choosing. The first option might look right, but a better answer might be hiding further down the list.
  2. Eliminate wrong answers first. Cross out (mentally) the answers you KNOW are wrong. This narrows your choices and makes the right answer easier to spot.
  3. Watch for "trick" options. Some answers look very similar to the correct one (like "seperate" vs "separate"). Read carefully!
  4. Trust your first instinct. If you've prepared well, your first answer is usually right. Only change it if you have a clear reason.
  5. Look for absolutes. Words like "always", "never", "all", "none" in options are often wrong. Real life usually has exceptions!
  6. If stuck between two, go with your gut. You have a 50/50 chance — much better than random!
⚠️ WATCH OUT! Read the question carefully! "Which is MOST SIMILAR" and "which is MOST DIFFERENT" need completely opposite answers. Underlining key words in the question helps.
Common Traps — Don't Fall For These! ▼

Traps the Test Loves to Set

  • Near-miss spellings: "Seperate" looks right but it's "separate". Always look closely at every letter.
  • "Nearly right" answers: One option might be ALMOST correct but not the BEST answer. Look for the most accurate match.
  • Double negatives: "Which is NOT the opposite?" — your brain has to flip twice. Slow down on these!
  • Confusing similar/opposite: The question asks for a SYNONYM but you pick an ANTONYM (or vice versa). Always re-read what's being asked.
  • Assuming real-life knowledge: In logic questions, ONLY use the facts given. Don't add your own knowledge!
  • Rushing pattern questions: Check your pattern works for ALL the given numbers/letters, not just the first few.
  • Missing the word "NOT": "Which word does NOT belong?" — that little word changes everything!
💡 TOP TIP: After choosing your answer, re-read the question one more time to make sure you've answered what was actually asked!
Building Vocabulary — Grow Your Word Bank ▼

How to Learn More Words

  • Read widely! Books, newspapers, magazines, comics — anything! The more you read, the more words you'll absorb naturally.
  • Keep a word journal. When you find a new word, write it down with its meaning and an example sentence.
  • Learn one new word a day. That's 365 new words in a year! Use it in conversation to help it stick.
  • Play word games. Scrabble, Boggle, crossword puzzles, word searches, and apps like WordBrain are all brilliant for building vocabulary.
  • Use a thesaurus. When you learn a word, look up its synonyms and antonyms too. You'll learn multiple words at once!
  • Look at word roots. Many English words come from Latin or Greek. If you know "tele" means "far" and "scope" means "see", you can work out that "telescope" means "see far"!
  • Talk about words with family. Ask "what does that word mean?" at dinner. Make it a game!
💡 TOP TIP: The BEST way to improve vocabulary is to read for pleasure. Pick books YOU enjoy — if you're having fun, you won't even notice you're learning!
Practice Techniques — Train Like a Champion ▼

How to Practise Effectively

  • Little and often beats cramming. 15-20 minutes of practice every day is MUCH better than 3 hours once a week.
  • Time yourself. Get used to working under mild time pressure. It won't feel scary on test day if you've practised it.
  • Review your mistakes. Your mistakes are your BEST teacher! When you get a question wrong, understand WHY. Write down what tripped you up.
  • Mix up the topics. Don't just practise what you're already good at. Spend extra time on your weaker areas.
  • Simulate test conditions. Once a week, do a full practice paper in silence with a timer. This builds stamina and confidence.
  • Track your progress. Use the checkboxes on this page! Seeing how far you've come is really motivating.
💡 TOP TIP: After each practice session, write down ONE thing you learned. Over weeks and months, you'll be amazed at how much you've grown!
Day of the Test — You've Got This! ▼

What to Bring

  • Two or three sharpened HB pencils (plus a sharpener)
  • A good eraser
  • A bottle of water
  • A watch (no smart watches) to keep track of time
  • Your admission letter if required

On the Day

  • Arrive early. Give yourself plenty of time so you're not rushing or stressed.
  • Eat a good breakfast. Your brain needs fuel! Porridge, toast, fruit — something that will keep you going.
  • Read the instructions carefully. Don't start until you've read and understood what you need to do.
  • Stay calm. Take a deep breath. You've prepared for this. You know your stuff!
  • If you feel stuck, move on. Come back to hard questions at the end.
  • Check your answers if you have time at the end.
💡 TOP TIP: Remember — the transfer test is just ONE day. It doesn't define how smart you are or who you'll become. Whatever happens, you should be proud of all the hard work you've put in. You're going to be brilliant!
⚠️ WATCH OUT! Don't cram the night before! Your brain needs rest to perform at its best. Watch a film, play a game, relax — and get an early night.
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