Every question here is written by Prism in the style of the tests. None is copied from a real paper, and a fresh one is drawn each time a child practises.
From foundation to exam standard
Two questions at each level. Tap an option to check it.
Foundation where a child in Year 3 or 4 starts
Question 1Aim for about 45 seconds
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, I can't find my pencil.
How to work it out
The correct sentence is: I can't find my pencil.
An apostrophe shows missing letters (can’t) or that something belongs to someone (the cat’s).
Why the other options are wrong
A (I ca'nt find my pencil.): The apostrophe is in the wrong place. It goes where the letters are missing, between the n and the t: can’t.
B (I can't find my pencil): The apostrophe is right, but the full stop is missing at the end.
C (I cant find my pencil.): The apostrophe is missing from “can’t”, which is short for “cannot”.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, I packed a hat, a scarf and some gloves.
How to work it out
The correct sentence is: I packed a hat, a scarf and some gloves.
Commas separate items in a list, or a fronted phrase from the rest of the sentence.
Why the other options are wrong
B (I packed a hat a scarf and some gloves.): The commas are missing, so the items in the list run together.
C (I packed, a hat, a scarf, and, some gloves.): There is a comma after “packed” and round “and”. Commas go between list items, not before the list or beside “and”.
D (I packed a hat, a scarf, and, some gloves.): The first comma is right, but there should be no commas on either side of “and”.
Standard the 11 Plus standard, Year 5
Question 3Aim for about 45 seconds
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, It's time for the children's lunch.
How to work it out
The correct sentence is: It's time for the children's lunch.
An apostrophe shows missing letters (can’t) or that something belongs to someone (the cat’s).
Why the other options are wrong
A (Its' time for the children's lunch.): The apostrophe is after the s. The short form of “it is” is “it’s”, with the apostrophe where the i is missing.
B (Its time for the childrens' lunch.): “Its” needs an apostrophe here (it is), and “children’s” takes the apostrophe before the s, because children is already plural.
C (It's time for the childrens lunch.): The first apostrophe is right, but “children’s” needs one before the s to show the lunch belongs to the children.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which part has a punctuation mistake? Choose “No mistake” if there is none.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, the government has promised
How to work it out
A sentence always starts with a capital letter.
Why the other options are wrong
B (to improve the environment): “to improve the environment” carries on the sentence, so small letters and no mark are right here. The mistake is in another part.
C (by planting forty): “by planting forty” carries on the sentence, so small letters and no mark are right here. The mistake is in another part.
D (thousand trees.): The full stop ends the sentence. The mistake is in another part.
E (No mistake): There is a mistake: A sentence always starts with a capital letter.
Exam standard what the papers ask in Year 6
Question 5Aim for about 45 seconds
Which part has a punctuation mistake? Choose “No mistake” if there is none.
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, the curiosity of
How to work it out
A sentence always starts with a capital letter.
Why the other options are wrong
B (the young scientist): “the young scientist” carries on the sentence, so small letters and no mark are right here. The mistake is in another part.
C (led to an): “led to an” carries on the sentence, so small letters and no mark are right here. The mistake is in another part.
D (important discovery.): The full stop ends the sentence. The mistake is in another part.
E (No mistake): There is a mistake: A sentence always starts with a capital letter.
Question 6Aim for about 45 seconds
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, The girls' changing room was locked.
How to work it out
The correct sentence is: The girls' changing room was locked.
For a plural ending in s, the apostrophe goes after the s.
Why the other options are wrong
A (The girls's changing room was locked.): The plural “girls” already ends in s, so the apostrophe goes after it with no second s.
C (The girl's' changing room was locked.): There are two apostrophes in one word. Only one is needed, after the s of the plural “girls”.
D (The girls changing room was locked.): There is no apostrophe, so nothing shows that the changing room belongs to the girls.
Prism starts with a free assessment across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then builds a weekly plan for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.