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11 Plus english: every question type

4 topics. Each one below shows an exam-standard question to try and the kinds of question inside the topic; open a topic to see it from foundation upwards.

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.

Spelling

Tricky words, rules and common traps.

Exam standard
Question 1Aim for about 45 seconds

Which word completes the sentence with the correct spelling?

The _____ puppy hid my sock under the sofa.

Show the worked answer

Answer: D, mischievous

How to work it out

  1. The mischievous puppy hid my sock under the sofa.
  2. Three syllables only: mis-chie-vous.
  3. There is no -ious.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A (mischievious): An extra “i” has crept in; “mischievous” has no “i” after “ev”.
  • B (mischevous): A vowel is missing: “mischievous” has an “i” after “ch”.
  • C (mischivous): A vowel is missing: “mischievous” has an “e” after “hi”.

Grammar & word classes

Nouns to conjunctions, homophones, tense agreement.

Exam standard
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds

Which pair of words are antonyms?

Show the worked answer

Answer: C, generous and mean

How to work it out

  1. Antonyms are opposites.
  2. Generous and mean are opposites; the other pairs mean the same.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A (quick and fast): “Quick” and “fast” mean the same thing, so they are synonyms, not opposites.
  • B (happy and cheerful): “Happy” and “cheerful” mean almost the same, so they are synonyms, not opposites.
  • D (large and huge): “Large” and “huge” both mean big, so they are synonyms, not opposites.

Punctuation

Apostrophes, speech marks, commas and semicolons.

Exam standard
Question 3Aim for about 45 seconds

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Show the worked answer

Answer: C, The girls' changing room was locked.

How to work it out

  1. The correct sentence is: The girls' changing room was locked.
  2. 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.
  • B (The girls changing room was locked.): There is no apostrophe, so nothing shows that the changing room belongs to the girls.
  • D (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”.

Vocabulary

Word meanings and ambitious vocabulary.

Exam standard
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds

What does the word “benevolent” mean?

Show the worked answer

Answer: D, kind and wanting to help others

How to work it out

  1. “Benevolent” (adjective) means kind and wanting to help others.
  2. For example: A benevolent stranger paid for our tickets.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A (unwilling or unable to believe): That is what “incredulous” means, an unrelated word. “benevolent” means kind and wanting to help others.
  • B (weak and hard to see or hear): That is what “faint” means, an unrelated word. “benevolent” means kind and wanting to help others.
  • C (difficult and tiring): That is what “arduous” means, an unrelated word. “benevolent” means kind and wanting to help others.

Find out where your child stands today

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