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 figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D
How to work it out
Two things change at once.
The step shape turns 90° clockwise each time and its shading alternates; the small cross moves one corner clockwise each time, so next it is in the bottom right corner.
Why the other options are wrong
A: The shape is right, but the cross has stayed in the top right corner. It moves one corner clockwise every time.
B: The shape and the cross are right, but the shading should be checked: it alternates, and the last figure was grey.
C: The cross is in the right corner, but the shape has turned one step too far.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C
How to work it out
Two things change at once.
The hook shape turns 45° clockwise each time and its shading alternates; the small dot moves one corner clockwise each time, so next it is in the bottom left corner.
Why the other options are wrong
A: The shape and the dot are right, but the shading should be checked: it alternates, and the last figure was dotted.
B: The shape is right, but the dot has stayed in the bottom right corner. It moves one corner clockwise every time.
D: The shape is right, but the dot has moved two corners on instead of one.
Standard the 11 Plus standard, Year 5
Question 3Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
The step turns 90° anticlockwise each step and the shading alternates.
Why the other options are wrong
A: The angle is right but the shading is wrong: it alternates dotted and cross-hatched, and the last figure was cross-hatched, so this one should be dotted.
C: This turns one step too far: the next angle is 0°, but this is at 270°.
D: This is the mirror image of the right shape, so it is flipped. The series only turns the shape; it never flips it.
E: This repeats the last figure's angle (90°). The shape should turn 90° anticlockwise again, to 0°.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A
How to work it out
The hook turns 90° clockwise each step and the shading alternates.
Why the other options are wrong
B: This repeats the last figure's angle (0°). The shape should turn 90° clockwise again, to 90°.
C: This is the mirror image of the right shape, so it is flipped. The series only turns the shape; it never flips it.
D: The angle is right but the shading is wrong: it alternates striped the other way and cross-hatched, and the last figure was cross-hatched, so this one should be striped the other way.
E: This turns one step too far: the next angle is 90°, but this is at 180°.
Exam standard what the papers ask in Year 6
Question 5Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D
How to work it out
Count the dots: 1, 2, 4, 7.
The gaps are 1, 2, 3, growing by one each time, so the next gap is 4 and the next figure has 11 dots.
Why the other options are wrong
A: This adds one dot; the gaps grow, so the next gap is four.
B: One dot too many: 7 + 4 = 11.
C: This repeats the last figure instead of moving on.
E: The gaps grow by one each time (1, 2, 3, 4), so the next gap is 4, from 7 to 11; this has 10.
Question 6Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E
How to work it out
The hook turns 90° clockwise each step and the shading alternates.
Why the other options are wrong
A: This turns one step too far: the next angle is 180°, but this is at 270°.
B: This repeats the last figure's angle (90°). The shape should turn 90° clockwise again, to 180°.
C: The angle is right but the shading is wrong: it alternates striped and striped the other way, and the last figure was striped the other way, so this one should be striped.
D: This is the mirror image of the right shape, so it is flipped. The series only turns the shape; it never flips it.
The kinds of question in this topic
Each kind asks something different of a child, even when the numbers or shapes look alike.
A mark walks round the corners
A small mark moves one corner each time while the shape turns.
Standard
Question 7Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D
How to work it out
Two things change at once.
The flag turns 45° clockwise each time and its shading alternates; the small cross moves one corner clockwise each time, so next it is in the top right corner.
Why the other options are wrong
A: The shape is right, but the cross has moved two corners on instead of one.
B: The cross is in the right corner, but the shape has turned one step too far.
C: The shape and the cross are right, but the shading should be checked: it alternates, and the last figure was striped.
E: The shape is right, but the cross has stayed in the top left corner. It moves one corner clockwise every time.
Dots that grow
The dots increase by a growing step.
Standard
Question 8Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
Count the dots: 1, 2, 4, 7.
The gaps are 1, 2, 3, growing by one each time, so the next gap is 4 and the next figure has 11 dots.
Why the other options are wrong
A: This adds one dot; the gaps grow, so the next gap is four.
C: The gaps grow by one each time (1, 2, 3, 4), so the next gap is 4, from 7 to 11; this has 10.
D: One dot too many: 7 + 4 = 11.
E: This repeats the last figure instead of moving on.
Shapes that take turns
Two shapes alternate while something else changes.
Standard
Question 9Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure comes next in the series?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E
How to work it out
Two cycles run at once: the shape goes hexagon, triangle, square and round again; the shading alternates.
The next is a unshaded triangle.
Why the other options are wrong
A: The shape is right but the shading should alternate.
B: This repeats the last figure.
C: The shading is right but the shape has jumped ahead in the cycle.
D: The shape has jumped ahead and the shading has not alternated.
Find the break in the series
One figure in the series does not follow the rule.
Exam standard
Question 10Aim for about 45 seconds
One figure in this series is wrong. Which one?
1
2
3
4
5
Show the worked answer
Answer: C
How to work it out
The rule: the shape turns 90° clockwise each time and gains a dot.
Figure 3 is turned the wrong way: it should be at 180°.
Why the other options are wrong
A: This figure is turned 90° with 1 dot, exactly where the rule puts figure 2.
B: This figure is turned 270° with 3 dots, exactly where the rule puts figure 4.
D: This figure is turned 0° with 0 dots, exactly where the rule puts figure 1.
E: This figure is turned 0° with 4 dots, exactly where the rule puts figure 5.
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.