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 35 seconds
If STAR is written in code as TUBS, what is the code for SHIP?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, TIJQ
How to work it out
Compare STAR with its code: each letter moves 1 place forward in the alphabet.
Do the same to SHIP: TIJQ.
Why the other options are wrong
A (VKLS): Moves each letter 3 places forward, which is two places too far. The example shows 1 place forward.
B (RGHO): Moves each letter 1 place back, the wrong way. The example moves them 1 place forward.
C (UJKR): Moves each letter 2 places forward, which is one place too far. The example shows 1 place forward.
E (SHIP): Leaves every letter where it is, so this is SHIP itself, not its code. The example moves each letter 1 place forward.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds
If BIRD is written in code as DKTF, what is the code for DOG?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, FQI
How to work it out
Compare BIRD with its code: each letter moves 2 places forward in the alphabet.
Do the same to DOG: FQI.
Why the other options are wrong
A (EPH): Moves each letter 1 place forward, which is one place too short. The example shows 2 places forward.
B (BME): Moves each letter 2 places back, the wrong way. The example moves them 2 places forward.
C (HSK): Moves each letter 4 places forward, which is two places too far. The example shows 2 places forward.
E (GRJ): Moves each letter 3 places forward, which is one place too far. The example shows 2 places forward.
Standard the 11 Plus standard, Year 5
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Here are four words and three number codes. The codes are not in the same order as the words, and one code is missing. What is the code for SNAP?
ARMS SNAP STEP PINE 3927 6153 7842
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, 3467
How to work it out
Find a letter that appears in only one place, or two words that share a pattern, and match them to the codes.
Working through the letters: S = 3, N = 4, A = 6, P = 7, I = 8, E = 2, R = 1, M = 5, T = 9.
So SNAP is 3467.
Why the other options are wrong
A (3476): Right digits, wrong order: the third and fourth digits are swapped. A is 6.
B (7643): The first digit is 7, but S stands for 3 in the other words.
D (3647): Right digits, wrong order: the second and third digits are swapped. N is 4.
E (4367): Right digits, wrong order: the first and second digits are swapped. S is 3.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds
Two words are written in the same code. Find the rule, then write FISH in the code.
BELL → CFMM RAIN → SBJO FISH → ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, GJTI
How to work it out
Both examples fit one rule: each letter moves 1 forward.
Apply it to FISH: GJTI.
Why the other options are wrong
A (EHRG): This is FISH with each letter moves 1 back, which does not fit the two examples: BELL would become ADKK.
B (HSIF): This is FISH with the word is written backwards, which does not fit the two examples: BELL would become LLEB.
D (HKUJ): This is FISH with each letter moves 2 forward, which does not fit the two examples: BELL would become DGNN.
E (DGQF): This is FISH with each letter moves 2 back, which does not fit the two examples: BELL would become ZCJJ.
Exam standard what the papers ask in Year 6
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds
In a code, SOLOS is written as WSPSW. Two rules both fit: Rule A, each letter moves 4 forward; Rule B, the word is written backwards, then each letter moves 4 forward. Which word, if you saw its code, would tell the two rules apart?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, ROSE
How to work it out
SOLOS reads the same backwards, so writing it backwards changes nothing and both rules give WSPSW.
A word that is different backwards, such as ROSE, gets VSWI under Rule A and IWSV under Rule B.
Why the other options are wrong
B (DEED): DEED reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code HIIH; it cannot tell them apart.
C (KAYAK): KAYAK reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code OECEO; it cannot tell them apart.
D (STATS): STATS reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code WXEXW; it cannot tell them apart.
E (SEES): SEES reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code WIIW; it cannot tell them apart.
Question 6Aim for about 35 seconds
Four of these pairs follow the same code. One does not. Which pair is wrong?
DUCK → BSAI
CAT → FDW
MOON → KMML
FISH → DGQF
FARM → DYPK
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, CAT → FDW
How to work it out
The rule the four share is: each letter moves 2 back.
In CAT → FDW the letters have moved differently (each letter moves 3 forward).
Why the other options are wrong
A (DUCK → BSAI): DUCK → BSAI follows the rule (each letter moves 2 back), like three of the others; it is CAT → FDW that breaks it.
B (FARM → DYPK): FARM → DYPK follows the rule (each letter moves 2 back), like three of the others; it is CAT → FDW that breaks it.
C (MOON → KMML): MOON → KMML follows the rule (each letter moves 2 back), like three of the others; it is CAT → FDW that breaks it.
E (FISH → DGQF): FISH → DGQF follows the rule (each letter moves 2 back), like three of the others; it is CAT → FDW that breaks it.
The kinds of question in this topic
Each kind asks something different of a child, even when the numbers or shapes look alike.
Discover the code rule
Three words and their codes: work out the rule, then apply it or find the mistake.
Standard
Question 7Aim for about 35 seconds
Two words are written in the same code. Find the rule, then write FARM in the code.
WOLF → VNKE NEST → MDRS FARM → ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, EZQL
How to work it out
Both examples fit one rule: each letter moves 1 back.
Apply it to FARM: EZQL.
Why the other options are wrong
A (MRAF): This is FARM with the word is written backwards, which does not fit the two examples: WOLF would become FLOW.
C (UZIN): This is FARM with the alphabet is mirrored (A is Z, B is Y), which does not fit the two examples: WOLF would become DLOU.
D (IDUP): This is FARM with each letter moves 3 forward, which does not fit the two examples: WOLF would become ZROI.
E (DYPK): This is FARM with each letter moves 2 back, which does not fit the two examples: WOLF would become UMJD.
Number codes for words
Each letter has a number; decode a new word.
Standard
Question 8Aim for about 35 seconds
Here are four words and three number codes. The codes are not in the same order as the words, and one code is missing. What is the code for CREW?
OVER CREW ONCE CROW 4581 8749 8295
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, 4591
How to work it out
Find a letter that appears in only one place, or two words that share a pattern, and match them to the codes.
Working through the letters: C = 4, R = 5, E = 9, W = 1, O = 8, N = 7, V = 2.
So CREW is 4591.
Why the other options are wrong
A (5491): Right digits, wrong order: the first and second digits are swapped. C is 4.
B (4519): Right digits, wrong order: the third and fourth digits are swapped. E is 9.
D (4951): Right digits, wrong order: the second and third digits are swapped. R is 5.
E (1954): The first digit is 1, but C stands for 4 in the other words.
Two rules fit: which word tells them apart
Both rules give the same code for the example; choose the word whose code would settle it.
Standard
Question 9Aim for about 35 seconds
In a code, STATS is written as VWDWV. Two rules both fit: Rule A, each letter moves 3 forward; Rule B, the word is written backwards, then each letter moves 3 forward. Which word, if you saw its code, would tell the two rules apart?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, GATE
How to work it out
STATS reads the same backwards, so writing it backwards changes nothing and both rules give VWDWV.
A word that is different backwards, such as GATE, gets JDWH under Rule A and HWDJ under Rule B.
Why the other options are wrong
B (LEVEL): LEVEL reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code OHYHO; it cannot tell them apart.
C (KAYAK): KAYAK reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code NDBDN; it cannot tell them apart.
D (PEEP): PEEP reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code SHHS; it cannot tell them apart.
E (TENET): TENET reads the same backwards, so both rules give it the code WHQHW; it cannot tell them apart.
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