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
Which number comes next in the series?
11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, 35
How to work it out
Add 4 each time.
Why the other options are wrong
A (34): This adds 3, but the step is 4.
B (39): This adds 4 twice. Only one more step is needed.
C (27): This goes down, but the numbers are going up.
E (36): This adds 5, but the step is 4.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds
Which number comes next in the series?
4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, 16
How to work it out
Add 2 each time.
Why the other options are wrong
A (18): This adds 2 twice. Only one more step is needed.
C (12): This goes down, but the numbers are going up.
D (17): This adds 3, but the step is 2.
E (15): This adds 1, but the step is 2.
Standard the 11 Plus standard, Year 5
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Find the next number in this series.
9, 40, 12, 36, 15, 32, ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: C, 18
How to work it out
Two series take turns: 9, 12, 15 (add 3) and 40, 36, 32 (take away 4).
The next number continues the first: 18.
Why the other options are wrong
A (28): This is the next number of the other series (take away 4 from 32), but it is the turn of the series that goes up by 3, from 15.
B (21): Adds 3 twice to 15. Only one step of 3 is needed to get from 15 to the next number of this series.
D (19): 19 is 1 too big. The series that goes up by 3 reaches 15 and then 18: add exactly 3 to 15.
E (8): 8 is 10 too small. The series that goes up by 3 reaches 15 and then 18: add exactly 3 to 15.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds
Find the next number in this series.
20, 38, 28, 33, 36, 28, ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, 44
How to work it out
Two series take turns: 20, 28, 36 (add 8) and 38, 33, 28 (take away 5).
The next number continues the first: 44.
Why the other options are wrong
A (88): 88 is 44 too big. The series that goes up by 8 reaches 36 and then 44: add exactly 8 to 36.
C (54): 54 is 10 too big. The series that goes up by 8 reaches 36 and then 44: add exactly 8 to 36.
D (23): This is the next number of the other series (take away 5 from 28), but it is the turn of the series that goes up by 8, from 36.
E (52): Adds 8 twice to 36. Only one step of 8 is needed to get from 36 to the next number of this series.
Exam standard what the papers ask in Year 6
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds
Which number comes next in the series?
1, 3, 9, 27, 81, ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, 243
How to work it out
Multiply by 3 each time.
Why the other options are wrong
A (135): This adds the last gap again, but the gaps are growing: each number is multiplied by 3.
B (324): This adds the last two numbers, which does not fit the series.
C (162): This doubles, but each number is three times the one before.
D (729): This multiplies by 3 twice. Only one more step is needed.
Question 6Aim for about 35 seconds
Which number comes next in the series?
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, ?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, 49
How to work it out
These are square numbers: 1×1, 2×2, and so on.
Next is 7×7.
Why the other options are wrong
A (64): This is the square after next.
B (47): This adds 11 again, but the gap grows by 2 each time.
C (14): This doubles 7 instead of squaring it.
E (48): This grows the gap by 1, but square numbers grow their gaps by 2.
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