Question 1Aim for about 35 seconds
Which word goes best with these three?
peach, banana, pear
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, mango
How to work it out
peach, banana, pear are all fruits, and so is mango.
Boston High School: 11 Plus entry
A state grammar school in Lincolnshire for girls, with entry at 11+. Here is the test it uses, what is in it and how to prepare.
At a glance
- Type
- Grammar school
- Pupils
- Girls
- Area
- Lincolnshire, East Midlands
- Entry
- 11+
- Entrance test
- GL reasoning test
- Tested
- Verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
- Competition
- Selective
- Prism’s suggested target
- 78% in practice (our estimate, not a school figure)
About the GL reasoning test
Some areas (e.g. Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire) select using verbal and non-verbal reasoning only.
| Stage | Paper | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ | Verbal Reasoning | 80 | 60 minutes |
| 11+ | Non-verbal Reasoning | 50 | 40 minutes |
Paper formats are indicative and change from year to year. Always check the current arrangements with the school or local authority.
How to prepare
The GL reasoning test covers verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
Verbal reasoning is a set of learnable question types, such as letter codes, hidden words and word analogies. Learning each type, then practising it against the clock, lifts scores quickly.
Non-verbal reasoning is about spotting patterns in shapes: rotations, reflections, sequences and matrices. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.
Practice questions in the style of the test
Written by Prism in the style of the test, not taken from any school’s papers.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure completes the grid?
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
- Across each row the shading changes in the same way; down each column the shape changes.
- The missing figure needs the bottom row’s shape and the right column’s shading.
Other selective schools in Lincolnshire
- Boston Grammar School
- Bourne Grammar School
- Caistor Grammar School
- Carre’s Grammar School
- Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School
- Kesteven and Sleaford High School
- King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth
- The King’s School, Grantham
- Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Alford
- Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Horncastle
- Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough
- Skegness Grammar School
- Spalding Grammar School
- Spalding High School
Questions parents ask
What entrance test does Boston High School use?
Boston High School uses the GL reasoning test, which tests verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Boston High School?
Schools do not publish pass marks. As a guide, Prism suggests a child aims to score around 78% consistently in practice for a selective school. This is Prism’s own estimate, not a figure from the school, and no score guarantees a place.
When should my child start preparing for Boston High School?
Most families start in Year 4 or early Year 5, then practise timed papers during the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
Preparing for Boston High School?
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.
Start the free assessmentPrism Learning is not affiliated with Boston High School. Details are indicative; always check admissions arrangements with the school.