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 1Aim for about 35 seconds
Choose one word from each group. Which two words are most opposite in meaning?
( bucket, kettle, wild ) ( tame, meadow, marble )
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, wild and tame
How to work it out
“wild” and “tame” are antonyms: they mean the opposite.
Try each word from the first group with each word from the second.
Why the other options are wrong
A (wild and marble): “wild” is right, but “marble” is not linked to it.
B (bucket and tame): “tame” is right, but “bucket” is not linked to it.
C (kettle and meadow): These two words are not linked in meaning.
D (bucket and marble): These two words are not linked in meaning.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which figure is the odd one out?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
Four figures are the same shape turned to different angles.
The odd one out is a mirror image, which no rotation can produce.
What entrance test does Carre’s Grammar School use?
Carre’s Grammar 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 Carre’s Grammar 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Schools do not publish pass marks.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 Carre’s Grammar 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 Carre’s Grammar 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.