Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Competition
Highly selective
Prism’s suggested target
80% in practice (our estimate, not a school figure)
About the Own written papers with an online reasoning test
The school’s own written maths and English papers, English usually with a piece of writing, together with an online reasoning or ability test, mostly multiple choice. Most of these schools test in January of Year 6, some in November or December, often with an interview.
Stage
Paper
How it is answered
Prism practice paper
11+ assessment
Maths (written)
Written answers
25 questions, 60 minutes
11+ assessment
English (written)
Written answers
12 questions, 60 minutes
11+ assessment
Reasoning (online)
Multiple choice, on screen
40 questions, 30 minutes
Test setters rarely publish how many questions a paper has, so the question counts are the length of Prism’s practice papers; timings follow the setter’s published guidance where there is any. Arrangements change from year to year: always check them with the school or local authority.
How to prepare
The Own written papers with an online reasoning test covers maths, English, 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 January.
For maths, secure the Key Stage 2 arithmetic, fractions, ratio and problem solving before moving to the multi-step questions that separate the strongest candidates.
For English, read widely every day and practise comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar; selective tests reward precise word knowledge.
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.
This test includes a piece of writing, so practise planning and writing a short story or description in a set time.
Some answers are written, not chosen, so practise without options to fall back on: write the number or the words yourself, show the working where the paper asks for it, and check each answer against the question.
The test is taken on a computer, and adaptive tests get harder as answers go right, so practise on screen and keep moving rather than stopping on one question.
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 60 seconds
How many minutes does Bus 3 take to go from the Market to the Park?
Row
Bus 1
Bus 2
Bus 3
Bus 4
Station
08:10
08:41
09:02
09:31
Market
08:19
08:50
09:11
09:40
Library
08:34
09:05
09:26
09:55
Park
08:40
09:11
09:32
10:01
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, 21 minutes
How to work it out
Bus 3 leaves the Market at 09:11 and reaches the Park at 09:32.
Count on: 21 minutes.
Why the other options are wrong
A (50 minutes): This reads the arrival time from the wrong bus.
C (6 minutes): This is only the last part of the journey.
D (9 minutes): This is only the first part of the journey.
E (31 minutes): Count on again from the departure time.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
What does the word “ravine” mean?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, a deep, narrow valley
How to work it out
“Ravine” (noun) means a deep, narrow valley.
For example: A rope bridge crossed the ravine.
Why the other options are wrong
A (calm confidence and graceful control): That is what “poise” means, an unrelated word. “ravine” means a deep, narrow valley.
C (a careless mistake): That is what “blunder” means, an unrelated word. “ravine” means a deep, narrow valley.
D (lack of energy): That is what “lethargy” means, an unrelated word. “ravine” means a deep, narrow valley.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Choose one word from each group. Which two words are most opposite in meaning?
“opaque” and “transparent” 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 (compass and transparent): “transparent” is half of the right pair, but “compass” is an everyday object and is not the opposite of “transparent”. The partner is “opaque”.
C (compass and pencil): “compass” and “pencil” are both everyday objects, so neither is the opposite of the other. The real pair is “opaque” and “transparent”.
D (opaque and pencil): “opaque” is half of the right pair, but “pencil” is an everyday object and is not the opposite of “opaque”. The partner is “transparent”.
E (table and helmet): “table” and “helmet” are both everyday objects, so neither is the opposite of the other. Look for the two words that really are opposites, one from each group.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
All the figures in this group follow the same two rules. Which statement CANNOT be true of a figure that could join it?
The group
Show the worked answer
Answer: E, It has an odd number of sides
How to work it out
The rules: every figure is black, and every figure has an even number of sides (hexagon 6, octagon 8, trapezium 4, kite 4).
So a figure with an odd number of sides cannot join.
Why the other options are wrong
A (It is a square): A square has an even number of sides, so a black square could join.
B (It is black): Every member is black, so this must be true of a figure that joins; the question asks what cannot be true.
C (It is an octagon): An octagon is already in the group, so another one could join.
D (It has 6 sides): 6 is an even number, so a black figure with 6 sides could join.
What entrance test does Haberdashers’ Monmouth School use?
Haberdashers’ Monmouth School uses the Own written papers with an online reasoning test, which tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning and includes a piece of writing. It is answered with multiple choice and written answers. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Haberdashers’ Monmouth School?
Schools do not publish pass marks. As a guide, Prism suggests a child aims to score around 80% consistently in practice for a highly 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 Haberdashers’ Monmouth 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 November.
Preparing for Haberdashers’ Monmouth School?
Practise straight away at your child’s school year in maths and English, with verbal and non-verbal reasoning for the 11 Plus, and every answer explained. A free check, whenever you like, shows what to practise next and builds a weekly plan, for their year or for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.