Maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Competition
Super-selective
Prism’s suggested target
90% in practice (our estimate, not a school figure)
About the Reading & Kendrick selection test
Reading School and Kendrick use a two-stage process: reasoning first, then maths and English for those who progress.
Stage
Paper
Questions
Time
Stage 1
Reasoning
50
50 minutes
Stage 2
Maths
30
50 minutes
Stage 2
English
12
50 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 Reading & Kendrick selection 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 September.
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.
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 1 take to go from the Station to the Library?
Bus 1
Bus 2
Bus 3
Bus 4
Station
08:10
08:41
09:02
09:28
Market
08:21
08:52
09:13
09:39
Library
08:32
09:03
09:24
09:50
Park
08:44
09:15
09:36
10:02
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, 22 minutes
How to work it out
Bus 1 leaves the Station at 08:10 and reaches the Library at 08:32.
Count on: 22 minutes.
Why the other options are wrong
A (11 minutes): This is only the last part of the journey.
C (32 minutes): Count on again from the departure time.
D (53 minutes): This reads the arrival time from the wrong bus.
E (23 minutes): A near miss: check the working again.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
In this sentence, what word class is “climbed”?
Maya and her brother climbed the steep hill.
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, verb
How to work it out
“climbed” is a verb.
Verbs are doing or being words.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
If FISH is written in code as ILVK, what is the code for NEST?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, QHVW
How to work it out
Compare FISH with its code: each letter moves 3 places forward in the alphabet.
Do the same to NEST: QHVW.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Which of the shapes below could join this group?
The group
Show the worked answer
Answer: B
How to work it out
Every shape in the group has the same number of dots as it has sides.
Shading and rotation change freely, so they are distractors.
Reading School uses the Reading & Kendrick selection test, which tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Reading School?
Schools do not publish pass marks. As a guide, Prism suggests a child aims to score around 90% consistently in practice for a super-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 Reading 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 Reading 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.