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 Online entrance test (independent schools)
Many independent schools now test on a computer between October and January of Year 6, usually with Quest Assessments or GL’s CAT4: maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, mostly multiple choice and often adaptive, sometimes with problem solving. Many add a short handwritten writing task of 20 to 45 minutes, and an interview.
Stage
Paper
How it is answered
Prism practice paper
Online test
Maths
Multiple choice, on screen
30 questions, 30 minutes
Online test
English
Multiple choice, on screen
25 questions, 30 minutes
Online test
Verbal & Non-verbal Reasoning
Multiple choice, on screen
40 questions, 30 minutes
Online test
Problem Solving
Multiple choice, on screen
15 questions, 20 minutes
Online test
Writing task (many schools)
Writing task
One task, 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 Online entrance test (independent schools) 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 December.
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.
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
A square has a perimeter of 100 cm. How long is each side?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, 25 cm
How to work it out
A square has 4 equal sides: 100 ÷ 4 = 25 cm.
Why the other options are wrong
A (24 cm): This is 1 cm less than the correct answer, so the last step of the working is out by one.
B (26 cm): This is one more than 100 ÷ 4.
C (13 cm): This is 12 cm less than the correct answer. No common slip leads to it, so recheck the working.
E (50 cm): This is double the side length; divide 100 by the 4 sides.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, My sister, who is twelve, loves chess.
How to work it out
The correct sentence is: My sister, who is twelve, loves chess.
Commas separate items in a list, or a fronted phrase from the rest of the sentence.
Why the other options are wrong
A (My sister, who is twelve loves chess.): The extra information needs a closing comma after “twelve”. Only the opening one is there.
B (My sister who is twelve, loves chess.): The extra information “who is twelve” needs a comma on both sides, and the first one is missing.
C (My sister who, is twelve loves chess.): The comma is put inside the extra information. The pair belongs round it: after “sister” and after “twelve”.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds
Which one letter can be moved from the first word into the second word to make two new words? The other letters stay in the same order.
BONE READ
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, B
How to work it out
Take B out of BONE to leave ONE, and put it into READ to make BREAD.
Why the other options are wrong
A (N): Taking N out of BONE leaves BOE, and putting it into READ would not give two real words together.
B (O): Taking O out of BONE leaves BNE, and putting it into READ would not give two real words together.
C (Z): Z is not in BONE, so it cannot be moved out of it.
E (E): Taking E out of BONE leaves BON, and putting it into READ would not give two real words together.
Question 4Aim 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.
Why the other options are wrong
A: This ramp is turned to 180° but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
C: This ramp is turned to 225° but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
D: This ramp is turned to 315° but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
E: This ramp is turned to 270° but not flipped, so turning matches it to the others; the odd one is the mirror image.
What entrance test does Sydenham & Dulwich Girls use?
Sydenham & Dulwich Girls uses the Online entrance test (independent schools), which tests maths, English, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning and includes a piece of writing. It is answered with multiple choice, on screen, plus a writing task. Check the school’s admissions page for the current arrangements.
What score does my child need for Sydenham & Dulwich Girls?
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 Sydenham & Dulwich Girls?
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 January.
Preparing for Sydenham & Dulwich Girls?
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.