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Sample 11+ Assessment Test — Verbal Reasoning

Allow 30 minutes to do this test and work as quickly and as carefully as you can.
If you want to answer these questions in multiple-choice format, use the separate multiple-choice
answer sheet. If you’d prefer to answer them in standard write-in format, either write your answers
in the spaces provided or circle the correct answer.

Read this passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The First Day

Daniel felt as if he was being swallowed alive as he walked down the rowdy corridor and squinted
through the thick lenses of his spectacles at the school hall beyond. The corridor was like the throat of
a terrifying beast and he was sliding down it into the big belly that was the school hall.
He knew what would happen when he got there. All the new pupils, like himself, would be sitting
5 in rows waiting for the headmaster to make his welcome address. The headmaster at St Joseph’s was a
towering, severe man who could strike fear into any pupil. He was not a man who would put up with
any nonsense whatsoever. Daniel knew this. He knew it because when Mr Graham was not busy being
the headmaster, he was busy being Daniel’s dad. Now, of course, his dad would be able to do both
simultaneously and Daniel was sure that he would never hear the end of it from his classmates. He felt
10 thoroughly miserable; he was never going to make any friends.
“Hello,” a voice said behind him. “You must be new too. My name’s Rachael.”
The girl was stunning. She thrust her hand out confidently towards Daniel, while he gaped at her.
“Dennis!” he blurted, finally shaking her hand, “I mean... Daniel. My name’s Daniel.”
“Don’t you know your own name?” Rachael laughed. She didn’t seem to be nervous at all.
15 “You’re the head teacher’s son, aren’t you? Everyone says he’s intimidating but my brother Tom,
who’s in the year above us, says that his bark is worse than his bite. It’ll be weird for you, calling your
dad ‘Sir’, won’t it?”
“Yeah, I suppose,” Daniel mumbled. He couldn’t believe his luck: Rachael wanted to be his friend.
Daniel thought secondary school might not be so bad after all.

Answer these questions about the text that you’ve just read.
Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which word best describes how Daniel feels at the start of the passage?
A Anxious
B Excited
C Unlucky
D Angry

2. Which of these statements is true?

A There is a beast in the school hall.
B Daniel cannot see the school hall.
C There are no other children in the corridor.
/2
D Daniel wears glasses.
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 2

3. Which word best describes what Daniel’s father looks like?

A Bald
B Tall
C Thin
D Broad

4. Daniel tells Rachael that his name is Dennis at first. Why do you think he does this?
A She approached him from behind so he was surprised.
B He doesn’t want to be Rachael’s friend.
C He was nervous because she was so pretty.
D He did not like being called Daniel.

5. How does Daniel think the other pupils will treat him?
A They will be unkind and unfriendly.
B They will be nervous but welcoming.
C They will be kind and friendly.
D They won’t know what to say to him.

6. How do you think Rachael’s brother Tom knows what the headmaster is like?
A Tom is a friend of Daniel’s.
B He has heard what the headmaster is like.
C The headmaster knows Tom’s parents.
D He already goes to the school.

7. How do you think Daniel feels at the end of the passage?

A Miserable
B Relieved
C Shocked
D Uncomfortable

8. Which of the following facts is given in the passage?

A Rachael’s surname
B Daniel’s age
C Daniel’s surname
/6
D The name of Daniel’s new form tutor

Carry on to the next question Æ Æ

Sample Test — CGP 11+ VR (CEM) For help with 11+ VR, visit cgpbooks.co.uk/11plus © CGP 2018
 3

9. What is meant by the word “address” (line 5)?

A Directions to classes
B The place where someone lives
C A formal speech
D An official warning

10. What is meant by the word “severe” (line 6)?

A Strict
B Miserable
C Thin
D Unreasonable

11. What is meant by the word “simultaneously” (line 9)?

A One after the other
B In an effective way
C By sharing the tasks
D At the same time

12. Why do you think Rachael doesn’t feel nervous about starting a new school?
A Because she has already met Daniel.
B Because she knows what to expect.
C Because she knows the headmaster.
D Because she found her old school boring.

13. Daniel thinks that he will “never hear the end of it” (line 9).
What do you think this phrase means?
A His dad will punish him at home if he misbehaves in school.
B The other children will tease Daniel for being the headmaster’s son.
C His dad will boast about being Daniel’s headmaster.
D The other children will ignore Daniel because he’s the headmaster’s son.

14. Rachael says “his bark is worse than his bite” (line 16).
What do you think this phrase means?
A The headmaster only punishes those who deserve it.
B The headmaster has a bad temper.
C The headmaster never punishes anyone.
/6
D The headmaster is not as scary as he seems.

Carry on to the next question Æ Æ

Sample Test — CGP 11+ VR (CEM) For help with 11+ VR, visit cgpbooks.co.uk/11plus © CGP 2018
 4

Fill in the missing letters to complete the words in the following passage.

15. Over four and a half thousand years ago, the A n c t

16. Egyptians began   i      l d n   g pyramids.
17. The pharaohs i n d e d the pyramids to be
18. impressive monuments: eternal resting p l s
to safeguard their souls.

19. Wealthy Egyptians would fill their tombs with the h   g s
20. they would need in the afterlife, but they b e l e d
21. that before their souls were g r a d eternal life,
22. their a t   n    s on Earth would be judged rigorously.
23. This u d g e    n t would happen in the underworld,
24. where the deceased person’s heart would be w e    h e d
against the feather of the goddess Ma’at.

25. If the heart was h e a     r than the feather,

26. it would be deemed u n w    t   h and the person

27. would not e n r the afterlife.

28. Djoser’s Step Pyramid was one of the f    t of these tombs.
29. It is known as a step pyramid b e    s e it was built
30. as a series of six successively    l l e r squares
31. on top of one a n o      r .
32. The burial chamber is h i n underground
and sealed with a stone weighing 3.5 tonnes,

33. but this did not d e   r the grave robbers.

When the tomb was excavated,
/ 20
34. almost n t    g was left inside.

Carry on to the next question Æ Æ

Sample Test — CGP 11+ VR (CEM) For help with 11+ VR, visit cgpbooks.co.uk/11plus © CGP 2018
 5

Mark the word outside the brackets that has a similar meaning to the words
in both sets of brackets.

Example: (find discover) (stain blemish) freckle smudge spot see

35. (point direct) (purpose intention) goal aim motive guide

36. (trench drain) (abandon dump) drop gutter ditch leave

37. (talent ability) (present offering) gift bonus skill flair

38. (path route) (hunt pursue) way chase passage track

39. (law code) (lead reign) rule govern order instruct

40. (assess grade) (scratch dent) judge mark rate cut

41. (people tribe) (run sprint) dash nation race type

42. (late overdue) (after following) delayed next detained behind

43. (stone boulder) (swing sway) roll rock tilt cobble

/ 10
44. (bolt fasten) (ringlet curl) hair seal plait lock

Complete the word on the right so that it means the opposite, or nearly the opposite,
of the word on the left.

Example: smooth r o u g h

45. sweet     i     t     r

46. poor   e   a     l     h
47. dry   o     s     t
48. bright     s    d   y
49. temporary     e     r m    n     t
50. slow     e     e   y
51. joy w

52. rare    o m      n

53. uninterested    e    g     r
/ 10
54. professional     a m     a     t
Carry on to the next question Æ Æ
Sample Test — CGP 11+ VR (CEM) For help with 11+ VR, visit cgpbooks.co.uk/11plus © CGP 2018
 6

Find the word that means the same, or nearly the same, as the word on the left.

Example: small tiny strong large soft

55. brave noble fearless capable tough

56. guess consider estimate belief idea

57. worth payment value expensive reward

58. study teach student learn education

59. assist treat remedy cure aid

60. glad comforted pleased comical witty

61. shovel excavate sift tunnel scoop

62. ring around shape band tunnel

63. bendy broken flexible snap springy

64. tight taut solid immovable tense

65. scare afraid shock frightful fluster

66. shrink slight miniature wane simplify

67. soak drench damp drip clean

/ 14
68. blunt curt silent secretive defensive

Total / 68

End of Test

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Sample Test — CGP 11+ VR (CEM) For help with 11+ VR, visit cgpbooks.co.uk/11plus © CGP 2018
Answers to Sample 11+ 33) deter — ‘but this did not deter the grave robbers.’
Assessment Test for the 34) nothing — ‘almost nothing was left inside.’
CEM Test — Verbal Reasoning 35) aim — ‘aim’ can mean ‘to point something in a particular
direction’ or ‘a desired outcome’.
1) A — Daniel is anxious about starting his new school.
36) ditch — ‘ditch’ can mean ‘a narrow channel used for drainage’
2) D — In the passage it says that Daniel “squinted through or ‘to discard’.
the thick lenses of his spectacles”. This shows that Daniel
wears glasses. 37) gift — ‘gift’ can mean ‘a talent or inclination’ or
‘something given’.
3) B — In the passage Mr Graham is described as ‘“towering”,
38) track — ‘track’ can mean ‘a rough path’ or ‘to follow’.
which is another word for ‘tall’.
39) rule — ‘rule’ can mean ‘a code of behaviour’ or
4) C — Daniel says his name wrong when he speaks to Rachael
‘to exercise control’.
because he is nervous.
40) mark — ‘mark’ can mean ‘to evaluate work’ or
5) A — In the passage it says “Daniel was sure that he would
‘a visible trace or spot’.
never hear the end of it from his classmates”, so Daniel thinks
the other pupils will be unkind. 41) race — ‘race’ can mean ‘a group of people united by common
lineage or history’ or ‘a competition of speed’.
6) D — Rachael’s brother is in “the year above” which shows that
he already goes to the school. 42) behind — ‘behind’ can mean ‘delayed’ or ‘further back’.
7) B — In the passage it says “Daniel thought secondary school 43) rock — ‘rock’ can mean ‘a stone’ or ‘to move back and forth’.
might not be so bad after all.” This shows that he is relieved 44) lock — ‘lock’ can mean ‘to secure something’ or ‘a curl of hair’.
because being at school is not as bad as he thought. 45) bitter — ‘sweet’ is an adjective which means ‘sugary’, whereas
8) C — Daniel’s dad is Mr Graham, so Daniel’s surname ‘bitter’ means ‘sour’.
is Graham. 46) wealthy — ‘poor’ means ‘having little money’, whereas
9) C — “address” means ‘a speech’. In this context, a ‘wealthy’ means ‘having lots of money’.
“welcome address” is a speech given to welcome the 47) moist — ‘dry’ means ‘containing no moisture’, whereas ‘moist’
new pupils to the school. means ‘containing moisture’.
10) A — “severe” means ‘strict’. The headmaster is ‘strict’ because 48) shady — ‘bright’ means ‘light’, whereas ‘shady’ means ‘dark’.
he does not put up with any nonsense.
49) permanent — ‘temporary’ means ‘for a limited time’, whereas
11) D — “simultaneously” means ‘at the same time’. Mr Graham ‘permanent’ means ‘for an unlimited time’.
will be both Daniel’s father and his headmaster at the same 50) speedy — ‘slow’ is an adjective which means ‘at low speed’,
time. whereas ‘speedy’ means ‘at high speed’.
12) B — Rachael’s older brother already goes to the school, so she 51) woe — ‘joy’ means ‘happiness’, whereas ‘woe’ means ‘sadness’.
knows what to expect.
52) common — ‘rare’ means ‘infrequent’, whereas ‘common’
13) B — This phrase means that Daniel thinks that people will means ‘frequent’.
keep reminding him that he is the headmaster’s son.
53) eager — ‘uninterested’ means ‘indifferent’, whereas ‘eager’
14) D — This phrase means that somebody seems scary because means ‘enthusiastic’.
they shout a lot, but they are not as scary as they seem. Mr
54) amateur — ‘professional’ is a noun which means ‘someone
Graham’s words are frightening, but his actions are not.
who is paid to do a job’, whereas ‘amateur’ means ‘someone
15) Ancient — ‘Over four and a half thousand years ago, the who does something without being paid’.
Ancient Egyptians’
55) fearless — Both words mean ‘courageous’.
16) building — ‘Ancient Egyptians began building pyramids.’
56) estimate — Both words mean ‘to predict based on
17) intended — ‘The pharaohs intended the pyramids to be uncertain knowledge’.
impressive monuments’ 57) value — Both words mean ‘the importance of something’.
18) places — ‘eternal resting places to safeguard their souls.’ 58) learn — Both words mean ‘to gain knowledge’.
19) things — ‘Wealthy Egyptians would fill their tombs with the 59) aid — Both words mean ‘to help’.
things they would need in the afterlife’
60) pleased — Both words mean ‘happy’.
20) believed — ‘but they believed that before their souls’
61) scoop — Both words mean ‘tools for picking up loose
21) granted — ‘their souls were granted eternal life’ material’.
22) actions — ‘their actions on Earth would be judged 62) band — Both words mean ‘something that encircles
rigorously.’ something else’.
23) judgement — ‘This judgement happened in the underworld’ 63) flexible — Both words mean ‘easily bent’.
24) weighed — ‘the deceased person’s heart was weighed against 64) taut — Both words mean ‘not slack’.
the feather’
65) shock — Both words mean ‘to make someone feel afraid’.
25) heavier — ‘If the heart was heavier than the feather’
66) wane — Both words mean ‘to decrease’.
26) unworthy — ‘it was deemed unworthy.
67) drench — Both words mean ‘to make something wet’.
27) enter — ‘the person could not enter the afterlife.’
68) curt — Both words mean ‘abrupt’.
28) first — ‘Djoser’s Step Pyramid was one of the
first of these tombs.’
29) because — ‘It is known as a step pyramid because it was
built.
30) smaller — ‘a series of six successively smaller squares’
31) another — ‘on top of one another.’
32) hidden — ‘The burial chamber is hidden underground’

© CGP 2018
Sample 11+ Assessment Test
for the CEM Test — Verbal Reasoning CGP
Pupil’s name: Test date:

School name:
Date of Birth
Day Month Year
Pupil Number School Number
0 0 January 2005

Please mark
1 1 February 2006
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 March
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2007
1 1 1 1 1 1 April
3 3 2008
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
like this:
4 May 2009
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5 June 2010
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 6 July 2011
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 August 2012
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 8 September 2013
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 9 October 2014
Sample Test 8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
8
9
November
December
2015
2016

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B
C C C C C C C C
D D D D D D D D

9 10 11 12 13 14
A A A A A A
B B B B B B
C C C C C C
D D D D D D

In questions 15-34, each word has two or more missing letters.

Mark the box next to each letter that needs to be added to complete the word.
15 A n c ? ? ? t 16 ? ? i l d ? n g
e a n b i a
i e r h e e
s i t c u i

17 i n ? ? ? d e d 18 p l ? ? ? s 19 ? h ? ? g s
t l u i c e c o a
c i n a i u s i e
v e d e t s t a n

20 b e l ? ? ? e d 21 g r a ? ? ? d
e n v s t i
i e t n s e
o i n i l d

22 a ? t ? ? n s 23 ? u d g e ? ? n t
c s o g e e
k i h f m i
n o u j r a

24 w e ? ? h e d 25 h e a ? ? ? r
a t v h e
t s t i a
i g f e i

26 u n w ? ? t h ? 27 e n ? ? r 28 f ? ? ? t
e r e d e e r s
o i y s a i s l
u g s t o r i u

© CGP 2018
Sample Test — CGP 11+ Verbal Reasoning (CEM)
For unbeatable 11+ Verbal Reasoning books visit cgpbooks.co.uk/11plus
29 b e ? ? ? s e 30 ? ? ? l l e r 31 a n o ? ? ? r
s a a t h e v h e
c u u s t a t v u
k o s c m i u s a

32 h i ? ? ? n 33 d e ? ? r 34 n ? t ? ? ? g
s t n f e u h e n
d i i b u a s i e
l d e t i o t s l

EXAMPLE 35 36 37 38 39 40
freckle goal drop gift way rule judge
smudge aim gutter bonus chase govern mark
spot motive ditch skill passage order rate
see guide leave flair track instruct cut

41 42 43 44
dash delayed roll hair
nation next rock seal
race detained tilt plait
type behind cobble lock

In questions 45-54, each word has two or more missing letters.

Mark the box next to each letter that needs to be added to complete the word.
EXAMPLE
r ? ? g ? 45 ? i ? t ? r 46 ? e a l ? h ?
u u s s l e w s y
o f e b s u h t e
a o h d t a s c s

47 ? o ? s t 48 s ? ? d y 49 ? e r m ? ? ? n t
l i a n t e n e
b a h o p a m i
m r c a f u a a

50 ? ? e e ? y 51 w ? ? 52 ? o m ? ? n
s r d a e b d o
g l z r r p m u
b p p o a c p e

53 e ? g ? r 54 a m a t ? ? ?
a a u r r
e u e u e
i e i e h

EXAMPLE 55 56 57 58 59
tiny noble consider payment teach treat
strong fearless estimate value student remedy
large capable belief expensive learn cure
soft tough idea reward education aid

60 61 62 63 64 65
comforted excavate around broken taut afraid
pleased sift shape flexible solid shock
comical tunnel band snap immovable frightful
witty scoop tunnel springy tense fluster

66 67 68
slight drench curt
miniature damp silent
wane drip secretive
simplify clean defensive

© CGP 2018
Sample Test — CGP 11+ Verbal Reasoning (CEM)
For unbeatable 11+ Verbal Reasoning books visit cgpbooks.co.uk/11plus