GL Assessment Question Types at a Glance
This is an “at a glance” summary of each of the 21 types of question to help you recognise them.
We have included references to the “Letter Types” used by the publisher IPS in their Method and Technique Guide , which can be purchased from our online bookshop. These letter types are often used to refer to the various question types on our 11+ Forum.
We have adopted numerical classification created by The Tutors which is consistent with the interactive software and other products available on this website. Their numbering system is sequential whereas the lettering system skips a few letters.
We are grateful to the authors of ’Patricia’s 11 Plus Series’ who supplied the examples used in this section.
TYPE 1: Insert a Letter (IPS Type A)
In these questions the same letter must fit into both sets of brackets, to complete the word in front of the brackets and begin the word after the brackets.
Example: col (?) ram bel (?) oll
Answer: t [colt, tram, belt, toll]
TYPE 2: Two Odd Ones Out (IPS Type B)
Three words are related, find the two words that do NOT go with these three.
Mark them BOTH on the answer sheet.
Example: red white flag blue pole
Answer: flag pole
TYPE 3: Related Words (IPS Type C)
The alphabet is here to help you with these questions. You need to work out a different code for each question
Choose the correct answer and mark it on the answer sheet.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Example: If the code for LUCK is JSAI, what does EMMB mean?
Answer: GOOD
TYPE 4: Closest Meaning (IPS Type D)
Find TWO words, one from each group that are the CLOSEST in meaning. Mark BOTH words on the answer sheet.
Example: big small rest mean large
Answer: big, large
TYPE 5: Hidden Word (IPS Type E)
In each of the following sentences a FOUR letter word is hidden between two words. The two words will always be next to each other. Find the pair of words and mark them on the answer sheet.
Example: The dog was frightened by the noise.
Answer: the noise (then)
TYPE 6: Missing Word (IPS Type F)
The word in capitals has had THREE consecutive letters removed, without changing the order of these letters they will make one correctly spelt word. The sentence must make sense. Find the three letter word and mark it on the answer sheet.
Example: The children GATED in the hall.
Answer: HER (gatHERed)
TYPE 7: Letters for Numbers (IPS Type G)
Letters stand for numbers. Work out the correct answer to each sum. Mark the relevant LETTER on the answer sheet.
Example:
A = 5, B = 14, C = 12, D = 13, E = 3
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
A + C – E = ?
Answer: B
TYPE 8: Move a Letter (IPS Type J)
One letter from the word on the left can be moved to the word on the right, to make TWO new words. The letters must not be rearranged.
Example: beacon vent
Answer: e (bacon and event)
TYPE 9: Letter Series (IPS Type L)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The alphabet is given above to help you. Find the pair of letters that will continue the series in the most sensible way. Mark the appropriate pair of letters on the answer sheet.
Example: AT BS CR DQ EP
Answer: FO
TYPE 10: Word Connections (IPS Type M)
Find TWO words, ONE from each set of that will complete the sentence in the most sensible way. Mark BOTH words on the answer sheet.
Example: Start is to (begin end today) as end is to (less finish send)
Answer: begin finish
TYPE 11: Number Series (IPS Type P)
Find the number that continues the sequence in the most sensible way. Mark the missing number on the answer sheet.
Example: 2 4 6 8 10 ( ? )
Answer: 12
TYPE 12: Compound Words (IPS Type Q)
Find one word from each group that together makes one correctly spelt word. The letters must not be rearranged. The word from the first group will always be used first. Mark BOTH words on the answer sheet.
Example: (hand finger toe) (sum some sun)
Answer: handsome
TYPE 13: Make a Word (IPS Type R)
Find the word that completes the second group in the SAME way as the first group. Mark the word on the answer sheet.
Example:
rags ( ring ) main
line ( ? ) plea
Answer: lean
TYPE 14: Letter Connections (IPS Type U)
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
The alphabet is here to help you with these questions. Find the letters that will complete the sentence in the best way. Mark BOTH letters on the answer sheet.
Example: QQ is to NK
as HH is to ( ? )
Answer: EB
TYPE 15: Reading Information (IPS Type Z)
Example: Mr Brown, Mr Yellow and Mr Red left home at 7.30 a.m. It took Mr Yellow 45 minutes to get to work, 15 minutes longer than Mr Red. Mr Brown took 10 minutes longer than Mr Red to get to work.
If the above statement is true, only one of the following statements is true.
A. Mr Yellow left after Mr Red.
B. Mr Brown and Mr Red both took 30 minutes to get to work.
C. Mr Yellow arrived at work at 8.30 a.m.
D. Mr Brown arrived at work 10 minutes after Mr Red.
E. Mr Brown arrived at work 10 minutes before Mr Red.
Answer: D
TYPE 16: Opposite Meaning (IPS Type H)
Find TWO words, one from each group, that are the most OPPOSITE in meaning.
Mark BOTH words on the answer sheet.
Example: (good luck today) (wish charm bad)
Answer: good, bad
TYPE 17: Complete the Sum (IPS Type I)
Find the number that will complete the sum correctly. Mark the missing number on the answer sheet.
Example: 26 + 7 = 18 + ?
Answer: 15
TYPE 18: Related Numbers (IPS Type K)
The numbers in each group are related in the SAME way. Find the missing number and mark it on the answer sheet.
Example: (4 [ 10 ] 6) (13 [ 27 ] 14)
(16 [ ? ] 8)
Answer: 24
TYPE 19: Word-Number Codes (IPS Type N)
In these questions there are four words. Three of the words have been given a code. The codes are not written in the same order as the words. Work out the correct answers and mark then on the answer sheet.
Example:
slow west sale rent8214 1368 1932
What is the code for LAST?
Answer: 3914
What does the code 2821 mean?
Answer: EWES
TYPE 20: Complete the Word (IPS Type O)
Find the word that completes the third pair of words in SAME way as the first two pairs. Mark the appropriate word on the answer sheet.
Example: timed ( dim ) timer ( rim ) deals ( ? )
Answer: sea
TYPE 21: Same Meaning (IPS Type S)
One word from the answer sheet will go equally well with BOTH pairs of words. Mark the appropriate word on the answer sheet.
Example: (globe, planet)
(soil, mud)
Answer options: brown ground pluto circle earth
Answer: earth
