Honest Mocks · 11+ & Beyond

The 11+ Trap Pack

Five questions, each built around a trap examiners use on purpose. Try them first. The answers, the working and the wrong answer each one is designed to attract are on the last pages.

  1. Question 1 · Verbal Reasoning

    If the code for SHIP is UJKR, what does the code DQCV mean?

    • AFSEX
    • BBOAT
    • CCOAT
    • DCPBU
    • EBOOT

  2. Question 2 · Verbal / Numerical Reasoning

    Find the number that comes next in the series.

    2, 3, 5, 9, 17, ?

    • A19
    • B25
    • C33
    • D34
    • E35

  3. Question 3 · Maths

    Choose the correct answer.

    A train leaves at 10:45 and arrives at 13:20. How long is the journey?

    • A2 h 75 min
    • B3 h 15 min
    • C2 h 35 min
    • D2 h 25 min
    • E3 h 35 min

  4. Question 4 · Maths

    Choose the correct answer.

    Sam and Priya share some sweets in the ratio 3 : 5. Priya gets 12 more sweets than Sam. How many sweets are there altogether?

    • A20
    • B36
    • C48
    • D60
    • E96

  5. Question 5 · Non-Verbal Reasoning

    Which option shows the shape reflected in the dashed mirror line?

    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E

Answers & working

1. B: The Direction Trap

SHIP → UJKR is +2 on every letter. Decoding runs the other way, −2: D→B, Q→O, C→A, V→T = BOAT.

The trap: FSEX is the code applied forwards again (+2) instead of backwards. CPBU is a −1 shift: the gap between S and U counted as one letter instead of two.

2. C: The Pattern Lock

The gaps are 1, 2, 4 and 8 (doubling each time), so the next gap is 16: 17 + 16 = 33. (Or: double the last term and take away one.)

The trap: 2, 3, 5 look like prime numbers, and 19 is the next prime after 17. That rule was spotted from the first three terms and never tested against 9. 25 keeps adding 8; 34 doubles but forgets the −1.

3. C: The Base-10 Clock

Count on, don’t subtract: 10:45 → 12:45 is 2 hours, then 12:45 → 13:00 is 15 minutes and 13:00 → 13:20 is 20 more. 2 h 35 min.

The trap: 1320 − 1045 = 275, read as “2 h 75 min” (A) or tidied into “3 h 15 min” (B). Both come from subtracting times as if an hour had 100 minutes.

4. C: The Part–Whole Swap

Priya has 5 parts, Sam has 3, so the difference is 2 parts. 2 parts = 12 sweets, so 1 part = 6. Altogether is 8 parts: 8 × 6 = 48.

The trap: 96 treats the 12 as ONE part (8 × 12). 60 and 36 multiply 12 by one person’s share. 20 simply adds every number in the question, which is a sign of panic rather than maths.

5. E: The Rotation Imposter

A vertical mirror swaps left and right but leaves top and bottom alone. The dot was top-right, so in the reflection it must be top-LEFT, still on the top row.

The trap: B (a half-turn) also moves the dot to the left, which is why it catches people, but it moves it to the bottom row too. D is reflected in a horizontal mirror instead.

Examiner crib sheet

The same handful of traps turns up again and again. Learn the tell, and the counter-move becomes automatic.

TrapHow to spot itCounter-move
The halfway answerA multi-step question whose options include the value after step one.Number the steps. Only answer after the last one.
The familiar meaningA word in capitals with two meanings, and options that cluster around one.Say the word two ways before reading the options.
The instruction flip“Opposite”, “NOT”, “least”, “except” in the question.Circle the instruction word. Re-read it after choosing.
The mirror imposterRotation questions where most options have every part in place.Landmark + direction. Reflections reverse the order.
The moved detailAn option whose outline is perfect.Check the small features (dots, shading, lines) last and separately.
The early pattern lockA series whose first three terms suggest a famous sequence.Test your rule against EVERY term before answering.
The base-10 clockAny duration between two clock times.Count on to the next whole hour; never subtract times.