oy Abt ND ON Abingdon School Pre-test Past papers are not issued but these notes and sample questions should be helpful May 2016The content of the pre-test examination “The pre-test compres four elements, al sat on the same day. There are two tests in English, ‘one in mathematics and a reasoning test. Overall the tests are designed to measure a balance ‘of achievement and potential, in that a certain aniount of subject knowledge needs to be in place tobe successful but equally the papers look to testa boy's ably to manipulate that knowledge ina flexble, reflective and creative manner, thus also assessing his level of skill and potential for growin that subject. +The frst Englsh paper (45 minutes) tests boys' reading sks by asking them to respond to two prose passages via multiple choice questions. Also in this paper are some ‘questions tecting English usage, looking at speling, punctuation and grammer, as well ‘2 fact in manipulating words. +The second paper (80 minutes) asks for a composition, and assesses boys! writing ‘skis. Boys wil have the option to write descriptive, narrative or discursive writing according townere they fel they are strongest. +The mathematics paper (60 winutes) wil contain questions on such topics as fractions, decimals, averages, percentages, coordinates, symmetry, sequences, perimeters, areas, nets, currancy and ralios. Metric units wil be used throughout and calculators are not allowed. + The reasoning paper (3 sections, 42 minutes in total tests verbal, numerical and pattern ‘skis, and each test section is preceded by a set of 8 practice questions. ‘The reasoning tet fs conducted on computers; the English and Maths exams are handwritten (on paper (except fo" candidates with agreed access arrangements). Post exam Alter the exam, a umber of candidates will be selected for interview. We usually interview ‘many more boys than we have plaags for but itis the case that some boys will not be offered ‘an Interview on the strength oftheir examination performance. Al the intoviews candidates fare welcome to bring examples of thee work andor achievements to provide talking points. Whilst waiting for ter iterviews, they also fil out an interests sheet and indicate to their Interviewer areas that they’ ike to discuss. We are ooking for boys to demonstrate an energy and enthusiasm, especialy for ther extra-curicula life, though boys can also expect to be ‘asked about school subjects.English 1 - English Usage and Comprehension “This fe 45-minute paper consisting of @ mixture of questlors testing written accuracy, English usage and comprehension. Some of these are likely to be similar to the following ‘examples: 1, The following sentence needs correct punctuation In that case replied Tom we'l play the game again Circle the eter at the beginning ofthe conectly punctuated version. 1. “In that case replied Tom, “wel play the game again.” . “Inthat cage” replied Tom, “Wel play the game again.” 6 “in that case, replied Tom, well play the game again. |. “In that case? repied Tom “well play the game again 2, Read the folowing sentence and cicle the letter a b or from the choices below to show \which word you think should fil the blank, Tre _____ games were expensive. fa. chikren’s ib. childrens! hilerens. '8. Read the following paragraph, which reads continuously down the page. One word has been left out ofeach line. Put amar (ike ths /) where you hink the word has bean eft ut and write the missing word inthe numbered space on the right. The fist one has been ‘done for you as an example. It wil help if you read each whole sentence before you decide fon the missing words. For / chil, the prospect of a new school seem altogethor testing; ‘the thought new uniforms, children and teachers tkely to alarm. This is ‘an experience everyone understand because ‘everyone encountered new situations. There ‘are many advantages as disadvantages, ‘when it comes facing new challenges. ‘Some paople say, instance, that children ‘are challenged grow up to be self-confident. 4, Give TWO words of FIVE oF more letters that can be made out ofthe letters inthe wordt SUBJUNCTIVE, You can use a letter as often as it appears in the word and may use the lettars in any order (.g. cubes)1 16. 22, a. 5. Wiite the opposite of each ofthese words by adding the correct prefix (e.g. alr would become UNTai). a advantage b. — decent ‘There wl also be two passages to read, with some multiple-choice questions testing candidates’ understanding. An example ofthis kindof taskis below: Read the following passage carefully and then answer all the questions about it. Choose the best answer in each case. ‘Te narator fhe‘! who tells the story) s walking home with two of her classmates: Cordelia and Grace We walk home under the low thick sky that ls grey and bulging with dampness. Moist soft flakes are fling out of it, pling up on roofs and branches, siding off row fad Ure Io hit wil wet collony thunk. There's ho wind and the sound is muffled by the snow. ° It isnt cold. | undo the ies on my blue knitted wool hat, ltt lap loose on my head. Cordelia takes off her mittens and scoops up snowivals, throwing them at ‘oes, at telephone poles, at random. I's one of her friendly days; she puts her arm ‘through my arm, her other arm through Grace's, and we march aiong the street, singing We don't stop for anybody. I sing this too. Together we hop and slide. ‘Some of the euphoria! once fl in fling snow comes back to me: | want to open my mouth and lt the snow fl into i | allow myself to laugh, tke the athers, tying IRout. My laughter is a performance, a grab atthe ordinary. Cordelia throws herself backwards onto a blank front lawn, spreads her arms out In the snow, raises them above her head, draws them downto her sides, making a snow angel. The fakes fall onto her face into her laughing mouth, melting, cinging to hor eyebrows. Sha blinks, closing her eyes against the snow. For a moment she looks like someone I don't know, a stranger, shining with unknown, good possibilies.. ‘She opens her ayes and reaches up her hands, which are damp and reddened, and \we both pull her upwards so she won't cisturb the image she's made. The snow angel has feathery wings and a tiny pin head. Where her hands stopped, down near her sides, are the imprints of her fingers, Ike litle claws. We've forgotten the time I's gotting dark. We run along the street that leads to the wooden fatbrige. Even Grace uns, lumply,caling ‘Wait up!” For once she is the one lft behind,‘Questions: “i one of her friendly days" fine 7) suggests 2) Cordelia isa very friendly gi ') Gordalia has only ever been friendly once I's unusual for Cordelia to be friendly {6} Cordelia realy kes the narrator. newer Choose the best definition of the word ‘eupheria' in the sentence “Some fof the euphoria | once felt in falling snow comes back to me" (ine 11) 2) Exrome delight . ) Extreme hungor ©) Extreme cold 6) Extreme forgettuiness Answer “"My laughter is a performance” ine 13) suggests the narrator is: 2) 8 good actress Dy laughs aot ©) goes to the theatre often 4s uncomfortable laughing withthe others “For a moment she [Cordelia] looks like someone I don't know, 2 stranger, shivering with unanown, good possibilities” (ine 20) suggests that: ‘) Cordelia’ face shining withthe cold 1) Gordalia is not usually very kind 6) The narrator has only just met Cordelia «the narator doesn't know Cordelia very well newer ‘The writer describes the imprints of Cordelia fingers in the snow as “ttle claws” ine 25) in order to: 4) suggest Cordelia is delicate lke a bird 'b) make the writing more interesting ©) show how cold the snow is 1} suggest Cordelia isn't ke an angel in rea ite AnswerEnglish 2 - Composition “Canaiates wil be given 30 minutes in whi Lo mite apiece of continuous prose on one of a Choice of topics, The topies give boys the opportunity f0 write narraive, discursive oF escriptve wring as they wish. Examples of the kinds of tasks set are below. Boys do ONE. ofthe tases on offer only, 1. Do,you think that toam sports should be compulsory at schoo‘? Give your views and show that you rave considered other points of view. 2, Descrise in detail the sort of things that annoy you and explain why. 2. Wit story that begins or ends with the word: ‘It was the most awful mistake J had ever made." “The marking of this paper is spilt between Content and SPaG (speling, punctuation and ‘grammar, In simple terms, the most effective writing we see is where boys have evidently ‘attempts to erat thelr language, their sentences and thelr paragraphs with th effect they Intend tohave on thei audience very much at te forefront of ther minds. Accurate wring, vith at lenst some element of spark’, where words (and even punctuation) have been chosen ‘wth a deiberate and effective purpose, tends to be well rewarded. As regards length, ‘something relatively short but done well and thoughtfully wil always win out over something Jong but carelessly constructed,Mathematics “Tiss a 50-mirute paper with approximately 50 questions. Some vl be similar tothe ‘allowing examples. A lit of icaly topics le given on page 2 but we do net guarantee either ‘thatthe lst 's exhaustive or that every topic listed willbe tested, Boys folowing the national curriculum of ata school which has an eye to what the national curicutum tests, should not ‘ind any area ofthis exam unfamiliar to them. We do not deliveately set mathematical challenges that are Ikaly to be outside of their skills experience 4, Write down he largest four dgiymumber you can make using the four numbers 5,2, 9 and 6. 2, The following question rofers to the flowchart below IND «59449 0UT 4. 1112s putinto the flowchart, what number comes out? 'b, What number was put into the flowchart 24 came out? 2. Draw on tho letters their lines of symmetry (irr ines) Diag 6. The folowirg question uses the fact thatthe exchange rate for pounds sterling and the US. dolar 1 dllar = 85 pence, ‘a, How many pounds could be exchanged for 20 dollars? '. How many dolar could be exchanged for £220? 7. The average dally water consumption ofa person living in Abingdon is estimated at 200 ltrs. How much water ls needed forthe 32,000 people who lve in Abingdon?Reasoning “The reasoning paper (sections, 120 questions, 42 minutes in tot est vert, numerical and pattern ails, and each test section is preceded bya st of B practice questions. It Consists ofa umber of multiple choles questions that test logical thought (a mixture of words, numbers and pctres. Te test wl be taken on a computer thereby ving yeur sonatas Ot Abingdon IGT provision atthe same tie. Examples of Verbal section: finger is to hand as toe isto ‘arm heel foot body head nail Five ofthe folowing words form a series. Which ofthe words is not contained inthe series? treezing foggy cold hot cool warm Examples of Numerical section: 13.107 4 ..what number comes next? 31054 2 5244 ‘Add these fou figures together and divide the result by the second figu 1.2.9 4 5 noneotthese a4 8 ni. | ot