There are three types of reasoning tested within the UKiset:
- Verbal Reasoning: language questions and problem solving with words
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: solving problems using shapes, pictures and logic
- Mathematical Reasoning: looking at number, value, quantity and sequence concepts.
Because the test is adaptive, the level of difficulty of each question will correspond to the accuracy of responses – the more questions a student answers correctly, the more challenging the questions are likely to become. So if a candidate finds the test particularly tough as it progresses, it is not necessarily a bad thing!
What are the best ways to practice Verbal Reasoning for the UKiset?
Computerised practice is key as students need to become familiar with the nature of online adaptive tests. These are often quite different to any other type of test they will have sat before, which can catch unprepared students out. Becoming comfortable with the look and feel of these tests, and with the adaptive questions, can help maximise a candidate’s performance.
Offline practice is also extremely helpful, as this can help establish and consolidate a candidate’s understanding of key content. It can also be particularly helpful to have an offline discussion focused on breaking down the more challenging question types, so that students learn about how to solve them in a less pressurised environment, before tackling them online.
Example UKiset Verbal Reasoning Questions
Find the hidden word
What’s the skill?
These types of questions require you to identify a word hidden between two separate words within a sentence. It’s important to work methodically from the start to the end of the sentence and pay attention to how many letters the hidden word should have - this may change each time.
Find a four-letter word hidden in the sentence.
Word analogues
What’s the skill?
These questions require you to identify the relationship, or analogy, between words.
Choose one set of words from each group to complete the sentence sensibly.
Choose the word to fit a space
What’s the skill?
These questions require you to decide on the most sensible missing word to complete the sentence. They may also be referred to as ‘cloze’ questions.
Choose the correct word from the brackets to complete the sentence sensibly.
The dog pranced (reluctantly, perfectly, briskly, hesitantly, airily) along the pavement on his walk.
Word meaning
What’s the skill?
These questions require you to define a word within a sentence by using the context of that sentence to guide you.
Read the sentence and answer the question that follows.
I wished her a belated happy birthday. What does belated mean?
a) late
b) early
c) extremely
d) prompt
e) very
Letter Sequences
What’s the skill?
These questions require you to apply algebra skills to an alphabet-based task.
Find the next pair of letters in the sequence
Number analogies
What’s the skill?
These questions test your ability to identify number relationships using mental maths and arithmetic skills.
Find the missing number.
Word Relationships
What’s the skill?
These questions test logical thinking and your ability to identify patterns in the formation of words.
Work out how the letters of the words outside the first set of brackets have been used to create the word inside the brackets. Apply the same rule to the words outside the second set of brackets to create a new word.
Deduction
What’s the skill?
These questions test your ability to identify the one true statement from a range of answers based on the evidence provided.
Online UKiset Preparation Tutors
Keystone Tutors have a number of highly experienced UKiset tutors who can help with UKiset preparation, wherever you are in the world.
For more details on how Keystone can help prepare your child for the UKiset and UK schools entrance exams, please call the office for a chat with one of our client managers, or contact us via our request a tutor form.