This publication assists applicants for Year 7 entry to selective high schools to become more
familiar with the Selective High School Placement Test. Some of the items have not been included
for copyright reasons. In the actual Selective High School Placement Test there are 45 questions
in reading, 40 in mathematics and 60 in general ability.
The Selective High School Placement Test measures ability and is set to discriminate at a very
high level. Students who are accustomed to answering most questions in tests correctly should not
be discouraged if they get a number of questions wrong. It is very rare for even the highest scoring
candidates to score full marks on all components of the Selective High School Placement Test.
Selective high school entry does not depend entirely on a student's performance in the Selective
High School Placement Test as school assessment scores in English and mathematics are
provided by the primary schools.
It is important to note that selection committees and appeals panels will not accept students'
performance in this past paper as evidence of academic merit for the purposes of entry into a
selective high school in any future year.
Session
2
SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST
SAMPLE
TEST 3
GENERAL ABILITY
DO NOT OPEN THIS SECTION UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD
INSTRUCTIONS
1
You have 40 minutes to complete the General Ability test. It contains 60 questions.
Mark your answer to each question by colouring A, B, C or D in pen in the General
Ability section of your answer booklet.
If you decide to change your answer, cross it out with X and mark your new answer
clearly.
If you want to work anything out, you may write in this question booklet, but remember
to show your answer in the answer booklet NOT in this question booklet.
In the tests you will find Answer Check boxes like this:
ANSWER CHECK (General Ability No. 1)
Look at your answer booklet was the last bubble you filled in for Question 15?
If it was, keep going. If it wasnt, put your hand up now for help.
This is to ensure you are answering the question in the right answer bubble.
6 Wait for instructions to begin the General Ability test.
Published by the Australian Council for Educational Research
Prospect Hill Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124.
Copyright 2014 NSW Department of Education and Communities.
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G1
1047923_Cs4.indd 1
13/02/14 4:30 PM
IRON is to RUST as SILVER is to
A
B
C
D
TIN
METAL
MAGNET
TARNISH
COWARDLY is to BOLD as CLUMSY
is to
A
B
C
D
Which one of these figures is the odd
one out?
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
A
B
C
D
In a foreign language NOOR MAT
ARNOG means ABUNDANCE
LOVES PROSPERITY, and ARNOG
MUT LOMM means ABUNDANCE
HIDES KINDNESS.
ARNOG MUT COZ
COZ ARNOG NOOR
NOOR MUT COZ
LOMM MUT COZ
A
B
C
D
EQUAL
EXPERT
PARENT
COUNTER
1
3
A
B
C
D
The word PAR is nearest in meaning to
A
B
C
D
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
a brown had each porch shack little
If NOOR MUT COZ means
PROSPERITY HIDES GREED,
which of the following means
KINDNESS HIDES GREED?
A
B
C
D
G2
e
h
l
p
2
1
1
3
is to 11 as
2
1
1
3
2
1
7
8
9
10
The word UNNECESSARY is nearest
in meaning to
A
B
C
D
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
BOND
DISPUTE
CONTEST
CHALLENGE
D
7
FAST
AGILE
BRAVE
FRAGILE
RUDE
SHORT
SUPREME
SUPERFLUOUS
is to
10
A figure is missing in the following
sequence.
14
?
Which of the answer figures would best
replace the question mark?
15
Which letter is missing in this series?
C
A
B
C
D
G
I
K
M
16
TUNE
SONG
MELODY
INSTRUMENT
GLUT
POSSIBLE
INSTANCE
INSUFFICIENT
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
A
B
C
D
17
d
f
s
w
ILL
CURED
SICKLY
INVALID
ANSWER CHECK
(General Ability No. 1)
Look on your Answer Sheet the
last question you answered should
have been Question 17.
If it was, keep going.
If it wasnt, put your hand up for
help.
ANGER
PRAISE
MONSTER
ACCEPTABLE
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
DRAKE
TURKEY
CHICKEN
DUCKLING
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
A
B
C
D
The word WRATH is nearest in
meaning to
A
B
C
D
HEN is to ROOSTER as DUCK is to
A
B
C
D
word my for she repeated message
word desperate
13
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
A
B
C
D
12
The word SURPLUS is most nearly the
opposite in meaning to
A
B
C
D
11
G3
18
Find the missing number that is
connected to each of the other numbers.
21
A figure is missing in the following
sequence.
9
18
Which of the answer figures would best
replace the question mark?
?
24
6
27
A
B
C
D
3
4
5
6
22
19
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
A
B
C
D
20
m
s
w
y
C
D
There were 101 students who attended
the Year 7 Camp this week. There were
more boys than girls. The difference
between the number of girls and the
number of boys was 27.
23
A
B
C
D
35 boys and 66 girls
49 boys and 52 girls
57 boys and 44 girls
64 boys and 37 girls
24
G4
RELATE
PORTRAY
NARRATE
CONDESCEND
JOIN is to CONNECT as
SEVER is to
A
B
C
D
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
Bill turns a quarter circle to his
right
Ellen and Bill each turn a half
circle to their left
Ellen turns a quarter circle to her
left
Bill turns another half circle to his
left
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
A
B
C
D
How many boys and how many girls
attended the camp?
Ellen is facing WEST and Bill is facing
SOUTH. Ellen and Bill each turn a half
circle to their right. What do one or both
of them need to do before each faces
NORTH?
A
with my your you said must love
soul mother once all
TEAR
INCISE
SEPARATE
CONTINUE
25
The word COMPLICATE is most
nearly the opposite in meaning to
A
B
C
D
29
Which letter is missing in the series?
T AH R AF ? AD N AB
DISCARD
SIMPLIFY
UNDERSTAND
EXAGGERATE
A
B
C
D
J
L
M
P
26
is to
is to
30
as
A figure is missing in the following
sequence.
Which of the answer figures would best
replace the question mark?
D
A
27
The numbers in these patterns go
together following the same rule. Find
the missing number.
17 31
A
B
C
D
28
15 33
14 ?
31
12 36
Dinar left the country four days ago
when it was raining. Dinar arrives back
in two days time, on Friday.
A
B
C
D
store her her not to to the go begged
department friend
b
d
n
s
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
Therefore
28
32
34
35
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
A
B
C
D
G5
today is Tuesday.
it was raining on Saturday.
it was still raining on Tuesday.
Dinar left the country on Monday.
ANSWER CHECK
(General Ability No. 2)
Look on your Answer Sheet the
last question you answered should
have been Question 31.
If it was, keep going.
If it wasnt, put your hand up for
help.
32
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
A
B
C
D
33
36
REVIVED
RESTORED
REVISITED
RECOVERED
put the to on they their robes guests
welcome
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
37
GHI
JKL
OPQ
WVU
The word AVID is nearest in meaning
to
A
B
C
D
The word IMPUDENT is most nearly
the opposite in meaning to
A
B
C
D
35
g
o
p
t
Which letters are missing in the series?
GHI TSR DEF ? ABC ZYX
34
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
38
VULGAR
COURTEOUS
DISSATISFIED
UNIMPRESSIVE
EAGER
AWARE
MATURE
FEARFUL
The figures in the diagram below follow
a set of rules.
A figure is missing in the following
sequence.
?
Which of the answer figures would best
replace the question mark?
Which of the answer figures would best
replace the question mark?
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
G6
39
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
44
A
B
C
D
hand was the the that with by parcel
written letter came
A
B
C
D
b
c
h
w
The word ARROGANT is most nearly
the opposite in meaning to
45
Which letters are missing in the series?
VEV
40
A
B
C
D
41
46
17285
25817
71258
72158
47
WAR
RIFLE
BATTLE
ARMOURY
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
FAZ
JBY
JCW
LCY
MBW
ADD
PARE
WASTE
PRODUCE
SLIP
FREE
RELEASE
CAPTURE
ANSWER CHECK
(General Ability No. 3)
Look on your Answer Sheet the
last question you answered should
have been Question 47.
If it was, keep going.
If it wasnt, put your hand up for
help.
CLOTHING is to CLOSET as
WEAPON is to
A
B
C
D
NCX
The word LIBERATE is most nearly
the opposite in meaning to
A
B
C
D
AGREED
AVERSE
BEATEN
DOUBTFUL
RDW
The word REDUCE is nearest in
meaning to
A
B
C
D
The word OPPOSED is nearest in
meaning to
A
B
C
D
43
MEEK
PROUD
HUMBLE
ASHAMED
The number codes 2857, 6815, and
2168 represent three of the four words
REAL, BELT, LEFT, and BARE. The
number code for TABLE is
A
B
C
D
42
A
B
C
D
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
HUMBLE
SENSIBLE
FRIENDLY
ANNOYING
G7
48
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
53
GX
A
B
C
D
over the the his he on was leaf finger
fuzz running
A
B
C
D
49
h
l
o
r
54
Which letters are missing in the series?
AB
A
B
C
D
51
BC
DD
GE
KF
LF
LL
ML
56
DSVUSOA
ESVEUOA
EVSEUAO
FVSEUAO
DEBTS
TAXES
DEPOSITS
CONTRACTS
G8
a
b
m
w
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
A
B
C
D
PROJECT
VOCATION
IMPROVEMENT
ADVANCEMENT
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
EJ
EV
FV
FY
Rearrange all the words below to make
the best sentence. What letter does the
last word begin with?
A
B
C
D
CRUDE
ROUGH
FORMAL
PRIMITIVE
The word PROFESSION is nearest in
meaning to
A
B
C
D
CV
long the eel-like the to with move neck
began animal
57
52
DP
The word ASSETS is most nearly the
opposite in meaning to
A
B
C
D
PG
Three of the following words have
similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?
A
B
C
D
In a certain code OYKEIUT means
MAGICAL.
A
B
C
D
EXPERT
TRAINER
BEGINNER
INSTRUCTOR
55
50
FD
In the same code what is CURIOUS
represented by?
APPRENTICE is to LEARNER as
NOVICE is to
A
B
C
D
Which letters are missing in the series?
CUR
COMIC
CLOWN
BUFFOON
58
The numbers in these patterns go
together following the same rule. Find
the missing number.
12
8
10
1
9
3
15
A
B
C
D
59
60
In a foreign language MACHE ARCA
KIP means SMALL MAGICAL
CARDS, and MACHE FLO ROT
means TRICKS IN CARDS. If GO
FUP LECTY means SMOKE AND
DISAPPEAR and FLO means IN,
which of the following means
MAGICAL CARDS DISAPPEAR IN
SMOKE?
A
B
C
D
ARCA KIP FLO FUP GO
MACHE LECTY FUP FLO ROT
MACHE ARCA ROT FUP LECTY
ARCA MACHE FLO LECTY FUP
3
6
8
9
The word DENOTE is nearest in
meaning to
A
B
C
D
SING
CURE
UNCLEAR
INDICATE
ANSWER CHECK (General Ability No. 4)
Look on your Answer Sheet the last
question you answered should have been
Question 60.
If it wasnt, put your hand up for help.
END OF TEST.
LOOK BACK OVER YOUR WORK IF
YOU HAVE TIME.
This test contains security features to protect against illegal use
G9
GENERAL ABILITY 02
No.
KEY
1
D
2
C
3
D
4
A
5
B
6
A
7
D
8
D
9
D
10
C
11
D
12
D
13
A
14
B
15
D
16
A
17
B
18
A
19
B
20
D
21
B
22
C
23
D
24
C
25
B
26
A
27
C
28
D
29
D
30
B
31
B
32
C
33
D
34
B
35
C
36
A
37
A
38
C
39
C
40
B
41
C
42
B
43
D
44
A
45
A
46
B
47
D
48
B
49
C
50
A
51
C
52
B
53
A
54
B
55
A
56
C
57
A
58
A
59
D
60
D
