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

Three of the following words have

similar meanings.

Which word has a different meaning

to the other three?
A
B
C
D
2

MEASURE
PRAISE
ESTIMATE
APPRAISE

A
B
C
D
7

If the words below were rearranged

to form the best sentence, which
word would come last?

chances
did
take
they

DEVISE
HIDE
REVEAL
CEMENT

Which letters are missing in this

series?

A
B
C
D

EVEN
INCORRECTNESS
GENTLENESS
FAIRNESS

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100 metres
200 metres
300 metres
500 metres

WV

The word JUSTICE means most

nearly the same as
A
B
C
D

John takes 1 minute to walk 100

metres. Kylie takes 5 minutes to
walk 400 metres.

A
B
C
D
9

PLAY
VIEW
SAW
PAINTING

$9
$12
$14
$16

If they start off together, how far

ahead will one be of the other after
10 minutes?

CHAPTER is to NOVEL as SCENE

is to
A
B
C
D

Sara has $7. If Kim had another $2

she would have twice as much
money as Sara.

A
B
C
D

The word CONCEAL is most nearly

the opposite of
A
B
C
D

REAL
SCIENTIFIC
IMAGINARY
POTENTIAL

How much does Kim have?

chances want take any they to not did

A
B
C
D

The word ACTUAL is most nearly

the opposite of

10

ON

____

GF

KJ
LK
MJ
NJ

The word INDICATE means most

nearly the same as
A
B
C
D

G2

SR

SHOW
PROVIDE
AID
POSITION

11

STAGE is to ACTOR as ALTAR is

to
A
B
C
D

12

A figure is missing in the following

sequence.

16

CINEMA
AUDIENCE
CONGREGATION
PRIEST

Which of the answer figures would

best replace the question mark?

Tina is taller than Sia and Uma is

shorter than Roslyn.
If Tina is shorter than Uma, who is
shortest?
A
B
C
D

13

Roslyn
Sia
Tina
Uma

)
17

Ray has $32. If Sam spends $8 he

will have half as much money as
Ray.

14

18

PICTURE
CANVAS
GALLERY
ARTIST

ANSWER CHECK
(General Ability No. 1)
Look on your Answer Sheet
the last question you answered
should have been Question 18.
If it was, keep going.
If it wasnt, put your hand up for
help.

1. All mortals are fools.

A
B
C
D

UNKNOWN
TASTY
GENUINE
BELIEVABLE

INSANE
SOAPY
KNOWLEDGABLE
HYGIENIC

Which two of the following

statements together prove that
HUMANS ARE FOOLS?
2.
3.
4.
5.

BOOK is to LIBRARY as
PAINTING is to
A
B
C
D

The word SANITARY means most

nearly the same as
A
B
C
D

15

$16
$20
$24
$40

The word CREDIBLE means most

nearly the same as
A
B
C
D

How much does Sam have?

A
B
C
D

Zeus is immortal.
Zeus is not human.
All humans are mortal.
Humans are clever.
1 and 3
2 and 3
1 and 4
1 and 5

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G3

19

The figures in the diagram below

follow a set of rules.

21

Which of the answer figures would

best replace the question mark?

The word FAMINE is most nearly

the opposite of
A
B
C
D

22

HUNGER
DISEASE
FEAST
HEALTH

The numbers in each pair of brackets

follow the same rule.
Find the missing number.
[25, 13] [7, 4]
A
B
C
D

?
23

20

If the words below were rearranged

to make the best sentence, which
word would come last?

A
B
C
D
24

If these statements are true, only

ONE of the following sentences
below must be true.

C
D

Des made 60 hamburgers.

Charla was not paid extra
money.
Bhan was paid extra money.
Alex made fewer than 50
hamburgers.

G4

flash
light
make
he

Which two of the following

statements together prove that
NORM AND AHMED ARE
AUSTRALIANS?
1. Norm and Ahmed were born in
the same country.
2. Thuy and Norm are close
friends.
3. Ahmed and Greg were born in
Australia.
4. Greg and Norm live in Bondi.
5. Norms father is a New
Zealander.
A
B
C
D

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5
6
12
23

to he the the flash flicked light

make switch

Des, Charla, Bhan and Alex work at

the same fast food store, making
hamburgers. If they make more than
50 hamburgers in one day they are
paid extra money. Yesterday Des
was paid extra money and Bhan
made 60 hamburgers.

A
B

[11, ?] [15, 8]

1 and 4
3 and 4
1 and 3
3 and 4

25

Which letters are missing in this

series?

30

LL D NNN F ___ H RRRRR

A
B
C
D

A
B
C
D

G
PPPP
OOOO
PPP
31

26

The word STATIONARY means

most nearly the same as
A
B
C
D

27

ASTRONOMER is to STARS as
BOTANIST is to

RAILWAY
MEASURED
PAPER
MOTIONLESS

Which two of the following

statements together prove that
SILVER CUPS ARE HEAVIER
THAN BRASS CUPS?
1

Gold plates are heavier than

Brass Cups.

Copper plates are heavier than

Brass Cups.

The numbers in each pair of brackets

go together following the same rule.

Gold plates are lighter than

Silver Cups.

Find the missing number.

Copper plates are lighter than

Silver Cups.

[405, 135] [135, ?] [15, 5]

A
B
C
D
28

A
B
C
D

35
45
50
55
32

The word CONDENSE is most

nearly the opposite of
A
B
C
D

29

PLANETS
GERMS
BOTANY
PLANTS

Three of the following words have

similar meanings.
Which word has a different meaning
to the other three?
A
B
C
D

BRIGHT
SHARP
INTELLIGENT
DETERMINED

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The word VAST means most nearly

the same as
A
B
C
D

CONGEAL
EXPAND
REDUCE
HOPE

G5

1 and 3
1 and 4
2 and 3
3 and 4

HUGE
LONG
GENERAL
CONTAINER

ANSWER CHECK
(General Ability No. 2)
Look on your Answer Sheet
the last question you answered
should have been Question 32.
If it was, keep going.
If it wasnt, put your hand up for
help.

33

The word ADVERTISE is most

nearly the opposite of
A
B
C
D

34

36

In the same code what is GLEAM

represented by?

PROPOSE
MONEY
SUPPRESS
TRUTHFULNESS

A
B
C
D

When a number is divided by 3 and

the result is added to 16 the answer
is 30.

37

What is the number?

A
B
C
D
35

In a certain code CHILD is

represented by PUVYQ.

SYNPZ
TYPNZ
TYPOZ
TYRNZ

Which letters are missing in this

series?
CM

26
42
46
90

A
B
C
D

The figures in the diagram below

follow a set of rules.

38

Which of the answer figures would

best replace the question mark?

GQ

____

KU

HR
IS
IT
JV

In a certain code KBDOWIHPV

means HEARTLESS.
In the same code VXQZWFRK
means
A
B
C
D

EO

39

ABSOLUTE
TRICKERY
QUESTION
SANCTION

There are 26 students in 6 Red. 6

Blue has 14 boys and 11 girls. When
the classes are combined there are
three more girls than boys.
How many girls are there in 6 Red?

A
B
C
D

40

FEEL is to ANAESTHESIA as SEE

is to
A
B
C
D

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G6

11
14
16
17

TOUCH
SIGHT
OPTICS
BLINDNESS

41

The figures in the diagram below

follow a set of rules.

44

Each set of four numbers follows the

same rule.
Find the missing number.

Which of the answer figures would

best replace the question mark?

15

19

39

31

A
B
C
D

?
45

23
17
15
11

Which letter is missing in this

series?
S

42

A
B
C
D

Lex rides his bicycle at an average

speed of 20 kilometres per hour. In
two hours Sam rides 4 kilometres
further than Lex.

46

43

47

Which word has a different meaning

to the other three?
DISCORD
GLOOM
DIMNESS
SHADOW

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____

F
G
H
I

Three of the following words have

similar meanings.

A
B
C
D

21 kilometres per hour

22 kilometres per hour
24 kilometres per hour
44 kilometres per hour

Three of the following words have

similar meanings.

A
B
C
D

Which word has a different meaning

to the other three?

What is Sam's average speed?

A
B
C
D

NOURISHMENT
SUSTENANCE
NUTRIMENT
CONDIMENT

In a certain code WJQKXTHL

means WISHBONE.
In the same code what
COMPLETE represented by?
A
B
C
D

CPKSHJNL
CPLSHJML
CPKTHKNL
COKTHKML

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.
G7

is

48

Together, Bob, Colin and Dave

weigh 195 kg. Bob weighs 9 kg
more than Colin and 6 kg more than
Dave.

51

How much does Bob weigh?

A
B
C
D
49

Adele, Bertha, Cath, Don, Ed, and

Fabio sit at a round table. Cath sits
opposite Adele. Fabio is next to
Bertha. Adele has Don on her left
and Bertha on her right.
Who is on Cath's left?

60 kg
66 kg
69 kg
70 kg

A
B
C
D

The figures in the diagram below

follow a set of rules.

52

Which of the answer figures would

best replace the question mark?

Adele
Don
Ed
Fabio

The numbers in each pair of brackets

go together following the same rule.
Find the missing number.
[2, 6] [5, 30]
A
B
C
D

53

50

In the same code RGUGQCK means

54

Which word has a different meaning

to the other three?
DECIPHER
DEFRAUD
CHEAT
DECEIVE

This test contains security features to protect against illegal use

RECOUNT
REGARDS
SINCERE
SEVERAL

Each set of three numbers follows

the same rule.
Find the missing number.

Three of the following words have

similar meanings.

A
B
C
D

24
48
72
80

In a certain code DNDIZPS means

ELEGANT.

A
B
C
D

[8, ?] [10, 110]

18

20

20

22

A
B
C
D

G8

3
5
7
8

55

Which letters are missing in this

series?

Three of the following words have

similar meanings. Which word has a
different meaning to the other three?

59

KFD IED ____ ECC CBB AAB

A
B
C
D
56

A
B
C
D

GDC
GCD
GCC
GDD

FLATTERY
FRIVOLITY
FOLLY
NONSENSE

60

When a number is multiplied by 4

and the result is subtracted from 40
the answer is 12.

If LM =

What is the number?

A
B
C
D
57

3
7
8
52

and NO =

and MP =

If the words below were rearranged

to form the best sentence, which
word would come last?
he to buy had the shop needed
everything local
A
B
C
D

58

everything
local
buy
shop

and LN =

Then

The numbers in each pair of brackets

follow the same rule.

LO =

Find the missing number.

[46, 25] [4, 4] [80, 42] [22, ?]
A
B
C
D

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.

10
12
13
15

END OF TEST.
LOOK BACK OVER YOUR WORK
IF YOU HAVE TIME.

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G9

GENERAL ABILITY
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60

KEY
B
A
C
A
D
C
B
B
A
A
D
B
C
D
C
A
D
C
B
C
C
B
A
C
B
D
B
B
D
D
A
A
C
B
C
D
B
D
C
D
A
B
A
C
B
D
A
D
B
A
D
C
D
B
A
B
C
C
A
A