Theory11+ Selective Thinking Skills
Practice Test
Practise the Thinking Skills tested in 11+ and selective-school entry exams: critical thinking, logical problem solving and non-verbal reasoning. Free to start.
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30 free 11+ Selective Thinking Skills questions
Sampled across every topic area — not just the first page. Try them as a quiz or flip them as flashcards.
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Critical Thinking
All vegetables grown in the school garden need watering every day during summer. Tomatoes are grown in the school garden. This summer has been very hot and dry. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — D. The argument directly establishes that school-garden vegetables need daily watering in summer, and that tomatoes are in the school garden, so the conclusion that follows is that the tomatoes must be watered every day this summer. -
Critical Thinking
Every student who joins the drama club must attend rehearsals on Wednesdays. Priya has just joined the drama club. Priya plays sport on Tuesdays and Thursdays. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — B. Since every drama club member must attend Wednesday rehearsals and Priya has joined, it follows directly that Priya must attend on Wednesdays; her Tuesday/Thursday sport is irrelevant to this conclusion. -
Critical Thinking
The community pool is only open to the public when a lifeguard is on duty. Today the only lifeguard called in sick. No replacement has been arranged. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — C. The rule states the pool only opens when a lifeguard is present; since no lifeguard is available today and no replacement has been arranged, the pool cannot open today. -
Critical Thinking
Nadia always takes an umbrella when the weather forecast predicts rain. The forecast for tomorrow shows a 90% chance of rain. Nadia has checked the forecast. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — B. The argument tells us Nadia always takes an umbrella when rain is forecast, and she has seen tomorrow's rain forecast, so she will take an umbrella tomorrow. -
Critical Thinking
The art room is locked whenever Ms Ferreira is away. Ms Ferreira is on a school trip today. A student wants to paint a picture this afternoon. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — A. The rule links the art room being locked to Ms Ferreira's absence; since she is away today, the art room will be locked, which is the direct conclusion the argument supports. -
Critical Thinking
Only students with a signed permission form may go on the excursion. Theo has not returned his permission form. The excursion departs tomorrow morning. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — B. The condition for attending is a signed permission form; since Theo has not returned his, he does not meet the condition and therefore cannot go on the excursion. -
Critical Thinking
All the houses on Maple Street were built before 1970. Houses built before 1970 in this region are required by law to be inspected for old pipes. Number 14 Maple Street has never been inspected. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — C. The argument establishes that all Maple Street houses are pre-1970 and therefore legally required to be inspected; since number 14 has never been inspected, it follows that it is in breach of the law. -
Critical Thinking
A bus ticket costs less than a train ticket for the same journey. Oliver travels from home to the city five days a week. He currently takes the train every day. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — D. Since bus tickets cost less than train tickets and Oliver makes this journey daily, switching to the bus would reduce his travel costs, making this the conclusion the argument points to. -
Critical Thinking
In a card game, a player wins a round only if they play a card with a higher number than their opponent. Sione played a 7. His opponent played a 9. The highest card in the game is 10. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — D. The rule states a player wins only by playing a higher number; Sione played 7 and his opponent played 9, so Sione's card is not higher and he did not win this round. -
Critical Thinking
The nature reserve is closed to visitors whenever the fire-danger rating is 'High' or above. Today the rating is 'Very High'. A group of students planned a visit for today. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — A. The closure rule is triggered at 'High' or above; 'Very High' clearly exceeds that threshold, so the reserve is closed and the students' visit cannot go ahead today. -
Critical Thinking
Every book in the rare collection is kept behind glass. Some books in the rare collection are over 300 years old. A visitor asks to handle a book from the rare collection. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — D. Every rare-collection book is behind glass, and the visitor wants a book from that collection; therefore the book is behind glass and the visitor cannot handle it directly. -
Critical Thinking
In a relay race, the team that finishes first only wins the trophy if every member of the team ran the full distance. Team A crossed the line first, but one of their runners twisted an ankle and stopped early. Team B finished second. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — A. Team A crossed the line first but cannot win the trophy because not every member ran the full distance; the argument's conclusion is that Team A finished first yet will not receive the trophy — not that Team B wins, since no evidence confirms Team B meets the condition either. -
Critical Thinking
A new café opens only if it passes both a hygiene inspection and a noise assessment. The Harbour Café passed the hygiene inspection with high marks. The noise assessment results have not yet been published. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — D. Opening requires passing both tests; while the hygiene test is passed, the noise result is unknown, so it cannot be concluded that the café will open — certainty about opening is impossible at this stage. -
Critical Thinking
All mammals are warm-blooded. Some warm-blooded animals can fly. No cold-blooded animal has ever been observed living in Antarctica. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — C. The third statement tells us no cold-blooded animal lives in Antarctica, meaning every animal there must be warm-blooded; the other options go beyond what the argument establishes. -
Critical Thinking
A prize is given to any student who submits an entry and whose entry is judged original. Declan submitted an entry. The judges said his entry was 'very well written' but noted it closely resembled a well-known short story. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — B. The prize requires both submission and originality; Declan submitted but his entry was not judged original (it resembled an existing story), so he does not meet both conditions and will not receive the prize. -
Critical Thinking
In Greenfield town, shops must close by 9 pm unless they hold a late-trading licence. Shops holding a late-trading licence must display it in their window. The corner store on Birch Road is open at 10 pm, but no licence is visible in its window. What is the main conclusion?
Correct — B. To trade after 9 pm legally the store needs a licence, and that licence must be in the window; since the store is open at 10 pm with no licence visible, at least one rule is being broken, so the store is operating outside the rules. -
Critical Thinking
Priya says: 'The school canteen sells out of pies every single day, so the canteen should order more pies.' Which assumption is Priya making?
Correct — D. Priya's conclusion that more pies should be ordered only follows if selling out indicates unmet demand — that is, that more customers wanted pies but could not get them. -
Critical Thinking
Tom argues: 'It rained on every sports day our school has held for the last three years, so we should move sports day to the school hall.' What must Tom be assuming?
Correct — C. Tom's recommendation to move indoors is only sensible if he assumes the past pattern of rain will repeat — otherwise there is no reason to change the venue. -
Critical Thinking
Grandma says: 'I always water my tomatoes daily and they grow beautifully, so you should water yours daily too if you want them to grow well.' What is she assuming?
Correct — D. Grandma's advice is only valid if she assumes daily watering is the reason her tomatoes succeed, rather than some other factor such as soil quality or sunlight. -
Critical Thinking
Callum says: 'Mia finished her homework before dinner every night this week. She must be very organised.' Which assumption is necessary for this conclusion?
Correct — B. Callum can only conclude Mia is organised if he assumes that completing homework before dinner is evidence of good organisation. -
Critical Thinking
A park sign states: 'No dogs have ever been reported biting visitors in this park, so it is safe to let your dog off the lead here.' What must the sign be assuming?
Correct — A. The sign's claim of safety is based on the absence of reported bites, which only supports the conclusion if every bite that occurred was actually reported. -
Critical Thinking
A teacher argues: 'Students who sit at the front of the classroom get higher grades. Therefore, if we move struggling students to the front, their grades will improve.' What is the necessary assumption?
Correct — B. The teacher's plan only works if sitting at the front causes higher grades; if instead motivated students choose front seats, moving students there would not improve performance. -
Critical Thinking
Fatima says: 'Every time I wear my lucky green socks, our team wins. I'm wearing them today, so we'll win.' Which assumption does Fatima's argument depend on?
Correct — B. Fatima's prediction is only logical if she assumes the socks actually affect the result; without that assumption, past wins while wearing the socks provide no basis for predicting today's result. -
Critical Thinking
A council newsletter says: 'Noise complaints in Riverside Street dropped by 40% after the new speed bumps were installed. The speed bumps have clearly reduced noise.' What must this argument assume?
Correct — B. Attributing the drop in complaints to the speed bumps requires assuming no other change — such as fewer residents or less traffic — could explain the reduction. -
Critical Thinking
Zara argues: 'Our drama club put on a show last year and raised £400 for charity. We should do another show this year to raise money.' What assumption is essential to her argument?
Correct — C. Zara's recommendation to put on another show rests on the assumption that doing so will actually raise money — that last year's success can be replicated. -
Critical Thinking
Oliver reads: 'Children who own more books score higher on reading tests. Parents should therefore buy more books for their children.' What must this advice assume?
Correct — A. The advice to buy more books is only sound if book ownership causes reading improvement; if instead skilled readers simply receive more books as gifts, buying more would not help. -
Critical Thinking
Kofi argues: 'The new homework app has been used by students for one term. Test scores have risen. The app is responsible for the improvement.' Which assumption is this argument making?
Correct — D. Crediting the app for better scores requires ruling out other explanations, so the argument must assume nothing else — such as a new teacher or revised curriculum — also changed. -
Critical Thinking
A scientist states: 'In our experiment, plants given extra carbon dioxide grew 20% taller than the control group. Carbon dioxide therefore promotes plant growth.' What is the necessary assumption?
Correct — A. The conclusion that carbon dioxide caused the extra growth depends on assuming every other variable was held constant, so that the only difference between the groups was the carbon dioxide level. -
Critical Thinking
A campaigner argues: 'Regions with more fast-food outlets have higher rates of childhood obesity. Banning new fast-food outlets will therefore reduce childhood obesity.' What must this argument assume?
Correct — A. A ban on outlets can only reduce obesity if the outlets are actually causing it; if both obesity rates and outlet numbers are driven by a common factor such as poverty, the ban would not help. -
Critical Thinking
Nia says: 'My older brother revised for six hours a day and got top marks. If I revise for six hours a day, I will also get top marks.' Which assumption is strictly necessary?
Correct — A. Nia's conclusion only follows if she assumes that the same revision hours will be sufficient for her — without this, her brother's experience offers no guarantee about her own outcome.
11+ Selective Thinking Skills sample questions
Tap any question below to reveal the answer and a plain-English explanation.
Critical Thinking A journalist writes: 'Towns that installed more streetlights reported lower burglary rates over the next year. Other towns should install more streetlights to cut crime.' What assumption is the journalist's recommendation built on?
A. Burglary is the most common crime in those towns
B. Streetlights are inexpensive to install and maintain
C. The streetlights caused the fall in burglaries, not some other simultaneous change ✓
D. Burglars always avoid well-lit areas
Correct — C. Recommending streetlights to other towns is only valid if the lights, rather than another concurrent change such as increased policing, actually caused the crime reduction.
Problem Solving Four children — Priya, Sam, Juno, and Kofi — each sit in one of four seats labelled 1 to 4 from left to right. Priya sits in seat 1. Sam sits immediately to the right of Priya. Juno sits in seat 4. Which seat does Kofi sit in?
A. Seat 1
B. Seat 3 ✓
C. Seat 4
D. Seat 2
Correct — B. Priya is in seat 1, Sam is in seat 2 (immediately right of Priya), and Juno is in seat 4, leaving only seat 3 for Kofi.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Which figure is the odd one out?
A. A
B. B ✓
C. C
D. D
E. E
Correct — B. Four figures share a feature; only option B breaks it, so it is the odd one out.
Real Exam Practice Nick's school was selecting students for a new acting course. As well as considering their existing knowledge of acting, the school set them a performance test and an improvisation challenge. If a student had at least some existing knowledge of acting, then they only had to pass the performance test. If they had none, then they either needed to get an excellent score on the performance test or do well in both the performance test and the improvisation challenge. Ethan is an experienced actor but failed to get a place on the course. What must have been the reason?
A. He did badly on the improvisation challenge.
B. He did not get an excellent score in performance.
C. He failed his performance test. ✓
D. He did badly in both performance and improvisation.
Correct — C. That's the right answer.
Critical Thinking A debate team argues: 'Every student who joined the school debate club improved their public speaking grade within one year. Joining debate club must therefore develop public speaking skills.' What is the key assumption?
A. Public speaking grades are marked consistently year to year
B. The debate club accepts students of all ability levels
C. Improved grades accurately reflect real-world speaking ability
D. Students did not improve their speaking through other activities outside the debate club ✓
Correct — D. The conclusion that debate club develops the skill depends on assuming the improvement came from the club itself, not from concurrent activities — such as drama lessons or presentations in other classes — that students may also have undertaken.
Problem Solving Five friends — Anika, Bo, Clem, Dot, and Eli — stand in a single line. Eli stands at one end. Bo stands at the other end. Clem stands next to Bo. Anika stands directly between Clem and Dot with no gaps. Who stands in the 3rd (middle) position?
A. Dot
B. Anika ✓
C. Bo
D. Clem
Correct — B. Bo and Eli are at opposite ends. Clem is next to Bo, placing Clem 2nd from Bo's end. Anika is directly between Clem and Dot, giving the order Bo–Clem–Anika–Dot–Eli, so Anika is 3rd.
Non-Verbal Reasoning Which figure is the odd one out?
A. A
B. B
C. C
D. D
E. E ✓
Correct — E. Four figures share a feature; only option E breaks it, so it is the odd one out.
Real Exam Practice To become a successful chess player, you need to be focused and have excellent patience. Tom: "My sister said it didn't matter if I liked the subject or not, so long as the teacher was good, I know I will succeed." Evie: "Tash enjoys long hours of concentrated work and is good at them and he can wait for hours without getting mad. Chess would bore him and she would not be a great player." If the information in the box is true, whose reasoning is correct?
A. Tom only
B. Evie only
C. Both Tom and Evie
D. Neither Tom nor Evie ✓
Correct — D. Tom's reasoning applies teacher quality (irrelevant to chess criteria) to conclude success, which contradicts the given condition. Evie's reasoning concludes Tash would not be great despite meeting both required conditions (focus and patience), which also does not follow logically. Neither applies the given information correctly.
About the 11+ Selective Thinking Skills test
Thinking Skills Prep helps students get ready for 11+ and selective-school entrance Thinking Skills assessments.
Practice 272 exam-style questions with clear explanations across Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Features
- 272 practice questions with worked explanations
- Mock exam, timed quiz, random 10, practice by topic
- Missed & bookmarked question review
- Progress tracking and analytics
You will be tested on
- The core topics and terminology you'll be tested on
- Rules, standards and best-practice procedures
- Real-world scenarios and how to respond
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
How TheoryPractice helps you pass
- Real exam-style questions with instant, detailed explanations
- Full timed mock exams that mirror the real test format
- Flashcards & quiz modes from the same question bank
- Progress tracking so you know exactly when you're ready
Topics in this question bank
The core topics and terminology you'll be tested on
Rules, standards and best-practice procedures
Real-world scenarios and how to respond
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
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