Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
A 3-letter word is hidden across these two words. Find it: “strong united”
- ite
- gun
- nit
- str
Answer: gun — strong united — the end of “strong” and the start of “united” spell gun.
11+ hidden words questions
Hidden words is a staple of the verbal reasoning paper, where speed matters as much as accuracy. Here is how the questions are built, how to spot the pattern quickly, and five worked examples explained step by step, easiest first.
Verbal reasoning · examined by GL · 5 worked examples
What your child needs to know
- Sometimes a word hides across two other words.
- Run them together: 'silent apple' becomes silentapple.
Where marks get lost: Look across the join — can you see TAP?
Worked examples
Every question below is generated by the same engine your child practises on, and every answer is derived by our checker rather than written by hand — which is why we can put them on a public page at all.
Example 2 · level 2 — typical of early practice
A 3-letter word is hidden across these two words. Find it: “tent arm”
- nta
- tar
- ten
- ent
Answer: tar — tent arm — the end of “tent” and the start of “arm” spell tar.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
A 4-letter word is hidden across these two words. Find it: “young earth”
- gear
- ngea
- eart
- oung
Answer: gear — young earth — the end of “young” and the start of “earth” spell gear.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
A 5-letter word is hidden across these two words. Find it: “tent error”
- tente
- nterr
- terro
- enter
Answer: enter — tent error — the end of “tent” and the start of “error” spell enter.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
A 4-letter word is hidden across these two words. Find it: “eleven extra”
- even
- next
- leve
- enex
Answer: next — eleven extra — the end of “eleven” and the start of “extra” spell next.
How to practise this at home
- Verbal reasoning rewards pattern recognition, which comes from volume. A few questions of each type, often, beats one long session.
- Time a set once your child is accurate. Speed without accuracy is the usual trap; accuracy without speed loses just as many marks.
- Read widely alongside the practice. Almost every verbal reasoning question rests on vocabulary the child either has or does not.
Practise hidden words with a tutor that explains
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