Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
Which word goes in front of BOTH “work” and “cup”?
- star
- water
- snow
- sea
Answer: water — waterwork and watercup are both words.
11+ word connections questions
Word connections 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 and CEM · 5 worked examples
What your child needs to know
- One word can go in front of two different words.
- SUN goes in front of both FLOWER and SHINE.
Where marks get lost: Always check BOTH before you choose.
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
Which word goes in front of BOTH “cup” and “room”?
- star
- tea
- hair
- sand
Answer: tea — teacup and tearoom are both words.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
Which word goes in front of BOTH “work” and “fall”?
- night
- star
- butter
- tea
Answer: night — nightwork and nightfall are both words.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
Which word goes in front of BOTH “ground” and “side”?
- butter
- book
- back
- hair
Answer: back — background and backside are both words.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
Which word goes in front of BOTH “light” and “fall”?
- black
- card
- rain
- tea
Answer: rain — rainlight and rainfall are both words.
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 word connections with a tutor that explains
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