ISEB Common Pre-Test key terms

A word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word, such as 'begin' and 'start'. Synonym questions ask you to pick the closest match from a list.

A word whose meaning is opposite to another word, such as 'expand' and 'shrink'. Antonym questions test whether you can spot contrast in meaning quickly.

A pair relationship such as 'hot is to cold as up is to down'. You complete a second pair that follows the same logical link as the first.

A set of words or shapes where all but one share a common feature. You identify the item that does not fit the shared rule.

Grouping items by a shared property, such as all words that are vegetables or all shapes with four sides. It is the reasoning skill behind odd-one-out and grouping questions.

The small differences in strength or tone between similar words, for example 'warm', 'hot' and 'scorching'. Choosing the best word depends on these subtle differences.

The grammatical category a word belongs to, such as noun, verb, adjective or adverb. Knowing word classes helps you predict what fits a gap in a sentence.

A word naming a person, place, thing or idea, such as 'teacher', 'London', 'bicycle' or 'freedom'. Nouns can usually follow 'the' or 'a'.

A word expressing an action or state, such as 'run', 'think' or 'is'. Verbs change form for tense and must agree with their subject.

A word that describes or modifies a noun, such as 'tall', 'wooden' or 'happy'. Adjectives can often be compared, as in 'taller' and 'tallest'.

A word that modifies a verb, adjective or another adverb, often telling how, when or where, such as 'quickly', 'yesterday' or 'here'. Many adverbs end in '-ly'.

A word used instead of a noun, such as 'he', 'she', 'it', 'they' or 'them'. Pronouns must refer clearly to the person or thing meant.

A word showing the relationship of a noun to another word in place or time, such as 'under', 'after', 'between' or 'with'. Prepositions usually introduce a phrase.

A word that joins words or clauses, such as 'and', 'but', 'because' or 'although'. Conjunctions show how ideas connect.

A group of words containing a subject and a verb, such as 'when the bell rang'. A main clause can stand alone as a sentence; a subordinate clause cannot.

A complete unit of meaning that begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark. It normally contains at least one main clause.

The form of a verb that shows when an action happens, such as past ('walked'), present ('walks') or future ('will walk'). Consistency of tense keeps writing clear.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number, as in 'the dog barks' but 'the dogs bark'. Singular subjects take singular verb forms.

The form of an adjective or adverb used to compare two things, usually made with '-er' or 'more', as in 'faster' or 'more careful'. It contrasts with the superlative.

The form of an adjective or adverb showing the highest degree among three or more, usually made with '-est' or 'most', as in 'fastest' or 'most careful'.

Marks such as full stops, commas, apostrophes and speech marks that organise written text and clarify meaning. Correct punctuation affects how a sentence is read.

A punctuation mark used either to show omission, as in 'don't', or possession, as in 'the girl's coat'. Its position shows whether one or more owners are meant.

A conclusion drawn from clues in a text rather than stated directly. If a character puts on a coat and shivers, you infer that it is cold.

Understanding what a passage says and means, including literal details, implied ideas and the writer's purpose. It is tested by questions about a short text.

The central point a paragraph or passage is making, which the other sentences support. Identifying it helps you summarise and answer overall-meaning questions.

Words or details in a text that support an answer or inference. Good answers point to specific phrases rather than relying on guesswork.

A brief statement of the most important points in a text, leaving out minor detail. A good summary captures the main idea in your own words.

Language that goes beyond literal meaning to create effect, such as simile, metaphor and personification. Recognising it helps you interpret a writer's choices.

A comparison using 'like' or 'as', such as 'as brave as a lion' or 'ran like the wind'. It makes a description vivid by linking two unlike things.

A direct comparison that states one thing is another, such as 'the classroom was a zoo'. Unlike a simile, it does not use 'like' or 'as'.

The value a digit has because of its position in a number. In 4,072 the 4 means four thousands and the 7 means seven tens.

A number written using a decimal point to show parts of a whole, such as 3.75. Digits after the point represent tenths, hundredths and so on.

A way of writing part of a whole as one number over another, such as 3/4. The bottom number shows how many equal parts the whole is split into.

A fraction expressed out of one hundred, written with the % sign. For example, 25% means 25 out of every 100, or one quarter.

Having the same value though written differently, such as 1/2, 0.5 and 50%. Recognising equivalent forms lets you compare and calculate more easily.

To rewrite a fraction or expression in its simplest form by dividing by common factors, so 6/8 becomes 3/4. The value stays the same.

A comparison of two or more quantities showing relative size, written like 2:3. It tells you how much of one thing there is for each part of another.

A statement that two ratios are equal, or a way of describing how quantities scale together. If 3 pens cost 90p, the same proportion gives 5 pens for £1.50.

Replacing a number with a nearby simpler one, such as 4,680 rounded to the nearest hundred being 4,700. You look at the next digit to decide whether to round up.

Finding an approximate answer by rounding numbers before calculating, useful for checking whether an exact answer is reasonable. It saves time and catches errors.

The total distance around the outside of a shape, found by adding the lengths of all its sides. It is measured in units such as centimetres.

The amount of surface a flat shape covers, measured in square units. For a rectangle, multiply length by width.

A single value representing a set of numbers, usually the mean found by adding them and dividing by how many there are. The average of 2, 4 and 6 is 4.

When a shape can be folded along a line so both halves match exactly. That fold line is called a line of symmetry, and a square has four.

Turning a shape about a fixed point by a given angle, such as a quarter turn clockwise. The shape keeps its size and form but changes orientation.

Flipping a shape over a line so it becomes a mirror image. The reflected shape is the same size but faces the opposite way.

Sliding a shape to a new position without turning or flipping it. Every point moves the same distance in the same direction.

A series of shapes or numbers that follow a rule, such as adding three each time or rotating a quarter turn. Finding the rule lets you predict the next item.

A repeated or predictable arrangement of shapes, colours or numbers. Spotting what changes and what stays the same is the key to continuing it.

A feature of a shape that can vary, such as number of sides, size, colour, shading or position. Non-verbal questions often hinge on one changing attribute.

A closed outline such as a triangle, square, pentagon or circle, described by its sides, angles and symmetry. Recognising properties helps you compare figures.

A flat arrangement of shapes that folds up to make a 3D solid, such as six squares forming a cube. Net questions test spatial visualisation.