How to Ace that GEP Selection Test (Sample Questions and Tips!)

Dear Parent, is your child going for the GEP Selection Test this November? Are you (and your child!) clueless as to what to expect at the selection test? Are you on the lookout for GEP sample questions?

These days, there is quite a bit of information online on the type of questions that come up in the GEP selection test, due to reports from students who have taken the test before. Although there is no official publication of GEP papers and questions, we can get a rough sense of what to expect and what to prepare for.

But, isn’t GEP meant to be a test of innate intelligence? Isn’t that something you are born with, and cannot be studied?

While it is true to some extent that people are born with varying levels of intelligence, some of what is tested in these exams can also be ‘studied’. You can study to be familiar with the format and type of questions, and be aware of the skills they test for. From there, you can also identify the skills you can work on, and focus on building up those abilities.

In some ways, you are developing a ‘muscle memory’ for the common question types. Once you see a certain type of question, you immediately know what approach to take. This will save you a lot of time trying to read and re-read a question that you’ve never seen before!

What is the format of the GEP Selection Tests?

Usually, the Selection Test (Round 2) comprises 2 days of tests, at about 2.5 hours each (some say this duration varies from year to year).

Day 1: English and General Ability (focused on verbal reasoning)

Day 2: Math and General Ability (focused on non-verbal reasoning, e.g. spatial reasoning)

What type of questions can we expect at the GEP selection tests?

The type of questions differ across the papers. Let’s go through them one by one!

English

We’ve heard that the English paper includes a few sections, including vocabulary, cloze passages, and comprehension. These test the child’s general language ability, with questions pitched at a higher level than what primary 3 students are used to. Many have even said that these English questions are at least lower secondary school standard.

Challenges:

The biggest challenge of the English paper is that you can’t really ‘study’ for it. The scope can be very wide, and for things like vocabulary, it requires a strong foundation and consistent reading habits to build up.

The comprehension questions are also less straightforward, requiring more inference and deduction skills. Apart from language skills, students need to be strong in logical thinking to excel.

Tips:

Honestly speaking, it will be extremely difficult to cram for this paper if your child is going to sit the GEP selection test in a few weeks’ time. One of the best things to do is just to try out test papers and get used to the questions. Note down any new words you encounter and learn their meaning.

Students should also be aware of common linguistic terms used in the questions, like: anagram, synonym, antonym, and analogy.

If you have very limited time, it is generally more worth the time to practice the math and general ability questions, as those are easier to pick up in a short time.

If your child is in P2 or younger, you have the time to brush up on their language skills! Read up widely to build up their vocabulary and grow their language confidence.

GEP English Sample Questions:

Math

The Math paper is like what you would expect from most math tests. The only difference is that it is more difficult – some may liken it to Math Olympiad questions. Common type of questions include solving number patterns and word problems.

Challenges:

Some questions may look easy to solve in principle, but it is the calculations that stumble students. As calculators are not allowed during the test, students have to rely on manual calculation or mental calculation.

Time management is also a common problem. Some questions may be tedious, or require more time to figure out a solution. Students who excel will know how to find the quickest ways to solve these problems.

Tips:

In the interest of time, don’t be afraid to skip questions (but remember to come back later)!

Some question types are very common, so it is helpful to practice with mock tests. Students should also be familiar with mathematical concepts like ratios, fractions, percentages, rates, and angles.

GEP Math Sample Questions:

General ability

General ability questions can be broadly categorised into verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

Verbal reasoning involves puzzles related to language. Some test your knowledge of vocabulary, while others test the student’s ability to manipulate words and word forms.

Non-verbal reasoning involves puzzles that do not primarily depend on language ability. These may be spatial reasoning and logic puzzles that test one’s ability to identify patterns in shapes, mentally rotate 2D and 3D images, and more.

Challenges:

These type of questions may seem very foreign to students. It is not something that schools explicitly teach, and some questions may look intimidating at first glance due to the complicated graphics.

Tips:

A lot of IQ tests include a section for these type of non-verbal intelligence questions. Try them out online or look for books with test questions to practise them! Look out for similar type of questions and patterns, which may involve rotating shapes, adding or subtracting elements, moving and repositioning elements, and so on.

GEP General Ability Sample questions:

General tips

1. Search for sample test papers or join an enrichment classes that will get your child familiarised with the type of questions and formats so your child doesn’t get a shock when they see the paper for the first time.
2. Get in some practice, especially timed practices! This trains the child to work under pressure and get used to the speed they need to finish all the questions. Also, the papers can be as long as 2.5 hours! For primary school children, this can be a long time to sit still and focus, so letting them have a feel of it beforehand is definitely helpful.
3. Intelligence is not everything – being careful is also critical. Some of these intelligence tests are crafted specially to trip up test-takers. There will be misleading options in MCQs, and questions that are worded to make you confused. For example, some verbal questions may ask you to choose the word with a SIMILAR meaning, only for the next question to be about choosing the OPPOSITE meaning.
4. Sleep well and eat well before the test to be at your optimum! Fatigue and stress can gravely affect one’s concentration, causing one to perform below their maximum potential. Reduce the chances of that happening by avoiding last minute cramming, and do your best to stay calm before the test! Parents can also help by abstaining from putting too much pressure on their child, especially right before the test day.

Conclusion

Want more tips and sample questions for the GEP selection test? We are offering an intensive GEP preparation course for students going to take the GEP selection test in the next few weeks! You can choose from the English & General Ability course, or Math & General Ability course.

Be prepared to tackle lots of GEP practice papers, as our tutors will guide you through answering techniques in order to ace the test! If you are keen to increase your child’s chances of getting through the GEP selection test, hesitate no more and contact us for a class slot today!