Common Entrance Questions for Primary Six PDF

Hello! Welcome to another helpful page on your favorite educational website, suresuccess.ng. Today, I’d focus my attention on primary 5 and 6 pupils who wish to take the various common entrance examinations that lead to admission into secondary schools. If you are one of such candidates, fasten your seat belt as I would be telling you what the examination entails, the nature of common entrance questions for primary six PDF (free download) and of course, samples of common entrance past questions for your private study.

Table of Contents

What is Common Entrance Examination?

Common Entrance Examination is a standardized test used by state ministries of education and most private schools to evaluate and select students for admission into secondary schools.

More so, many private and boarding schools use common entrance examinations to assess students for entry into secondary education. The ages of the students who take the entrance exam ranges from 11+ (for year 7), 13+ (for year 9), and 16+ (for year 12).

The idea is to give all candidates fair and equal assessment and also to evaluate their readiness and potential for success in secondary school.

What Are Common Entrance Past Questions?

Common Entrance Past Questions are previous exam papers from Common Entrance Examinations. Current applicants for admission into secondary schools can make use of these past questions to practice and prepare for upcoming entrance exams. By practicing with the past questions, they gain valuable insight into the types of questions that have been asked in the past, the format of the exam, and the most repeated topics.

Benefits of Practicing Common Entrance Past Questions

By gaining access to common entrance examinations and practicing with them, you gain the following benefits:

You become familiar with the exam format: When you are familiar with the format and timing of the exam, it will help to reduce anxiety and improve your time management.
Identify frequently tested topics: Going through common entrance past questions will help the candidates to identify topics that are frequently tested and areas where they need to practise more.
Practicing past questions would help the student to develop strategies for answering questions. They will also learn how to improve their speed and accuracy.
Helps in self-assessment and building confidence. By attempting common entrance past questions, students can assess their own knowledge and understanding, identify their strengths and areas they need improvement. By so doing, they will also build confidence as they become more comfortable with the nature of the questions.

Read Also: 10 Things You Should Never Do Before Exams

Common Entrance Questions for Primary Six PDF Free Download

Samples of Common Entrance Questions for Primary Six (Basic 6)

PAPER 1: English Language and Verbal Reasoning

PART 1: English language

SECTION 1 – Reading Passages

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos. 1-12).

PASSAGE A

A long time ago, there lived a spider named Anansi. Like all spiders then, Anansi had a body the size of a bird and eight thick legs, the thickness of a pencil. Anansi was quite lazy. While most spiders spun webs to trap flies, Anansi asked other animals for food.

One day, he approached Rabbit, who had spent hours collecting greens. Anansi called out, ”What luscious greens! Would you share some with me?”

Rabbit said, ”They are not ready, but if you wait a short while, I will share.”

Anansi was impatient. He thought, then said, “I’ll attach one end of a silk thread to you, and the other to one of my legs. When the food is ready, pull the thread and I will return.”

So Anansi tied his leg to the Rabbit with a thread of silk and left. The spider soon encountered some monkeys who were busily peeling bananas.

“Would you share one?” Anansi asked. The monkeys explained that it was impolite for anyone to eat one until all the bananas were peeled, but if Anansi waited, they would gladly share. Instead, Anansi tied another thread to his leg, Anansi wandered the forest. He found bees, busy making honey, and tied a thread to them and asked the monkeys to tug when the bananas were peeled.

He found a pig, sweating as he dug chestnuts up from the soil, and tied a thread to him. Anansi did this until all eight legs were tied to another animal.

Suddenly, Anansi felt a tug on one of the threads. The Rabbit was ready! Then, another tug. The monkeys! Then all eight threads pulled at once from every direction. In no time, the tugging stretched each of the spider’s legs until they were twice as long and half as thick.

QUESTIONS

1. Why did Anansi tie his leg to the Rabbit?
A. He thought the thread would remind him to wait patiently.
B. He wanted to see what the monkeys could offer before eating the greens.
C. He was too impatient to wait for the greens to be ready.
D. He was so hungry that he needed to eat the silk thread first.
E. He was concerned that he would not be able to find Rabbit later.

2. Why did the monkeys ask Anansi to wait?
A. They had not decided yet if they would share with him.
B. They thought it was rude for anyone to eat until all food was ready.
C. They were too busy peeling bananas to stop and share with him.
D. They wanted Anansi to do his fair share of the work first.
E. They did not have enough bananas for themselves and Anansi.

3. What caused Anansi’s legs to become long and thin?
A. All eight animals pulled his legs to punish him
B. Anansi’s legs became long and thin from hunger
C. Anansi’s legs became weakened from wandering the forest for so long.
D. Anansi became tangled in his own web,which pulled hard on his legs.
E. All eight animals pulled the threads at the same time when their food was ready.

4.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Anansi encountered the monkeys before the rabbit.
B. The monkeys were the first to tug on a silk thread.
C. Anansi’s body, like all spiders, had the wings and beak of a bird.
D. All eight of Anansi’s legs were eventually connected to an animal.
E. Anansi often spun webs to trap flies for his food.

5. In this passage, wandered means:
A. grew weak B. grew impatient
C. moved about D. spun a web
E. begged

6. In this story, Anansi was punished for his…
A. hunger B. dishonesty
C. impatience D. weakness
E. greed

PASSAGE B

Whales are the largest type of sea creature on our planet. In fact, the blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived—on land or water. Blue whales can measure up to 30 metres in length and weigh 173 tonnes, which is about the weight of 15 buses.

Although they are huge and seem frightening, scientists believe that whales can feel as many types of emotions as humans, maybe more.

For example, male humpback whales can feel very competitive. During breeding season, they fight for the right to breed with a female. The whales angrily charge into each other, scraping their rough skin against each other for hours until one wins.

On the other hand, mother whales lovingly place their babies on their noses and patiently teach them to swim and breathe. One male whale called an escort travels with the mother and baby to protect them from predators that attack them, like shark.

QUESTIONS

7. In this passage, charge means ….
A. crush B. scream
C. breed D. order
E. frighten

8. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Humpback whales are the largest animals to ever live.
B. Whales can feel many of the same emotions as humans.
C. Most humpback whales only protect their own kind
D. Sharks do not attack escort whales
E. Male and female humpback whales compete for the right to breed.

9. An escort whale travels with a female and baby whale in order to….
A. ensure that the mother can teach the baby to breathe.
B. patiently teach the baby to swim.
C. ensure their safety against predators.
D. compete for the right to breed.
E. help other species of animals along the way.

10. A suitable title for this passage might be:
A. The Sizes and Weights of Blue Whales
B. The Discovery of the Humpback Whale
C. How Humpback Whales Avoid Predators
D. The Emotions of Whales
E. How Mother Whales Teach Their Young

11. From the list below,choose the fact about whales that was not mentioned in the passage:
A. Blue whales are the largest animal to have ever lived on land or water.
B. Male humpbacks fight each other to compete for breeding.
C. Whales can feel as many emotions as humans, or more.
D. Whales are mammals, which means they need to breathe air.
E. Escort whales protect baby whales from predators.

12. According to the passage,why do male whales attack each other?
A. Male humpbacks are predatory animals.
B. Whales become fearful when they see other animals under attack.
C. Males need to shed their rough skin by scraping against each other.
D. Males compete for breeding rights with a female.
E. Whales enjoy the emotions associated with competition.

SECTION 2 – LEXIS

Choose from the options lettered A – E, the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics.

13. The neighbour complained because the noise of the children outside irritated her.
A. confused B. insulted
C. frightened D. annoyed
E. surprised

14. Classes will resume after the midterm break.
A. continue B. pause
C. conclude D. arrive
E. attempt

15. It took a long time to solve the mathematics problem because it was so complex.
A. frustrating B. complicated
C. brief D. new
E. shocking

16. My mother told me not to believe rumours because they are usually inaccurate.
A. unkind B. wrong
C. true D. dishonest
E. shocking

17. The old wooden floor creaked underneath our feet as we walked through the house.
A. overhead B. below
C. beyond D. inside
E. above

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E (18 – 40).

18. She was so_________from the long day that she could not stay alert.
A. afraid B. surprised
C. confused D. exhausted
E. restless

19. A tall fence around the building________anyone from breaking in and stealing anything.
A. forbids B. protects
C. prevents D. separates
E. encloses

20. The children played_________in the street until the sun set.
A. happy B. happiness
B. happily C. happier
D. happiest

21. Ensure that you solve the problems in an_______way so that you can check your work.
A. order B. ordering
C. orders D. orderly
E. ordinarily

22. The teacher _________ each day by reminding pupils to complete their homework that night, and to walk home safely.
A. begins B. concludes
C. commences D. resumes
E. proceeds

SECTION 3 – STRUCTURE

23. I think that you’ve put too ______ salt in this soup; it is almost inedible.
A. many B. much
C. some D. every
E. a lot

24.The child was so afraid of the dark ______ she refused to sleep alone.
A. if B. that
C. so D. but
E. as

25. The man is ______ tall to fit through the doorway.
A. that B. too
C. to D. very
E. so

26. Please put the books over ______ on that shelf for now.
A. their B. they
C. the D. they’re
E. there

27. ______ penguins nor ostriches can fly.
A. Either B. Neither
C. Both D. All
E. Never

28. The dog ran in circles for such a long time that it wore ______ out.
A. it B. itself
C. themselves D. ourselves
E. him

29. You should try to ______ all of the clothes in this pile so that they don’t take up so much space.
A. flat B. flatten
C. flattened D. flattening
E. flatter

30. She is telling the truth, ______ she?
A. wasn’t B. is
C. was D. isn’t
E. couldn’t

31. ______ is that person over there?
A. What B. Which
C. Who D. Whom
E. Where

32. Have you ______ a formal letter before?
A. wrote B. write
C. writing D. written
E. writ

33. We won’t have time to do that today, ______ we?
A. won’t B. will
C. wouldn’t D. can
E. shall

34. The traffic was so thick that it was faster to travel ______ foot.
A. on B. with
C. by D. under
E. our

35. I prefer mangoes ______ bananas.
A. more B. less
C. to D. than
E. then

36. The child was ______ impatient but also lazy.
A. also B. as well as
C. not only D. very
E. so

37. The superlative form of beautiful is ______.
A. more beautiful
B. beautiful
C. most beautiful
D. beautifully
E. beauty

38. We ______ dinner when we heard a loud knock at the door.
A. are eating B. are
C. were eating D. eat
E. had eating

39. Some animals fight predators, ________ others tend to run away and hide.
A. or B. also
C. nor D. but
E. even though

40. These necklaces were made ______ hand in Kano.
A. on B. of
C. with D. by
E. from

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ANSWER KEY

1. C 2. B 3. E 4. D 5. C 6. C 7. A 8. B 9. C 10. D
11. D 12. D 13. D 14. A 15. B 16. B 17. B 18. D
19. C 20. C 21. D 22. B 23. B 24. B 25. B 26. E
27. B 28. B 29. B 30. D31. C 32. D 33. B 34. A
35. C 36. C 37. C 38. C 39. D 40. D

PART 2 – SOCIAL STUDIES

41. Which of the following means taking money out of a bank account?
A. withdrawal B. wage
C. cheque D. teller
E. deposit

42. Which of the following is not a traditional ruler?
A. Obi B. Sultan
C. Eburu D. Emir
E. Governor

43. The ______ is the highest power in the judicial branch of government.
A. president B. Supreme Court
C. lawyer D. legislature
E. Congress

44. There are ______ seats in the House of Representatives.
A. 360 B. 306
C. 109 D. 36
E. 100

45. Which of the following is the term for a natural disaster caused by a severe lack of food?
A. Earthquake B. Typhoon
C. Agriculture D. Flood
E. Famine

46. Which state is known for its production of coal?
A. Lagos B. Bayelsa
C. Kano D. River
E. Enugu

47. Teaching a population about their responsibilities toward the government is a goal of ______ education.
A. religious B. civic
C. scientific D. legal
E. historical

48. The eagle at the top of the Nigerian coat of arms is ______.
A. black B. green
C. yellow D. red
D. Rivers

49. Kano state is known for its production of leather, textiles and the famous ______ pyramid.
A. coal B. cotton
C. kola nuts D. palm
E. groundnut

50. The highest monetary authority in Nigeria is the ______.
A. Supreme Court B. President
C. Prime Minister D. Central Bank
E. Magistrate

51. Which of the following states is located in south-western Nigeria?
A. Borno B. Sokoto
C. Akwa Ibom D. Kaduna
E. Ogun

52. ______ school provides education to pupils in grades 1 to 6.
A. Secondary B. Universal
C. College D. Primary
E. Basic

53. The legal separation and official end to a marriage is called ______.
A. courtship B. spouse
C. divorce D. adultery
E. argument

54. Nigerians observe Independence Day on ______ October each year.
A. 10 B. 1
C. 5 D. 2
E. 3

55. ______ is a natural resource because it is a useful material that is obtained from nature.
A. Plastic B. Petrol
C. Medicine D. Labour
E. Poison

56. The five Naira note displays the face of ______, the first prime minister of Nigeria.
A. Alhaji Tafewa Balewa
B. Alvan Ikoku
C. Murtala Mohammed
D. Obafemi Awolowo
E. Sir. Ahmedu Bello

57. The white band on the Nigerian flag represents ______.
A. innocence B. purity
C. peace D. prosperity
E. hope

58. Nanmdi Azikiwe was the first ______ president of Nigeria.
A. executive B. powerful
C. ceremonial D. popular
E. wealthy

59. A ______ is an agricultural product that generates a lot of revenue.
A. petrol B. resource
C. cash crop D. livestock
E. government

60. ECOWAS is headquartered in ______.
A. Abuja, Nigeria
B. Cape Town, South Africa
C. Cairo, Egypt
D. Kampala, Uganda
E. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

SOCIAL STUDIES ANSWER KEY

41.D 42.C 43.B 44.A 45.D 46.E 47.B 48.D 49.E 50.D
51.E 52.D 53.C 54.B 55.B 56.A 57.C 58.C 59.C 60.A

PART 3 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 1 – The words below are written in codes. Study each word and its code word carefully and work out how the code is written.

FELLOWS is written as WSEFOLL
FABRICS is written as CSAFIRB

Now answer question numbers 1 – 2.

1. The word BLIGHTS would be written as:
A. TSLBHGI B. TSLHBGI
C. TLSBHGI D. TSLBHIG
E. TLSHBGI

2. The word AWAKENS would be written as:
A. NSWAEKA B. WAAKNES
C. NWSAEKA D. NSAWKEA
C. SNWAEKA

GLOWING is written as LGWONIG.
BOAT is written as OBTA.
SPECIALTY is written as PSCEAITLY.

Now answer question numbers 3 – 4.

3. The word MONTHS would be written as:
A. OTMSNH B. MOTNSH
C. OMTNSH D. OTMSNH
C. SMONTH

4. The word FOLDS would be written as:
A. LOFDS B. DOLFS
C. OFDLS D. OFLDS
E. SOLDF

SECTION 2 – VERBAL APTITUDE

Two incomplete words are given in each of the following. Choose from the options the letter which will correctly complete both words.

5. R O A ___

___ E E T

A. d B. f
C. m D. s
E. w

6. F O ___ L

___ E A R

A. r B. o
C. w D. a
E. h

7. P A I ___

___ E A T

A. d B. h
C. r D. n
E. l

8. ___ O V E

___ O A T

A. c B. g
C. b D. r
E. d

SECTION 3 – VERBAL APTITUDE

In each of the following problems a word is missing. Complete the problem.

9. finger and ring, foot and ______
A. ankle B. toe
C. shoe D. hand
E. walk

10. lungs and breathe, tongue and ______
A. mouth B. speak
C. cook D. tooth
E. buds

11. saw and tool, Ghana and ______
A. Africa B. Accra
C. Nation D. Nigeria
E. Map

12. enlarge and reduce, bruise and ______
A. heal B. wound
C. bandage D. clinic
E. pain

SECTION 4 – VERBAL APTITUDE

Look carefully at the first two pairs and notice how the words in each pair are related. Next, look at the fifth word and choose from the list of words the one which is related to the fourth word in the same way as the words of the first two pairs are related.

13. clean, leant; spin, pint; ban, ______
A. bunt B. band
C. ant D. an
E. tan

14. wanton, not; totem, met; radon, ______
A. not B. nor
C. don D. din
E. ran

15. otter, to; ogle, go; finally, ______
A. fan B. fin
C. of D. if
E. fly

16. moot, moor; tow, row; mate, ______
A. ram B. tame
C. mare D. tare
E. ream

SECTION 5 – VERBAL APTITUDE

Choose the word that has the most in common with the word given in capital letters in each item.

17. LEMON
A. sugar B. melon
C. orange D. carrot
E. palm

18. NEEDLE
A. colour B. clay
C. rug D. pierce
E. cut

19. BOX
A. basket B. bowl
C. tool D. cup
E. crate

SECTION 6 – VERBAL APTITUDE

Each of the items consists of words labelled A -Z E. One of the words is a general term, which describes what other words are, Pick out the word.

20. A. Accra B. Abuja C. Capital D. Cairo E. Nairobi

21. A. Spleen B. Organ C. Liver D. Heart E. Lung

22. A. Rough B. Smooth C. Sharp D. Soft E. Texture

SECTION 7 – VERBAL APTITUDE

In each of the following, pick out the one word that DOES NOT belong to the group.

23. A. Silt B. Sand C. Clay D. Brick E. Loam

24. A. Eagle B. Sparrow C. Pigeon D. Hawk E. Nest

25. A. Naira B. Cedi C. Shilling D. Cheque E. Dollar

SECTION 8 – VERBAL APTITUDE

In each of the following items, choose the one word that CANNOT BE FORMED by an arrangement of some or all of the letters of the word printed in CAPITAL letters. Do not use a letter more often than it appears in the given word.

26. APPARITIONS

27. UNPRODUCTIVE

28. OPPOSITIONAL

SECTION 9 – VERBAL APTITUDE

In each of the following items, there are three sentences. Decide which one should come first, second and third.

Example:

I. He cried.
II. The baby fell down.
III. He hurt his knee.

The correct order is 2, 3, 1

Now solve 29 – 12.

29. ______

I. Then look both ways for oncoming traffic.
II. Cross when it is safe to proceed.
III. Approach the street only at a zebra crossing.

A. 1, 2, 3
B. 3, 2, 1
C. 3, 1, 2
D. 2, 3, 1
E. 2, 1, 3

30. ______

I. His teacher was displeased.
II. Juma missed the bus.
III. He arrived late to school.

A. 1, 2, 3
B. 3, 2, 1
C. 3, 1, 2
D. 2, 3, 1
E. 2, 1, 3

31. ______

I. There was a traffic accident.
II. He did not see an oncoming car
III. A driver tried to overtake

A. 1, 2, 3
B. 3, 2, 1
C. 3, 1, 2
D. 2, 3, 1
E. 2, 1, 3

32. ______

I. The father lost his factory job.
II. The children were sent home until he could pay
III. He was unable to pay school fees.

A. 1, 2, 3
B. 3, 2, 1
C. 3, 1, 2
d. 2, 3, 1
E. 2, 1, 3

SECTION 10 – VERBAL APTITUDE

In each of the following questions, you are given a sentence. Read it carefully to decide to what extent it is true-always, often, rarely, undecided, never.
A. It is always true.
B. It is often true.
C. It is rarely true.
D. It is undecided how true it is.
E. It is never true.

33. Birds can fly.

34. A kilogram of stone is heavier than a kilogram of feathers.

35. An eagle is a beautiful animal.

36. Women named Sabirah are tall.

37. People live longer than 100 years.

38. On a traffic light, yellow means go

39. The pupils who study the hardest earn the highest marks.

40. The sun rises in the East.

VERBAL APTITUDE ANSWER KEY
1. A 2. A 3. C 4. C 5. C 6. D 7. C 8. A 9. C 10. B
11. C 12. A 13. C 14. B 15. D 16. C 17. C 18. D
19. E 20. C 21. B 22. E 23. D 24. E 25. D 26. E
27. C 28. D 29. C 30. D 31. B 32. E 33. B 34. E
35. D 36. D 37. C 38. E 39. B 40. A

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Common Entrance Questions for Primary Six PDF

What is Common Entrance Examination?

What Are Common Entrance Past Questions?

Benefits of Practicing Common Entrance Past Questions

Common Entrance Questions for Primary Six PDF Free Download

Common Entrance Questions and Answers on General Paper

Common Entrance Questions and Answers on English Language

Common Entrance Questions and Answers on Mathematics

Samples of Common Entrance Questions for Primary Six (Basic 6)

PAPER 1: English Language and Verbal Reasoning

PART 1: English language

SECTION 1 – Reading Passages

PASSAGE A

QUESTIONS

PASSAGE B

QUESTIONS

SECTION 2 – LEXIS

SECTION 3 – STRUCTURE

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ANSWER KEY

PART 2 – SOCIAL STUDIES

SOCIAL STUDIES ANSWER KEY

PART 3 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 1 – The words below are written in codes. Study each word and its code word carefully and work out how the code is written.

SECTION 2 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 3 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 4 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 5 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 6 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 7 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 8 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 9 – VERBAL APTITUDE

SECTION 10 – VERBAL APTITUDE

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