Introduction

IQ
TESTS
BOOK OF

The Times Book of IQ Tests

Introduction

Test One: Questions

1.

Which piece below, when fitted into the

piece on the left, will form a
perfect square?

D
4

The Times Book of IQ Tests

2. Which word in brackets is most opposite to the word in

capitals?
PROSCRIBE (allow, stifle, promote, verify, indict)
3. 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, ?
What number should replace the question mark?
4. Which number is the odd one out?
9678 4572 5261 5133 3527 6895 7768
5. Isotherm is to temperature as isobar is to: atmosphere,
wind, pressure, latitude, current

Test One: Questions

6.

7 10

? 12

8 10

Which is the missing section?

6

8 10

9
12

13

6
7

5
8

7
14

9
13

The Times Book of IQ Tests

7. Which is the odd one out?

A
B

D
E

8. Identify two words (one from each set of brackets) that

have a connection (analogy) with the words in capitals and
relate to them in the same way.
GRAM (energy, weight,
scales) KNOT (water, rope,
speed)

Test One: Questions

8.

56
19

28

7
7
Each number in the pyramid is the sum of the two
numbers immediately below it. Fill in the pyramid with the
missing numbers.
10. Which is the odd one out?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

11. How many minutes is it before 12 noon, if 48 minutes ago

it was twice as many minutes past 9 a.m.?
12. Complete the five words below in such a way that the
two letters that end the first word also start the second
word, and the two letters that end the second word also
start the third word etc. The same two letters that end the
fifth word also start the first word, to complete the cycle.
** IV **
** OT **
** IC **
** NG **
** RA **
13. Which is the odd one out?
heptagon, triangle, hexagon, cube, pentagon

Test One: Questions

14. Switch A turns lights 1 and 2 on/off or off/on

Switch B turns lights 2 and 4 on/off or off/on
Switch C turns lights 1 and 3 on/off or off/on
= ON
= OFF
Switches C, A and B are thrown in turn with the result that
Figure 1 turns into Figure 2. Which switch does not work
at all?
1

Figure
1

10

Figure 2

Which is the missing tile?

16. Which word in brackets is closest in meaning to the word

in capitals?
BRUNT (dull, edifice, impact, tawny, nonsense)
17. Which of the following is not an anagram of a type of
food?
PAST
EIGHT I
CAN ROAM
WIN BOAR
CAN PEAK
COOL CHEAT

18.

3
7

6
4

21

2
16

What number should replace the question mark?

19.

N O

A R O

Work from square to adjacent square horizontally or vertically (but not diagonally) to spell out a 12-letter word. You
must find the starting point, and provide the missing letters.
20. How many lines appear below?

Which is the missing tile?

22. 67/ , 29/, 55/ ,

313/
8 16
8

, 4 3/ , ?
16

What number should replace the question mark?

23.
I
Y
U
L

O
G

P N

LO
I
T

Work clockwise round the circles to spell out two eightletter words that are synonyms. Each word commences in
a different circle, and you must find the starting point of
each. Every letter is used once each and all letters are
consecutive.
24. 10, 30, 32, 96, 98, 294, 296, ?, ?
What two numbers should replace the question marks?
25. able, rot, son, king
Which word below shares a common feature with all the
words above?

line, sit, take, hope, night

26. Identify two words (one from each set of brackets) that
have a connection (analogy) with the words in capitals and
relate to them in the same way.
SEA (wet, swimmer, ship)
SNOW (mountain, ice, skier)
27. Which word meaning LOCALITY becomes a word
meaning TEMPO when a letter is removed?
28. Alf has four times as many as Jim, and Jim has three times
as many as Sid. Altogether they have 192. How many has
each?
29. Which is the only one of the following that is not an
anagram of a word meaning out of this world?
flow under
sexed Utah
enviable blue
icier blend
30. A man has 53 socks in his drawer: 21 identical blue,
15 identical black and 17 identical red. The lights are
fused and he is completely in the dark. How many socks
must he take out to make 100 per cent certain he has a
pair of black socks?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

31.

Draw the missing figure in the above sequence.

32. How many minutes is it before 12 noon if nine minutes ago
it was twice as many minutes past 10 a.m.?
33. Which two words are closest in meaning?
conclave, medley, theme, conglomeration, dissertation,
augury
34. broke rage prose cute dared

Which word is missing?

palm hymn evil snow take
35. Find five consecutive numbers below that total 22.
7396413793541765

Test One: Questions

36.

To which hexagon below can a dot be added so that both

dots then meet the same conditions as the two dots in the
hexagon above?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

37. Find two words (4, 6) in this diagram. Letters are traced
across the circle by chords. If the next letter is four letters
or less away it will be found by tracing around the
circum- ference. Clue: free flight.
C

S
J

R
K

Test One: Questions

38.

A
H

D
E

What letter is directly opposite the letter that is two letters

away clockwise from the letter that is directly opposite the
letter E?
39.

9
7
5
4

2
7

6
?

What number should replace the question mark?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

40.

Which is the missing section?

Test One: Answers

1. B

2. allow
3. 20: add 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4
4. 3527: in the others the sum of the first two numbers is equal
to the sum of the second two numbers, for example
5+2 = 6+1
5. pressure
6. D: lines across proceed +1, +2, +3. Lines down proceed
+3, +2, +1.

7. C: in all the others the black circle is connected to three

white circles. In C it is only connected to two white
circles.
8. weight, speed
9.
103
47
19
7
2

56
28

12
5

28
16

12
9

10. B: the rest are the same figure rotated

11. 44 minutes
12 noon less 44 minutes = 11.16
11.16 less 48 minutes = 10.28
9 a.m. plus 88 minutes (44 2) = 10.28
12. SHIVER, EROTIC, ICICLE, LENGTH, THRASH
13. cube: it is a three-dimensional figure. The rest are all twodimensional figures.
14. Switch A is faulty.
15. B: in each line and column, each of the three rings is

The Times Book of IQ Tests

shaded black once

16. impact
17. WIN BOAR = rainbow. The foods are spaghetti
(PAST EIGHT), macaroni (I CAN ROAM), pancake
(CAN PEAK) and chocolate (COOL CHEAT).
18. 4: looking across at the three circles, the number in the
middle is the product of the two numbers in the same
segment in the other two circles. Thus, 3 2 = 6, 7 3 =
21 and 4 4 = 16.
19. PROFESSIONAL
20. 11
21. D: in each line across and down the arrows point in each
of three directions left, right and down. The number of
arrows increases 1, 2, 3 in each row.
22. 51/16: there are two alternate sequences: 1 and +1
23. linguist, polyglot
24. 888, 890: the sequence progresses 3, +2
25. take: all words can be prefixed with PAR to form another
word parable, parrot, parson, parking, partake
26. swimmer, skier
27. place/pace

28. Alf 144, Jim 36, Sid 12

29. sexed Utah = exhausted. The words meaning out of this

world are: wonderful (flow under), unbelievable
(enviable blue), incredible (icier blend).
30. 40 socks. If he takes out 38 socks, although it is
very unlikely, it is possible they could all be blue and red.
To make 100 per cent certain that he also has a pair of
black socks he must take out a further two socks.
31.

The black dot is moving up (then down) by one position at

each stage.
32. 37 minutes: 12 noon less 37 minutes = 11.23. 11.23 less
nine minutes = 11.14. 10 a.m. plus 74 minutes (2 37)
= 11.14.
33. medley, conglomeration
34. evil: when joined together each pair of words forms
another word brokerage, prosecute, daredevil
35. 93541
36. D: so that one dot appears in the triangle and one circle;
and the other dot appears in the triangle and three circles
37. HANG GLIDER
38. G

39. 0: looking at lines of numbers from the top: 9 8 = 72;

72 8 = 576; 576 8 = 4608
40. C: each opposite corner block of four squares are identical

Test Two: Questions

1.

What comes next?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

2. Which four-letter word, when placed in the brackets, will

complete a word on the left and start another word on the
right?
RAM (****) RIDGE
3.

20 22 19 21
17 19 16
19 21

? 20

16 18 15

Which is the missing section?

19

18

18
A

18

18
19

19

17
17

17
18

17

4. ligno- is to wood as vitro- is to wool, glass, stone, water,

paper?
5.

44

32

75

What number should replace the question mark?

6. Solve the anagrams to find a well-known saying. The

number of letters in each word is shown.
(**** ** ********)(**** *******)
(asserting craft)(hint of antic)
7.
is to:

as

is to:

8. 0, 4 ,2, 6, 3, 7, 3.5, ?
What number should replace the question mark?
9. Identify two words (one from each set of brackets) that
have a connection (analogy) with the words in capitals
and relate to them in the same way
LONGITUDE (degree, tropics, meridian)
LATITUDE (parallel, line, equinox)
10.

3 10

1 11

? 12

12 ?

Which is the missing section?

4
16
A

2
29

15
B

7
33

14
C

3
35

17
D

31

11. Which word in brackets is closest in meaning to the word

in capitals?
MONITOR (observe, order, meddle, intrude, conclude)

12.
1

Looking at lines across and down, if the first two tiles are
combined to produce the third tile, with the exception that
like symbols are cancelled out, which of the above tiles is
incorrect, and with which of the tiles below should
it be replaced?

13. Which two words are most opposite in meaning?

liberty, frivolity, chastity, sobriety, irrationality, polarity

14.

Insert four weights of 2 units, 3 units, 4 units and 6 units

respectively so that the scales balance perfectly.
15. The following clue leads to which pair of rhyming words?
measure bulk of grass fodder

16.

When the above is folded to form a cube, which is the only

one of the following that can be produced?

17. Which is the odd one out?

femur, mandible, fibula, tibia, patella
18. My watch was correct at noon, after which it started to
lose 17 minutes per hour until six hours ago it stopped
completely. It now shows the time as 2.52 p.m. What time
is it now?

19.

Insert all the letters of the phrase UNSPOILT LOCAL into

the remaining blank spaces once each only, to produce
two words that form a phrase. Clue: things are not always
what they appear.
20.

Which is the missing tile?

21.
What comes next?

22. dopiness, uncloaking, dishwasher

Which word below has a feature in common with all the
words above?
gallant, crossfire, whirlwind, assault
23. 1, 101, 15, 4, 29, 93, 43, 190, ?
What number should replace the question mark?

24.

A B

L M N O

V W X Y

T
Z

What letter is two letters above the letter two letters to the
left of the letter immediately above the letter three letters to
the right of the letter Q?
25. 15, 5, 8, 24, 21, 7, 10, 30, ?, ?, ?, 36, 33
What three numbers are missing?
26.

Which shield below has most in common with the shield

above?

27. Using the four letters below only, create a seven-letter

word.
UMNI
4

What number should replace the question mark?

29.

Switch A turns lights 1 and 2 on/off or

off/on Switch B turns lights 2 and 4 on/off
or off/on Switch C turns lights 1 and 3
on/off or off/on Switch D turns lights 3 and
4 on/off or off/on
= ON
= OFF
Switches D, C, A and B are thrown in turn with the result
that Figure 1 turns into Figure 2. Which switch does not
work at all?
1

Figure
1

Figure 2

30. Which word in brackets is closest in meaning to the word

in capitals?
FUSE (muzzle, explode, coalesce, immobilise, tighten)
31.

13
12

?
7

16
9

7
8

14
11

What number should replace the question mark?

32.

To which hexagon below can a dot be added so that it

then meets the same conditions as in the hexagon above?

33. You have 59 cubic blocks. What is the minimum number

that needs to be taken away in order to construct a solid
cube with none left over?

34. What word meaning DEDUCE becomes a word meaning

PROPEL when a letter is removed?
35.

47

55

63

85

92

99

73

25

What number should replace the question mark?

36. What is the longest word in the English language that can
be produced out of the set of letters below? Letters may
only be used once in the word so produced.
FEUMOPXCTW

37.
Which is the missing section?

38.
S
I
R D

UO

E O

PC

M I

R E
E
R

Work clockwise round the circles to spell out two eightletter words that are antonyms. Each word commences in
a different circle, and you must find the starting point of
each. Every letter is used once each and all letters are
consecutive.
39.
5

3
13

2
14

3
20

4
18

What number should replace the question mark?

40.

When the above is folded to form a cube, which is the only

one of the following that can be produced?

Test Two: Answers

1. E: the number of white dots is increased by one

each time, both vertically and horizontally, and all white
dots are connected
2. PART: RAMPART and PARTRIDGE
3. B: lines across proceed +2, 3, +2. Lines down proceed
3, +2, 3.
4. glass
5. 5: (8 + 7) 5 = 75
6. fact is stranger than fiction
7. B: black objects turn to white and vice versa
8. 7. 5: the sequence proceeds +4, 2, +4, etc
9. meridian, parallel
10. B: in lines and columns, add the first three numbers to
arrive at the fourth number

11. observe
12.
1

Tile 7 is incorrect, and should be replaced by tile B.

13. frivolity, sobriety
14.

3
4
6

6 1 = 2 3: 7 8 (6 + 2) = 56
11 4 = 44
4 3 = 12
44 + 12 = 56

The Times Book of IQ Tests

15. weigh hay

16. D
17. mandible: it is the jaw bone, the rest are bones in the leg
18. 10 p.m.
12 noon = 12 noon
1 p.m. = 12.43
2 p.m. = 1.26
3 p.m. = 2.09
4 p.m. = 2.52
+6 hours = 10 p.m.
19. OPTICAL ILLUSION
20. A: each line across and down contains five black dots and
four white dots
21. A: the figure is tumbling 45 at each stage and alternates
white/black/striped
22. crossfire: all words contain an embedded tree
do(pine)ss, uncl(oak)ing, dishw(ash)er, cross(fir)e
23 57: there are two alternate sequences: +14, 97
24. C
25. 27, 9, 12: the sequence progresses 3, +3, 3, 3 repeated

Test Two: Answers

26. D: it contains a triangle in a circle, a circle in a triangle

(with the same orientation of the triangle) and a black dot
in a square
27. minimum
28. 7: 91 13
29. Switch D is faulty.
30. coalesce
31. 17: it is the sum of the two digits (9 + 8) in the quadrant
directly opposite
32. E: so that the dot appears in two circles and the square
33. 32: the next cube number below 64 (4 4 4) is 27 (3
3 3). In order to construct a solid cube, therefore, with
none left over, 59 27 = 32 blocks need to be taken away.
34. DERIVE/DRIVE
35. 49: (73 + 25) 2
36. COMPUTE
37. D: the last two rows of figures repeat the first two rows of
figures in reverse
38. MEDIOCRE, SUPERIOR

The Times Book of IQ Tests

39. 8: each number in the segment at the bottom is the sum of

the four numbers in the sections either side. Thus: 8 + 3
+ 4 + 3 = 18
40. E

Test Three: Questions

1.
is to:

as:

is to:

The Times Book of IQ Tests

2. Which is the odd one out?

cymbal, marimba, vibraphone, trombone, glockenspiel
3. stationary, less, stationery, principal, fewer, principle
Place the words above alongside their correct definition
below:
head of school
fundamental truth
standing still
writing materials
smaller in amount
smaller in number
4. Which is the odd number out?
462 683 385 198 253 781 594
5. PURE AS TUFT is an anagram of which two words that are
opposite in meaning?

Test Three: Questions

60.

A B

L M N O

V W X Y

T
Z

Which letter is midway between the letter two letters

below the letter immediately to the left of the letter G,
and the letter three letters above the letter immediately to
the right of the letter V?
7.
is to:

as:
is to:

The Times Book of IQ Tests

8.
L

A
S

N
T

H
E
I
G

Complete two eight-letter words, one in each circle, and

both reading clockwise. The words are synonyms. You
must find the starting points and provide the missing
letters.
9. 1, 50, 6, 45, 11, 40, 16, 35, 21, ?, ?
Which numbers should replace the question marks?
10. Arrange the words below into alphabetical order:
acescence, acetamide, acerbated, acetified, acellular, acescency, acetabula, acerbates

Test Three: Questions

62.

When the above is folded to form a cube, which is the only

one of the following that can be produced?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

12.

Which is the missing section?

8

8
A

3
D

13. Solve the anagram in brackets to correctly complete the

quotation with a 10-letter word.
The difference between golf and (torn veg men) is that in
golf you cannot improve your lie George Deukmejian

Test Three: Questions

64.

Which shield should replace the question mark?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

15.
U
P
MH

HR

A C

EL

O P

E B
T
R

Take one letter from each circle in turn and using each
letter once only find two eight-letter words that are
similar in meaning. Both words read clockwise and each
starts in a different circle.
16. What letters should replace the question marks?
F

T
O

R
E
R

Test Three: Questions

66.

The Times Book of IQ Tests

7
9

5
4

What number should replace the question mark?

18. bizarre is to outlandish as eccentric is to: eerie, quirky,
esoteric, weird, curious
19. On taking delivery of a consignment of eggs the market
stall owner was furious to find that several were cracked.
In fact, on counting them up in order to assess the
damage he found that 72 were cracked, which was 12 per
cent of the total consignment. How many eggs in total
were in the consignment?
20.

Which is the missing tile?

21. MTD is to PXB as FRJ is to?

Test Three: Questions

22. A B C D E F G H
What letter is two letters to the left of the letter immediately to the right of the letter three letters to the right of
the letter A?
23.

Which circle below should be placed in the large circle

above?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

24. Using the five letters below only, create a nine-letter word.
LOPER
25. 16, 23, 19, 19, 22, 15, 25, ?
What number should replace the question mark?
26. Simplify:
14 56
55 77
as the lowest fraction.

Test Three: Questions

27.

Which is the missing box?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

28. Which word in brackets is most opposite in meaning to

the word in capitals?
PLAUSIBLE (appropriate, improbable, clichd, artificial,
distasteful)
29. The cost of an identical three-course lunch for four
people was 56.00. The main course cost twice as much
as the sweet and the sweet cost twice as much as the
starter. How much did the main course cost per person?
30. aplomb, dodge, graph, jerk, ?
What comes next?
laugh, maroon, link, nickel, midnight

Test Three: Questions

31.

What comes next?

The Times Book of IQ Tests

32.

14
22
34
41
53

What number should replace the question mark?

33. OVATE GNOME is an anagram of which familiar phrase
(3, 1, 4, 2)? Clue: make haste.

34.
is to:
as:

is to:

Test Three: Questions

35.
268
17

11
359

516

16

263

What number should replace the question mark?

36.

O G

Find the starting point and work from letter to adjacent

letter vertically, horizontally and diagonally to spell out a
17-letter phrase (2, 7, 8).

37.

Which is the missing tile?

38.

At each stage the black dot moves three corners clockwise

and the white dot moves four corners anti-clockwise.
After how many stages will both dots be together in the
same corner?

39. A A S G P A H A M
R S E E I I U G A
* * * * * * * * *
The name of which reptile can be placed on the bottom
row
to complete nine three-letter words reading downwards?
40.

27

21

54

24

42

18

30

60 27

What numbers should replace the question marks?

Test Three: Answers

1. E: only lines that appear three times in the same position in

the first three squares are carried forward to the final square
2. trombone: the rest are percussion instruments
3. head of school = principal
fundamental truth = principle
standing still = stationary
writing materials = stationery
smaller in amount = less
smaller in number = fewer
(score 1 point if all answers are correct)
4. 683: in the other numbers add the first and last digits to
arrive at the middle digit
5. PAST, FUTURE
6. L
7. D: to each arc, add a quarter of a circle clockwise
8. ESCALATE, HEIGHTEN

The Times Book of IQ Tests

9. 30, 26: there are two alternate sequences. Add 5 starting

at 1. Subtract 5 starting at 50.
10. acellular, acerbated, acerbates, acescence, acescency,
acetabula, acetamide, acetified
11. D
12. B: start at the bottom left-hand corner square and work
along the bottom row, then back along the next row up
etc, repeating the numbers 38219
13. government
14. E: each line across and down contains one each of the
three symbols. In each line one symbol is black, and one
is upside down.
15. PAMPHLET, BROCHURE
16. VHU: the numbers spelled out below are the number of
sides in the figures in which they appear
F
T

I
H

V
R

E
E

E
R

17. 4: 6 9 = 54 (reading down the middle two blocks)

18. quirky

Test Three: Answers

19. 600: 72 12 100

20. C: looking across and down the triangles turn through 90
21. IVH: the first letter moves three places in the alphabet
forwards: FghI; the second letter moves four letters in the
alphabet forwards: RstuV; the third letter moves two
places in the alphabet backwards: JiH
22. C
23. C: each circle is repeated rotated
24. PROPELLER
25. 11: there are two alternate sequences: +3 and 4
26. 14 77 1 7
7
55 56 = 5 4 = 20
27. C: each row and column contains six complete lines and
six broken lines
28. improbable

29. 8.00 per person:

starter = 1 unit
sweet = 2 units
main course = 4 units
= 7 units in total
Therefore, cost per unit = 56 7 = 8.00.
The main course, therefore, cost 4 8 = 32 (or 8.00 per
person).
30. maroon: the letters start and finish with the alphabetic
sequence: ABcDEfGHiJKlMN
31. C: the top arm moves 45 clockwise at each stage and the
bottom arm moves 90 clockwise
32. 55: each number indicates its position in the grid. 55 indicates row 5 column 5.
33. GET A MOVE ON
34. B: only dots that appear in the same position just twice in
the first three hexagons are carried forward to the final
hexagons
35. 12: add the digits of each three-figure number to obtain the
two-digit numbers
36. NO STRINGS ATTACHED
37. C: in each row and column only lines that are common to

the first two squares are carried forward to the final square

38. They will never appear together in the same corner as in a

heptagon three corners clockwise is the same as four
corners anti-clockwise.
39. CHAMELEON: to produce ARC, ASH, SEA, GEM, PIE,
AIL, HUE, AGO, MAN
40.
5

18

36

15

Top left is a third of bottom right, bottom right is three

less than top right and top right is half of bottom left.

Test Four: Questions

1.

What comes next?

2. 100, 97.4, 94.8, ? , 89.6, 87

What number should replace the question mark?

3.

A D
I

Start at one of the four corner letters and spiral clockwise

round the perimeter, finishing at the centre letter to spell
out a nine-letter word. You must provide the missing
letters.
4. Which number is the odd one out?
9654 4832 5945 7642 7963 8216 3649
5. Which two words are closest in meaning?
qualified, practicable, puissant, feasible, mundane, fine
6. Identify two words (one from each set of brackets) that
have a connection (analogy) with the words in capitals
and relate to them in the same way.
FIRST (second, next, last)
PENULTIMATE (last, third,
previous)
7. Find five consecutive numbers below that total 23.
629347293264912

Draw the missing figure in the above sequence.

9. Which word in brackets is most opposite to the word in
capitals?
SLEEK (sordid, unimaginative, disorderly, dishevelled,
oblique)
10.

36

1216

48

24

824

72

42

51

What number should replace the question mark?

11. Change one letter only in each of the words below to
produce a familiar phrase.
AND FEEL SO TIE WIRE

12. Which is the odd one out?

A
B

E
13. Which is the odd one out?
trivet, tributary, triptych, trident, triad

5
2

9
8

4
13

11
6

5 14
19

? 20
27

What number should replace the question mark?

15. 5862 is to 714
and 3498 is to 1113
and 9516 is to 156
therefore 8257 is to ?
16.

Which is the missing tile?

17. mohair is to wool as shantung is to: silk, cotton, linen,

nylon, fabric
18.

Place the numbers 16 into the circles, one number per

circle, so that: the sum of the numbers 4 and 1, and all the
numbers between them total 12; the sum of the numbers
4 and 6, and all the numbers between them total 21; the
sum of the numbers 2 and 1, and all the numbers between
them total 8.
19. If meat in a river (3 in 6) is T(HAM)ES, can you find a
monkey in a tall building (3 in 10)?
20.

What comes next in the above sequence?

?
Which arc is missing?

22. Which four bits can be joined together to form two words
that have opposite meanings?
ERT, UCE, DES, END, EXP, EAR, AND, SIP, RED, GOS
23.

7 10 13 16
9 12

? 18

11

? 20

13 16 19 22
Which is the missing section?
16

15

15

16

15 18

18

17

17

24. Identify two words that sound alike but are spelled differently, which mean:
a straight line connecting two points on a curve
rope
25. Find the ages of Mary, George, Alice, Claire and Stephen
if:
Mary + George = 33 years between them
Alice + Claire = 95 years between them
Stephen + Mary = 72 years between them
Mary + Claire = 87 years between them
Stephen + George = 73 years between them

Which is the missing tile?

27. Using the four letters below only, create a seven-letter

word.
CILT
28. 53 (3) 59
92 (4) 98
34 (2) 38
71 (?) 79
What number should replace the question mark?

29.
E
C
SW

I R

O I

PF

L D

L O
LE

Work clockwise round the circles to spell out two eightletter words that are synonyms. Each word commences in
a different circle, and you must find the starting point of
each. Every letter is used once each and all letters are
consecutive.
30.
?
Draw the missing figure in the above sequence.
31. abashed, derail, little, ?
What comes next?

mellow, entail, leader, elicit, status

32. Produce an eight-letter word by joining together two of

these four-letter sets.
cred, agon, lues, once, deva, some, come, pent
33.

20 14 12 24 33
3 10 16 15 18
17 7

9 30 36

39 21 13 2 11
What number is three places away from itself plus three,
two places away from itself multiplied by two, two places
away from itself less four and two places away from itself
divided by three?
34.
?
What comes next?

Test Four: Questions

97.

What percentage of the figure is shaded?

36.

A
H

D
E

What letter is two letters away clockwise from the letter

that is directly opposite the letter three letters away anticlockwise from the letter C?

37.

Spiral clockwise round the perimeter and finish at the

centre square to spell out a nine-letter word. You must find
the starting point and provide the missing letters.
38. What is one-third of one-quarter of one-fifth of one-half of
120?
39.

Which is the missing tile?

Test Four: Questions

99.

1 10 7 16
28 19 22 13
25 34 31 40
? 43 46 37
What number should replace the question mark?

Test Four: Answers

1. B: the inner hexagon is being dismantled one side at a

time working anti-clockwise, while the outer hexagon is
being constructed one side at a time working clockwise
2. 92.2: deduct 2.6 at each stage
3. DISAPPEAR
4. 3649: in all the others multiply the first two digits together
to produce the number formed by the last two digits
5. practicable, feasible
6. second, last
7. 72932

Test Four:
Answers
8.

Vertical lines turn dotted, one at a time at each stage. One

horizontal line is added at each stage, and the previous
lines become dotted.
9. dishevelled
10. 1417: 42 3 = 14, 51 3 = 17
11. ADD FUEL TO THE FIRE
12. E: the rest are the same figure rotated
13. tributary: in the other words the prefix tri- refers to three
14. 7: the numbers round the centre increase by seven (in the
others they increase by three and five respectively)
15. 157: 7 + 8 = 15, 2 + 5 = 7
16. B: looking across an outer circle is removed, looking
down an outer circle is added
17. silk
18. 425136 or 631524

The Times Book of IQ Tests

19. SKYSCR(APE)R
20. D: looking across, the dot in the top left-hand quarter
moves to the opposite corner, the dot in the top righthand quarter moves one corner anti-clockwise at each
stage, the dot in the bottom left-hand quarter moves
between the top two corners, and the dot in the bottom
right-hand quarter moves one corner clockwise at each
stage
21. C: the first three arcs are being repeated; and the position
of the arc shifts 180
22. EXPAND, REDUCE
23. C: looking across each line add three; looking down each
column add two
24. chord, cord
25. Mary 16, George 17, Alice 24, Stephen 56, Claire 71
26. E: looking across and down, lines are carried
forward from the first two squares to the final square
when they appear in the same position twice in the first
two squares,
however, they then change from complete to broken
lines, and vice versa
27. ILLICIT
28. 9: (7 9) (7 1)

29. FOLLOWER, DISCIPLE

Test Four:
Answers
30.

The white dot moves corner/side/corner anti-clockwise

and the black dot does the same clockwise.
31. elicit: the following word begins with the last two letters of
the previous word reversed
32. pentagon
33. 9
34.

A: looking across the squares, the top left corner

alternates one line/two lines/ three lines; the top right
corner alternates line right vertical/line left vertical; the
bottom left corner alternates top horizontal/bottom
horizontal and the bottom right corner alternates diagonal
between opposite corners

35. 5/8 or 0.625 or 62.5 per cent

36. F
37. HIBERNATE
38. 1: work backwards from 120; that is, 120 60 12 3 1
39. D: all lines are continued, however, wavy lines become
straight and vice versa
40. 52: start at the top left corner and work along the top line,

then back along the second line, etc, adding nine then
deducting three

Test Five: Questions

1. Which is the odd one out?

C
D

2. Which word in brackets is most opposite in meaning to

the word in capitals?
REVERENT (candid, lucid, cheeky, content, culpable)
3. Identify two words (one from each set of brackets) that
have a connection (analogy) with the words in capitals
and relate to them in the same way.
COCHLEA (shell, ear, brain)
CEREBELLUM (heart, nose,
brain)
4. Which number is the odd one out?
3647 2536 5869 6957 1425 4758
5.

I
A
N
I
I

Read clockwise to find a 16-letter word. Only alternate

letters have been shown, and you have to find the
starting point.

The Times Book of IQ Tests

6. How many lines appear below?

7. 0, 1, 2, 5, 20, 25, ?, ?
What two numbers should replace the question marks?
8. Which is the odd one out?
exacerbate, alleviate, amplify, escalate, inflate

Test Five: Questions

9.

9
5

8
6
4

7
What number should replace the question mark?
10. The name of which creature can be placed on the
bottom row to complete seven three-letter words
reading downwards?
D A S A M Y W
U R A G A O A
* * *

* *

The Times Book of IQ Tests

11.

What comes next?

A
B
C
D
E
F

Test Five: Questions

12.
3

8
5

6
7

4
6
5

9
8

7
?

8
9

What number should replace the question mark?

13.

A M T
M

Start at one of the four corner letters and spiral clockwise

round the perimeter, finishing at the centre letter to spell
out a nine-letter word. You must provide the missing
letters.
14. In eight years time the combined age of me and my two
sons will be 124. What will it be in five years time?
15. Which two words are closest in meaning?
old, stiff, ripe, pure, uniform, mellow

16.

Which is the missing tile?

17. abyss is to chasm as fissure is to: crevice, recess, gorge,

canyon, opening
18. Jack is twice as old as Jill, but in five years time he will
only be one and a half times as old. How old are Jack and
Jill now?
19. Change one letter only in each of the words below to
produce a familiar phrase:
HOME SO LINE

20.
?
Draw the missing figure in the above sequence.
21. 1000, 865, ?, 595, 460, 325
What number should replace the question mark?
22.

Which shield below has most in common with the shield

above?

23. Identify two words that sound alike, but are spelled differently, which mean:
potency
small insect
24.

14 26 28
91 18 89
57 177 22
189 16

Multiply the lowest even number in the grid by the

highest odd number.
25. What is the meaning of laconic?
dull, uninspiring
tearful
using few words
emotionally unstable
sarcastic

26.
S

G
A R

R
O

Work clockwise round each circle to spell out two eightletter words that are synonymous. You have to find the
starting points and provide the missing letters.
27. 17, 4, 29, 13, 41, 22, 53, 31, ?
What number should replace the question mark?
28.

What comes next?

29.

N O

Spiral clockwise round the perimeter and finish at the

centre square to spell out a nine-letter word. You must find
the starting point and provide the missing letters.
30.

12
?

11

18
16
4

19

What number should replace the question mark?

31.

To which hexagon below can a dot be added so that both

dots then meet the same conditions as the two dots in the
hexagon above?

32.

ENGLAN
D
SCOTLAN
D

GOLF
TENNIS

WALES
Three teams, from England, Scotland and Wales, are
competing for two trophies, one for golf and one for
tennis. How many different outcomes of the two competitions exist?
6, 8, 9, or 12?
33. Which is the odd one out?
statement, fluster, retirement, restful, testament

34. Switch A turns lights 1 and 2 on/off or off/on

Switch B turns lights 2 and 4 on/off or
off/on Switch C turns lights 1 and 3 on/off
or off/on Switch D turns lights 3 and 4
on/off or off/on
= ON
= OFF
Switches B, D, A and C are thrown in turn with the result
that Figure 1 turns into Figure 2. Which switch does not
work at all?
1
1
2

Figure
1
35.

Figure 2

What number should replace the question mark?

36.
?
What comes next?

37. Find two words (7, 4) in this diagram. Letters are traced
across the circle by chords. If the next letter is four letters
or less away, it will be found by tracing around the
circum- ference. Clue: may be difficult to swim over.
C

S
J

R
K

M N

38.

A B

L M N O

V W X Y

T
Z

What letter is immediately to the left of the letter that is

immediately below the letter two to the left of the letter I?
39. Which number is the odd one out?
3861 8712 5247 4356 1485 3645
40.

Which is the missing tile?

Test Five: Answers

1. C: it has three white and one black on the left and three
black and one white on the right. The rest are the opposite
way round.
2. cheeky
3. ear, brain
4. 6957: all the rest progress +3, 2, +3
5. CIRCUMNAVIGATION
6. 12
7. 150, 157: the sequence progresses +1, 2, +3, 4, +5,
6, +7
8. alleviate: it means to lessen, the rest meaning to increase
9. 4: (6 + 7) (4 + 5)
10. OCTOPUS: to produce DUO, ARC, SAT, AGO, MAP,
YOU, WAS

Test Five:
Answers
11. C: at each stage the third circle moves to the end and the
sixth circle moves to the beginning
12. 8: the number in the middle is the average of the numbers
round the outside. So, 7 + 8 + 9 + 7 + 8 + 9 = 48, and 48
6=8
13. MAGNETISM
14. 109: in five years we will each be three years younger than
in eight years, 5 3 = 15, and 124 15 = 109
15. ripe, mellow
16. C: all lines carry on and change from dotted to unbroken,
and vice versa
17. crevice
18. Jack 10 and Jill 5
19. COME TO LIFE
20.

The sequence progresses circle, triangle, diamond, with

alternate horizontal/vertical lines.
21. 730: deduct 135 each time
22. C: it contains four black dots and three white

The Times Book of IQ Tests

23. might/mite
24. 2646 (14 189)
25. using few words
26. SATURATE, WATERLOG
27. 65: there are two alternate sequences: +12 and +9
28. C: the large rectangle is being dismantled, half a side at a
time anti-clockwise; the small rectangle is being
constructed half a side at a time clockwise
29. TESTIMONY
30. 6: so that the numbers in the triangles, squares and circles
add up to 33
31. C: so that one dot appears in one triangle and the other
dot appears in two triangles (in the example the righthand side forms a small triangle and a larger triangle and
the dot is in both)

Test Five:
Answers
32. 9: the alternatives are:
England win both golf and tennis
Scotland win both golf and tennis
Wales win both golf and tennis
England win golf, Scotland win tennis
Scotland win golf, England win tennis
England win golf, Wales win tennis
Wales win golf, England win tennis
Scotland win golf, Wales win tennis
Wales win golf, Scotland win tennis
33. retirement: statement/testament and fluster/restful are
anagram pairs
34. Switch A is faulty.
35. 2: so that each square block of four numbers totals 15
36. E: the small ellipse moves 45 clockwise and alternates
inside/outside of the larger ellipse
37. BARRIER REEF
38. K
39. 3645: in all the others the number formed by the first two
digits added to the number formed by the second two
digits equals 99
40. B: looking across and down, only dots that appear in the
same position in the first two squares are carried forward

to the third square, however, they then change from black

to white and vice versa