How to Take This Test
You get 15 minutes for 25 questions, about 36 seconds each, which is the pace of the real Tier 1 Maths section. At that speed there is no time to set up an equation for every train, so you will need the quick methods ( and for units, time in the inverse ratio of speed, for equal distances, relative speed as a sum or a difference, train length + platform length, and half the sum or half the difference for boats). The questions come in mixed order.
- Do it in one go with a 15-minute timer, with no breaks and no notes.
- A right answer is +2, a wrong one is −0.50 and a skipped one is 0.
- Leave a long question for the end. Getting stuck on one late-and-early or two-trains question can cost you three quick ones.
- Open the explanations only when the time is up.
Your score. Take 2 marks for each right answer and subtract 0.5 for each wrong one; the total is out of 50. So 20 right, 3 wrong and 2 left blank is 40 − 1.5 = 38.5.
| Score (out of 50) | What to do next |
|---|---|
| 40 or more | You are quick enough on this chapter. Do a PYQ set now and then so the train and boat methods stay fresh. |
| 30 to 39.5 | Look at where the marks went. Units, average speed and late-early slips go back to Speed, Distance and Time Basics; trains and chases to Relative Speed, Chases and Trains; boats, races and tracks to the third topic section. Redo that section's quiz. |
| 20 to 29.5 | You know the methods but they are slow. Practise unit changes in your head, time in the inverse ratio of speed and the equal-distance average in Shortcuts & Speed Methods, do Practice Sets 1 and 2, and take this test again after a few days. |
| Below 20 | Start again with the three topic sections, Speed, Distance and Time Basics, Relative Speed, Chases and Trains and Boats and Streams, Races and Circular Tracks, and their quizzes before more timed tests. |
The tag on each question names its topic, so you can find the right section quickly.
More than 3 wrong usually means a rushed unit change or a wrong setup, so slow down a little next time. On guessing: Chapter 0 shows that in Tier 1 even a blind guess is very slightly in your favour on average, and once you can rule out one option a guess is clearly worth making.