HBS English · Papers 1–3

Exactly what’s included

• HBS English Skills Paper 1 · 50 questions · 50 minutes online.
• HBS English Skills Paper 2 · 50 questions · 50 minutes online.
• HBS English Skills Paper 3 · 50 questions · 50 minutes online.

Each paper includes one online sitting, printable question and worked-answer PDFs, and 90 days of access from payment. Each timer starts separately. The same questions appear in the PDF and online versions; printing does not add an extra unseen paper.

One learner licence. £15 is the same total as three £5 singles, not a discount. Check your saved papers before buying: a bundle contains the same Papers 1–3 sold individually.

Choose how to practise

Print the A4 question booklet for a quiet session at the table, then mark it with the separate answer booklet. Or sit online for autosaving, a topic breakdown and worked explanations. Offline answers are not uploaded; no online score or benchmark is created by printing.

Downloading either booklet before completing the online sitting removes that sitting from the first-sitting cohort comparison. Keep answer booklets with the supervising adult.

Know the format

Our English and verbal-reasoning papers practise first-round skills; Maths papers are MCQ adaptations for second-round mathematical skills. These are independent subject papers, not complete round-one or round-two simulations. Non-verbal reasoning and assessed written English are not included. Each paper’s timer is our stated practice setting.

INDEPENDENT HBS-RELATED SUBJECT SKILLS PRACTICE. This original English paper focuses on reading, spelling, punctuation and grammar skills relevant to first-round English, with transferable KS2 literacy practice. It is an Exam Quay MCQ paper with 50 questions and our own 50-minute timer INCLUDING reading. These question counts and timings are not an official HBS first-round specification. It does not assess written composition or simulate the full first or second admissions round. NVR is not included. Choose exactly ONE answer unless the question explicitly asks for TWO. Each question earns one mark only for the complete correct set, otherwise zero, with no partial credit or negative marking; this is Exam Quay’s own scoring rule.

Plan three sessions

Start with Paper 1, review a few mistakes together, then leave time to revisit those skills before Paper 2. Use Paper 3 for another practice session when ready. These numbers indicate different questions, not calibrated difficulty.