Let’s solve 90 mental ability test questions for class 9. These can act as short aptitude tests based on the NTSE curriculum. The questions are categorized in below format for ease of solving –
- Analogy
- Coding-Decoding
- Puzzles
- Sequence
- Verbal reasoning
- Analytical Reasoning
- Blood Relation
- Classification
- Numerical reasoning
This is just for practice purposes. It does not judge your aptitude and mental ability in any way. Keep solving questions like this to learn about the pattern. In the answers, a proper explanation is given to help you understand the question better.
List of 90 Mental Ability Test Questions with Answers for Class 8
Analogy Questions
Question 1. Needle is to Tailor as Brush is to:
a) Carpenter
b) Painter
c) Farmer
d) Mason
Answer:
b) Painter — A needle is used by a tailor, just as a brush is used by a painter.
Question 2. Engine is to Train as Heart is to:
a) Body
b) Pump
c) Vein
d) Blood
Answer:
a) Body — An engine drives a train, just as a heart drives the body.
Question 3. Lock is to Key as Puzzle is to:
a) Answer
b) Clue
c) Question
d) Solution
Answer:
d) Solution — A key opens a lock, just as a solution solves a puzzle.
Question 4. Root is to Tree as Foundation is to:
a) Wall
b) Building
c) Door
d) Roof
Answer:
b) Building — Roots support a tree, just as a foundation supports a building.
Question 5. Candle is to Wax as Bulb is to:
a) Wire
b) Glass
c) Filament
d) Light
Answer:
c) Filament — A candle is powered by wax, just as a bulb is powered by a filament.
Question 6. Clock is to Time as Thermometer is to:
a) Pressure
b) Temperature
c) Speed
d) Weight
Answer:
b) Temperature — A clock measures time, just as a thermometer measures temperature.
Question 7. Wing is to Bird as Fin is to:
a) Fish
b) Airplane
c) Whale
d) Boat
Answer:
a) Fish — Wings are part of a bird, just as fins are part of a fish.
Question 8. Knife is to Cut as Needle is to:
a) Sew
b) Write
c) Paint
d) Drill
Answer:
a) Sew — A knife is used to cut, just as a needle is used to sew.
Question 9. Rain is to Umbrella as Sun is to:
a) Moon
b) Shade
c) Heat
d) Cloud
Answer:
b) Shade — An umbrella protects from rain, just as shade protects from the sun.
Question 10. Oxygen is to Life as Fuel is to:
a) Car
b) Energy
c) Engine
d) Combustion
Answer:
b) Energy — Oxygen sustains life, just as fuel provides energy.
Coding-Decoding Questions
Question 11. If CAT is coded as XZG, how is DOG coded?
a) WLT
b) WLR
c) XLT
d) XLR
Answer:
a) WLT — Each letter is replaced by its corresponding letter in reverse order in the alphabet.
Question 12. If MANGO is coded as KZLFM, how is APPLE coded?
a) YNNKC
b) YNNKD
c) YNOKD
d) ZNNKD
Answer:
a) YNNKC — Each letter is replaced by the letter 2 places before it in the alphabet.
Question 13. If HOUSE is coded as IPVTJ, how is FLAT coded?
a) GMPU
b) GMUV
c) HMUV
d) GMPV
Answer:
a) GMPU — Each letter is replaced by the letter next to it in the alphabet.
Question 14. If TREE is coded as UGFF, how is BRANCH coded?
a) CTBOGI
b) CUBOHI
c) CSBHOI
d) CSBOHI
Answer:
d) CSBOHI — Each letter is replaced by the next letter in the alphabet.
Question 15. If FLOWER is coded as EKNVDQ, how is GARDEN coded?
a) FYQCDM
b) FZPCDM
c) FZQCDM
d) FYPCDM
Answer:
c) FZQCDM — Each letter is replaced by the letter before it in the alphabet.
Question 16. If TABLE is coded as XCEPV, how is CHAIR coded?
a) FLDMU
b) FLDNU
c) FLDNV
d) FLDMV
Answer:
a) FLDMU — Each letter is replaced by the letter 3 places after it in the alphabet.
Question 17. If BOOK is coded as EPPN, how is NOTE coded?
a) QRVG
b) QPVH
c) QPVG
d) QPVF
Answer:
c) QPVG — Each letter is replaced by the letter 3 places after it in the alphabet.
Question 18. If CAR is coded as FDW, how is BUS coded?
a) EXV
b) EVW
c) EWW
d) EXW
Answer:
a) EXV — Each letter is replaced by the letter 3 places after it in the alphabet.
Question 19. If PHONE is coded as SKRQH, how is COMPUTER coded?
a) FRPSXWHU
b) FRQSWVHU
c) FRPSXWKR
d) FRPSWVKR
Answer:
a) FRPSXWHU — Each letter is replaced by the letter 3 places after it in the alphabet.
Question 20. If CIRCLE is coded as EKURMG, how is SQUARE coded?
a) USWCTG
b) UVSWCT
c) UTVWCT
d) UVTWCT
Answer:
b) UVSWCT — Each letter is replaced by the letter 2 places after it in the alphabet.
Puzzles Questions
Question 21. If you have a 5-liter jug and a 3-liter jug, how can you measure exactly 4 liters of water?
a) Fill the 5-liter jug to the top and pour 1 liter into the 3-liter jug.
b) Fill the 3-liter jug twice.
c) Fill the 5-liter jug, then pour into the 3-liter jug until it is full, and repeat.
d) Fill the 5-liter jug and pour into the 3-liter jug until it is full, then fill the 3-liter jug again.
Answer:
c) Fill the 5-liter jug, then pour into the 3-liter jug until it is full, and repeat.
Question 22. A man is looking at a picture of someone. His friend asks, “Who is it you are looking at?” The man replies, “Brothers and sisters, I have none. But that man’s father is my father’s son.” Who is the man in the picture?
a) His father
b) His son
c) His cousin
d) Himself
Answer:
b) His son — “My father’s son” is himself, so the man in the picture is his son.
Question 23. There are three houses. One is red, one is blue, and one is green. If the red house is to the left of the house in the middle, and the blue house is to the right of the house in the middle, where is the green house?
a) To the left of the red house
b) To the right of the blue house
c) In the middle
d) None of the above
Answer:
d) None of the above — The green house is in Washington, D.C.
Question 24. What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
a) The letter “M”
b) A second
c) A minute hand
d) An hour
Answer:
a) The letter “M” — It appears once in “minute,” twice in “moment,” and not at all in “thousand years.”
Question 25. A cowboy rode into town on Friday, stayed three days, and left on Friday. How is this possible?
a) Friday is a place
b) The cowboy is lying
c) Friday is the name of his horse
d) The calendar is wrong
Answer:
c) Friday is the name of his horse.
Question 26. How can you throw a ball as hard as you can and have it come back to you, even if it doesn’t hit anything, there are no strings or other attachments, and nobody else catches it or throws it back to you?
a) Throw it straight up.
b) Throw it down a hill.
c) Throw it into the wind.
d) Throw it into a wall.
Answer:
a) Throw it straight up.
Question 27. If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven’t got me. What am I?
a) Money
b) Secret
c) Love
d) Happiness
Answer:
b) Secret — Once you share it, it is no longer a secret.
Question 28. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have nobody, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?
a) Echo
b) Cloud
c) Tree
d) Leaf
Answer:
a) Echo — An echo speaks without a mouth and hears without ears.
Question 29. What is always in front of you but can’t be seen?
a) Your shadow
b) The future
c) Air
d) Your reflection
Answer:
b) The future — The future is always ahead of you but is unseen.
Question 30. What has keys but can’t open locks?
a) A piano
b) A lock
c) A door
d) A computer
Answer:
a) A piano — A piano has keys but cannot open locks.
Sequence Questions
Question 31. What comes next in the sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16, …?
a) 32
b) 24
c) 30
d) 36
Answer:
a) 32 — The sequence doubles each time (2×2=4, 4×2=8, 8×2=16, 16×2=32).
Question 32. Find the next number in the series: 5, 11, 17, 23, …?
a) 29
b) 27
c) 25
d) 31
Answer:
a) 29 — The sequence increases by 6 each time (5+6=11, 11+6=17, 17+6=23, 23+6=29).
Question 33. What comes next in the sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, …?
a) 11
b) 12
c) 13
d) 15
Answer:
c) 13 — The sequence follows the Fibonacci pattern (1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8=13).
Question 34. Find the next number in the series: 3, 9, 27, 81, …?
a) 243
b) 121
c) 101
d) 171
Answer:
a) 243 — The sequence is multiplying by 3 each time (3×3=9, 9×3=27, 27×3=81, 81×3=243).
Question 35. What comes next in the sequence: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, …?
a) 36
b) 30
c) 49
d) 40
Answer:
a) 36 — The sequence is the squares of consecutive numbers (1²=1, 2²=4, 3²=9, 4²=16, 5²=25, 6²=36).
Question 36. Find the next number in the series: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, …?
a) 37
b) 34
c) 39
d) 33
Answer:
a) 37 — The sequence increases by consecutive odd numbers (3, 5, 7, 9, 11).
Question 37. What comes next in the sequence: 4, 16, 64, 256, …?
a) 1024
b) 128
c) 512
d) 2048
Answer:
a) 1024 — The sequence is multiplying by 4 each time (4×4=16, 16×4=64, 64×4=256, 256×4=1024).
Question 38. Find the next number in the series: 10, 20, 40, 80, …?
a) 100
b) 120
c) 160
d) 200
Answer:
c) 160 — The sequence doubles each time (10×2=20, 20×2=40, 40×2=80, 80×2=160).
Question 39. What comes next in the sequence: 7, 14, 28, 56, …?
a) 70
b) 84
c) 112
d) 90
Answer:
b) 112 — The sequence doubles each time (7×2=14, 14×2=28, 28×2=56, 56×2=112).
Question 40. Find the next number in the series: 11, 22, 44, 88, …?
a) 110
b) 176
c) 132
d) 220
Answer:
b) 176 — The sequence doubles each time (11×2=22, 22×2=44, 44×2=88, 88×2=176).
Verbal Reasoning Questions
Question 41. In the following sentence, identify the part of speech of the underlined word: “She quickly finished her homework.”
a) Noun
b) Adjective
c) Verb
d) Adverb
Answer:
d) Adverb — “Quickly” describes how she finished her homework.
Question 42. Choose the word that is a synonym of “abundant”:
a) Scarce
b) Plentiful
c) Rare
d) Limited
Answer:
b) Plentiful — “Abundant” means having a large quantity, similar to “plentiful.”
Question 43. Select the word that best completes the sentence: “The scientist conducted an experiment to test her ______.”
a) Hypothesis
b) Hypothetical
c) Hypothesize
d) Hypothetically
Answer:
a) Hypothesis — A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for an experiment.
Question 44. Identify the error in the sentence: “He don’t like to play soccer.”
a) He
b) don’t
c) like
d) play
Answer:
b) don’t — The correct form is “doesn’t.”
Question 45. Choose the correct form of the verb: “Every morning, she ______ to the gym.”
a) go
b) goes
c) going
d) gone
Answer:
b) goes — “She goes” is the correct subject-verb agreement.
Question 46. Which word means the opposite of “benevolent”?
a) Kind
b) Generous
c) Malevolent
d) Charitable
Answer:
c) Malevolent — “Malevolent” means having a desire to cause harm, opposite of “benevolent.”
Question 47. Identify the main idea of the passage: “The benefits of regular exercise are numerous. It helps maintain a healthy weight, improves mental health, and boosts energy levels.”
a) Exercise is important for weight loss.
b) Exercise improves mental health.
c) Exercise has many benefits.
d) Exercise boosts energy levels.
Answer:
c) Exercise has many benefits — The passage highlights various benefits of exercise.
Question 48. What is the meaning of the phrase “break the ice”?
a) Start a conversation
b) Break something solid
c) Make someone angry
d) Cool down
Answer:
a) Start a conversation — “Break the ice” means to initiate a conversation in a social setting.
Question 49. Find the antonym of “optimistic”:
a) Positive
b) Hopeful
c) Pessimistic
d) Encouraging
Answer:
c) Pessimistic — “Pessimistic” means having a negative outlook, opposite of “optimistic.”
Question 50. Choose the correct conjunction to complete the sentence: “She wanted to go to the park, ______ it was raining.”
a) or
b) but
c) and
d) because
Answer:
b) but — “But” is used to show contrast between wanting to go to the park and it raining.
Analytical Reasoning Questions
Question 51. In a row of students, A is 5th from the left and B is 7th from the right. If there are 12 students in total, what is the position of A from the right?
a) 6th
b) 7th
c) 8th
d) 9th
Answer:
b) 7th — If A is 5th from the left in a row of 12 students, A is 7th from the right.
Question 52. If all the vowels are removed from the word “CONFIDENTIAL,” what will be the remaining letters?
a) CNFDNTL
b) CNFNDTL
c) CNFDNTL
d) CNFNDNTL
Answer:
a) CNFDNTL — Removing vowels A, E, I, O leaves CNFDNTL.
Question 53. If it takes 6 men 9 hours to build a wall, how long will it take 3 men to build the same wall?
a) 18 hours
b) 13.5 hours
c) 27 hours
d) 12 hours
Answer:
a) 18 hours — The work is inversely proportional to the number of workers.
Question 54. If 3 pens cost ₹45, how much will 5 pens cost?
a) ₹60
b) ₹75
c) ₹90
d) ₹120
Answer:
b) ₹75 — The cost of each pen is ₹15 (45/3), so 5 pens will cost ₹75.
Question 55. If a clock shows 10:15, what is the angle between the hour and minute hands?
a) 52.5°
b) 67.5°
c) 75°
d) 82.5°
Answer:
b) 67.5° — The hour hand is at 10.25, the minute hand at 90°, so the angle is 67.5°.
Question 56. A cube has how many edges?
a) 8
b) 10
c) 12
d) 16
Answer:
c) 12 — A cube has 12 edges.
Question 57. If A is 6 years older than B and the sum of their ages is 30, what is the age of A?
a) 12
b) 18
c) 24
d) 36
Answer:
b) 18 — If B is x years old, then A is (x+6) years old, and x + (x+6) = 30, so x = 12 and A = 18.
Question 58. A train 150 meters long is running at a speed of 90 km/h. How much time will it take to cross a platform 150 meters long?
a) 6 seconds
b) 12 seconds
c) 18 seconds
d) 24 seconds
Answer:
b) 12 seconds — Total distance is 300 meters (150+150), and speed is 90 km/h or 25 m/s, so time = 300/25 = 12 seconds.
Question 59. What number comes next in the sequence: 3, 6, 12, 24, …?
a) 36
b) 48
c) 30
d) 50
Answer:
b) 48 — The sequence doubles each time (3×2=6, 6×2=12, 12×2=24, 24×2=48).
Question 60. If the ratio of the ages of two friends is 4:5 and the sum of their ages is 45 years, what is the age of the older friend?
a) 18 years
b) 20 years
c) 24 years
d) 25 years
Answer:
d) 25 years — Let the ages be 4x and 5x, so 4x + 5x = 45, hence x = 5, so the older friend is 5×5 = 25 years old.
Blood Relation Questions
Question 61. P is the brother of Q. Q is the sister of R. R is the brother of S. How is S related to P?
a) Brother
b) Sister
c) Cousin
d) Cannot be determined
Answer:
d) Cannot be determined — The gender of S is not specified.
Question 62. A is B’s mother. B is C’s sister. C is D’s father. How is A related to D?
a) Mother
b) Grandmother
c) Aunt
d) Sister
Answer:
b) Grandmother — A is the mother of B, B is the sister of C, and C is D’s father, so A is D’s grandmother.
Question 63. M is N’s brother. O is M’s mother. P is O’s father. How is N related to P?
a) Son
b) Grandson
c) Great-grandson
d) Father
Answer:
c) Great-grandson — N is O’s son, O is P’s daughter, so N is P’s great-grandson.
Question 64. X is the father of Y. Y is the mother of Z. Z is the sister of W. How is W related to X?
a) Son
b) Daughter
c) Grandson
d) Cannot be determined
Answer:
d) Cannot be determined — The gender of W is not specified.
Question 65. P is Q’s mother. Q is R’s wife. R is S’s brother. How is P related to S?
a) Sister
b) Sister-in-law
c) Mother-in-law
d) Aunt
Answer:
c) Mother-in-law — P is the mother of Q, who is R’s wife, making P R’s mother-in-law, and therefore S’s mother-in-law as well.
Question 66. If A is the son of B, B is the daughter of C, and C is the father of D, how is A related to D?
a) Brother
b) Nephew
c) Grandson
d) Son
Answer:
c) Grandson — A is the son of B, B is the daughter of C, and C is D’s father, so A is D’s grandson.
Question 67. E is F’s sister. G is F’s mother. H is G’s father. How is E related to H?
a) Daughter
b) Granddaughter
c) Great-granddaughter
d) Niece
Answer:
c) Great-granddaughter — E is G’s granddaughter, and G is H’s daughter, so E is H’s great-granddaughter.
Question 68. P is Q’s sister. R is Q’s mother. S is R’s father. How is S related to P?
a) Grandfather
b) Father
c) Great-grandfather
d) Brother
Answer:
c) Great-grandfather — S is R’s father, R is Q’s mother, and Q is P’s sibling, making S P’s great-grandfather.
Question 69. M is N’s daughter. O is N’s mother. P is O’s father. How is M related to P?
a) Daughter
b) Granddaughter
c) Great-granddaughter
d) Niece
Answer:
c) Great-granddaughter — M is N’s daughter, N is O’s child, and O is P’s child, making M P’s great-granddaughter.
Question 70. A is B’s father. B is C’s sister. D is A’s wife. How is D related to C?
a) Mother
b) Aunt
c) Grandmother
d) Sister
Answer:
a) Mother — D is A’s wife and B’s mother, so D is also C’s mother.
Numerical Reasoning Questions
Question 71. If 4x – 7 = 2x + 9, what is the value of x?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 6
d) 5
Answer:
a) 7 — Solving the equation: 4x – 7 = 2x + 9, 2x = 16, x = 7.
Question 72. If the perimeter of a rectangle is 50 cm and its length is 15 cm, what is its width?
a) 10 cm
b) 8 cm
c) 12 cm
d) 5 cm
Answer:
b) 10 cm — Perimeter = 2(length + width), so width = (Perimeter/2) – length = 25 – 15 = 10 cm.
Question 73. Solve: 5x + 2 = 3x + 14.
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 4
Answer:
b) 6 — Solving the equation: 5x + 2 = 3x + 14, 2x = 12, x = 6.
Question 74. A sum of money is divided among A, B, and C in the ratio 3:4:5. If C gets ₹500 more than A, what is the total amount?
a) ₹1200
b) ₹1500
c) ₹2400
d) ₹3000
Answer:
c) ₹2400 — If the ratio is 3:4:5, the difference between C and A is 2 parts. Each part is ₹250, so the total is 12 parts × ₹250 = ₹2400.
Question 75. The length of a diagonal of a square is 10√2 cm. What is the area of the square?
a) 50 cm²
b) 100 cm²
c) 200 cm²
d) 150 cm²
Answer:
c) 200 cm² — Diagonal of a square = side√2, so side = 10 cm. Area = side² = 10² = 200 cm².
Question 76. If the sum of the angles in a polygon is 540°, how many sides does the polygon have?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
Answer:
a) 5 — Sum of angles in a polygon = (n – 2) × 180°. Solving for n: (n – 2) × 180° = 540°, n = 5.
Question 77. A car covers a distance of 360 km at a uniform speed. If the speed is increased by 20 km/h, the time taken reduces by 1 hour. What is the original speed?
a) 60 km/h
b) 80 km/h
c) 100 km/h
d) 120 km/h
Answer:
b) 80 km/h — Let speed be x. Then 360/x – 360/(x + 20) = 1. Solving gives x = 80 km/h.
Question 78. Simplify: (3/4 ÷ 6/5) × (2/3 ÷ 5/4).
a) 1/5
b) 2/5
c) 3/5
d) 4/5
Answer:
b) 2/5 — Simplify: (3/4 × 5/6) × (2/3 × 4/5) = 1/2 × 2/5 = 2/5.
Question 79. If x² – 9 = 0, what are the values of x?
a) 3, -3
b) 9, -9
c) 3, -9
d) None of these
Answer:
a) 3, -3 — x² – 9 = (x – 3)(x + 3) = 0, so x = 3 or -3.
Question 80. If the circumference of a circle is 44 cm, what is its radius?
a) 5 cm
b) 7 cm
c) 10 cm
d) 14 cm
Answer:
b) 7 cm — Circumference = 2πr, so r = Circumference/(2π) = 44/(2 × 3.14) ≈ 7 cm.
Classification Questions
Question 81. Find the odd one out: Lion, Tiger, Deer, Leopard
a) Lion
b) Tiger
c) Deer
d) Leopard
Answer:
c) Deer — All others are big cats.
Question 82. Identify the odd one out: Circle, Triangle, Square, Rectangle
a) Circle
b) Triangle
c) Square
d) Rectangle
Answer:
a) Circle — All others have straight sides, while a circle is round.
Question 83. Choose the odd one out: Rose, Lotus, Sunflower, Apple
a) Rose
b) Lotus
c) Sunflower
d) Apple
Answer:
d) Apple — All others are flowers, while Apple is a fruit.
Question 84. Find the odd one out: Pencil, Pen, Eraser, Notebook
a) Pencil
b) Pen
c) Eraser
d) Notebook
Answer:
d) Notebook — All others are writing instruments, while a notebook is used to write on.
Question 85. Identify the odd one out: Copper, Iron, Gold, Wood
a) Copper
b) Iron
c) Gold
d) Wood
Answer:
d) Wood — All others are metals, while Wood is not.
Question 86. Choose the odd one out: Dog, Cat, Elephant, Sparrow
a) Dog
b) Cat
c) Elephant
d) Sparrow
Answer:
d) Sparrow — All others are mammals, while Sparrow is a bird.
Question 87. Find the odd one out: Milk, Water, Juice, Bread
a) Milk
b) Water
c) Juice
d) Bread
Answer:
d) Bread — All others are liquids, while Bread is a solid.
Question 88. Identify the odd one out: Car, Bicycle, Bus, Train
a) Car
b) Bicycle
c) Bus
d) Train
Answer:
b) Bicycle — All others are motor vehicles, while Bicycle is manually operated.
Question 89. Choose the odd one out: Sun, Moon, Star, Cloud
a) Sun
b) Moon
c) Star
d) Cloud
Answer:
d) Cloud — All others are celestial objects, while Cloud is part of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Question 90. Find the odd one out: Shirt, Pants, Shoes, Cap
a) Shirt
b) Pants
c) Shoes
d) Cap
Answer:
c) Shoes — All others are worn on the upper body, while Shoes are worn on the feet.
