CEnT-S Sample Questions for Every Section

Many students preparing for the CEnT-S say the same thing: "It is so new that I have no idea what kind of questions will be asked." This guide fixes that. For each section we show you how many questions there are, how much time you have, and one example question with the answer explained.

These examples are written by Weprepuni to match the topics and style of the test. They are not official CISIA questions.

The structure at a glance

Source: CISIA structure and syllabus. Unused time in a section does not carry over to the next one.

1. Reading and comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question.

"Many cities have introduced low-emission zones, where older and more polluting cars cannot enter. Supporters point to cleaner air in city centres. Critics argue that the rules hit people with lower incomes hardest, because they are more likely to own older cars and less likely to afford a new one. Some cities have responded by offering grants to help residents replace their vehicles."

Which statement best describes the critics' main concern?

Answer: B. The passage says critics think the rules "hit people with lower incomes hardest". A is the opposite of what supporters say, and the passage never questions the air quality results. C, D and E are not mentioned at all. In this section, the right answer is usually a fair summary of what the text says, not something you know from outside the text.

2. Mathematics

If log₂(x) + log₂(x − 2) = 3, what is the value of x?

Answer: B. Use the rule log a + log b = log(ab), so log₂(x(x − 2)) = 3. That means x(x − 2) = 2³ = 8, so x² − 2x − 8 = 0, which factorises as (x − 4)(x + 2) = 0. So x = 4 or x = −2. A logarithm needs a positive argument, and with x = −2 neither log₂(x) nor log₂(x − 2) exists, so the only answer is x = 4. Checking the domain is a classic CEnT-S trap.

3. Reasoning on texts and data

A city had 80,000 residents in 2020 and 92,000 in 2025. Over the same period, the number of bus users rose from 20,000 to 23,000. Which statement is true?

Answer: C. The population grew by 12,000 out of 80,000, which is 15%. Bus users grew by 3,000 out of 20,000, which is also 15%. Because both grew by the same percentage, the share stayed at 25% (20,000 / 80,000 = 23,000 / 92,000 = 0.25). D and E use the wrong percentages. Questions in this section often test whether you compare rates and shares, not just raw numbers.

4. Biology

Two plants that are both heterozygous for a trait (Aa × Aa) are crossed. A is dominant and a is recessive. What fraction of the offspring is expected to show the recessive trait?

Answer: B. The possible combinations are AA, Aa, aA and aa. Only aa shows the recessive trait, which is 1 out of 4. A useful way to remember it: a cross between two heterozygotes gives a 3 to 1 ratio of dominant to recessive traits.

5. Chemistry

Hydrogen burns in oxygen: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. How many moles of water form when 4 g of hydrogen gas react completely with excess oxygen? (Atomic mass of H = 1)

Answer: B. The molar mass of H₂ is 2 g/mol, so 4 g of H₂ is 4 / 2 = 2 moles. The equation shows that 2 moles of H₂ give 2 moles of H₂O, so the answer is 2 moles. Many stoichiometry questions are just two steps: grams to moles, then the ratio from the balanced equation.

6. Physics

A car starts from rest and speeds up uniformly to 20 m/s in 5 seconds. How far does it travel in those 5 seconds?

Answer: C. The acceleration is a = 20 / 5 = 4 m/s². The distance from rest is s = ½ × a × t² = ½ × 4 × 25 = 50 m. A quicker way: with uniform acceleration from rest, the average speed is half the final speed (10 m/s), and 10 m/s × 5 s = 50 m.

How to use the -0.25 penalty

A wrong answer costs 0.25 points and a blank costs nothing. If you have no idea, leave it blank. If you can rule out two or three options with confidence, guessing between the rest is usually worth it, because your chance of being right goes up a lot.

Where to find more practice

• Official CISIA resources: CISIA's practice area offers simulations, past and sample tests, and free online courses (MOOCs) for the subjects in its tests. Check the CEnT-S syllabus for the exact topics in each section.
• Is the official sample paper enough? Read our comparison of the CEnT-S sample paper and the real exam.
• Not sure which sections your university counts? See Do you have to take every CEnT-S section?
• Practise with us: try the free 10-question check and a free lesson in our CEnT-S course. The full course has a lesson for every topic, topic drills and timed mocks with the real section timers.