The Aga Khan University

AKU Challenge (scholarship) Programme

In honour of Saida and Firoz Rasul

Sample Test Paper - 2023

Instructions:
• Total number of questions will be 100. These will be presented on one booklet.

• Duration of the test is 2 hours.

• Questions can be attempted in any order. You must attempt all questions.

• All questions carry one mark. There will be no negative marking.

• Mark ONLY ONE answer to each question. No marks will be given for multiple
answers.

• Calculator is not allowed in the test center.

The Test comprises of two sections:

❖ English
❖ Quantitative and Logical Reasoning

1. English has five {5} sub-sections:

• Reading Comprehension (10 questions)
• Passage Completion (10 questions)
• Sentence Completion (10 questions)
• Use of Synonyms & Analogies (10 questions)
• Functional English (10 questions)

2. Quantitative & Logical Reasoning (50 questions)

Please note: the questions in the sample test paper are only to make you
understand the pattern of the exam. These questions will not be part of the
actual test.

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Sample Test Paper Page 1 of 8
 1. ENGLISH

SECTION – I: READING COMPREHENSION

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Line # Passage

1 Hundreds of thousands of persons each year suffer from some type of cancer, and
new methods of radiation therapy have enabled doctors to save more lives than ever
before. Medical researchers have developed several experimental forms of this
honored cancer treatment that seem effective in fighting the disease.

5 One promising approach involves exposing cancer cells radiation by implanting a

radioactive source directly into the malignant tissue. This process greatly increases
the dosage and thus the effectiveness of the treatment. Another technique utilizes
drugs to make cancer cells more susceptible to the effects of radiation and to make
cancer cells more resistant. Certain drugs are able to neutralize the generic
framework of cancer cells, thus making them more easily affected by radiation. Both
techniques have seen some positive results in the treatment of inoperable brain
tumors.

These and other methods have helped to raise the recovery rate for cancer victims
from 30 percent 40 years ago to around 50 percent today. This is encouraging news
15 for those who fall prey to one of the world’s leading killers.

From the passage, choose the best possible answer: A, B, C or D

1. What is the author’s main purpose in the passage?

A. To provide statistical information on cancer

B. To argue for new methods of cancer treatment
C. To show new techniques of radiation therapy
D. To give the results of recent cancer research

2. According to the passage, which of the following is true about radiation therapy?

A. There is only one effective form of this therapy

B. It saves millions of lives each year
C. It is an accepted method of cancer treatment
D. It causes the incidence of cancer to rise dramatically

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Sample Test Paper Page 2 of 8
3. According to the passage, radiation therapy is most effective when

A. drugs are used to relax the cancer patient

B. it saves millions of lives each year
C. it is an accepted method of cancer treatment
D. it causes the incidence of cancer to rise dramatically

SECTION – II: PASSAGE COMPLETION

In the following passage there are several blanks. Use the options A, B, C or D in the box
below to complete the passage.
The psychologist notes a vast difference among people in the way they react to events, their
mannerisms, talents, interests, intelligence, personality, and so on. Why ……1…….. another?
Do they inherit these differences? Do their differences develop …….2……. environmental
experience? Or are some differences the result of inherited and environmental factors
…….3…….?

1. 2. 3.
A. people are different than each A. as a result A. interacting
B. people are not like one B. out of their B. interacted
C. are people different from one C. instead of C. interaction
D. are the people different to one D. in addition to their D. interactions

SECTION III – SENTENCE COMPLETION

Choose the most appropriate word (A, B, C or D) which completes each sentence. Mark the
answer on the answer sheet.

1. Glucose does not have to be digested _____________ it can be put directly into the
bloodstream.

A. so
B. while
C. and since
D. nor

2. He helps me to ___________ extent.

A. many
B. much
C. some
D. a lot of

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Sample Test Paper Page 3 of 8
3. ___________ a tomato plant from seventy-five to eighty-five days to develop into a
mature plant with ripe fruit.

A. It takes
B. To take
C. That takes
D. By taking

SECTION - IV: USE OF SYNONYMS & ANALOGIES

Choose the correct answer A, B, C, D and mark them on the answer sheet

1. Orphans are very often destitute.

Which is the closest in meaning to ‘destitute’?

A. Uneducated
B. Sick
C. Poor
D. Detached

2. You are required to have a pass to ride on the bus.

Which word is most like “required”?
A. acceptable
B. ample
C. essential
D. adequate

3. In the presence of the principal, students generally refrain from asking questions.
Which word is most like “refrain”?
A. persist
B. continue
C. avoid
D. unable

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Sample Test Paper Page 4 of 8
SECTION V - FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH

Choose the language function (A, B, C, or D) that best matches the utterance. Mark the
answer on the answer sheet.

1. Salim Said, ‘Very well, thank you, Mrs Imran. And how are you?’

A. Accepting a suggestion
B. Replying to a greeting
C. Introducing someone to a friend
D. Rejecting a suggestion

2. Akram said to his client, ‘Oh yes, I’ll see to it that it’s done on time. You just leave
everything to me.’

A. Expressing sympathy
B. Re-assuring
C. Giving advice
D. Giving information

3. Karim Said: I don’t know how to play the piano.

A. Expressing ability
B. Expressing inability
C. Expressing disability
D. Expressing capability

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Sample Test Paper Page 5 of 8
 2. Quantitative & Logical Reasoning
1. The number of dots in the 5th pattern will be

Pattern Number 1 2 3 4 5
Number of Dots 3 6 10 15 ?

A. 18
B. 19
C. 20
D. 21

2. Aisha finds that she divides her day time between study, play and sleep in the ratio
of 5:3:4. In a day, how many hours of sleep does she get?

A. 5 hours
B. 8 hours
C. 9 hours
D. 10 hours

3. Ms. Alia got the following marks in her English, Mathematics, Science and
Computer examination. In which subject did she score best?

Subject Maximum Marks Marks Obtained

English 80 60
Mathematics 150 75
Science 120 80
Computer 140 130

A. English
B. Mathematics
C. Science
D. Computer

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Sample Test Paper Page 6 of 8
4. Below is the weight of 4 parcels. Arrange the parcels in order from lightest to
heaviest.
Parcel A= 0.04 kg
Parcel B= 0.44 kg
Parcel C= 0.404 kg
Parcel D = 0.045 kg

A. BCDA
B. ABCD
C. ABDC
D. ADCB

5. Which of the following figures has the same shaded area as that of the given circle?

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Sample Test Paper Page 7 of 8
Answer key:

English:
Section I
1. C
2. C
3. A
Section II
1. C
2. B
3. A
Section III
1. A
2. C
3. A
Section IV
1. C
2. C
3. C
Section V
1. B
2. B
3. B

Quantitative & Logical Reasoning:

1. D
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. C

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Sample Test Paper Page 8 of 8