What is non-verbal reasoning?
Non-verbal reasoning (NVR) tests how well a child can solve problems using shapes, patterns and diagrams instead of words. Questions ask children to spot rules: how a shape changes, what all the shapes in a group share or which piece completes a grid. It measures thinking, not school knowledge, which is why many 11+ tests include it.
The main non-verbal reasoning question types
| Type | What your child does |
|---|---|
| Sequences | Finds the next shape in a series that changes step by step |
| Odd one out | Spots the shape that doesn't share a rule with the others |
| Analogies | Works out how shape A changed into shape B, then applies it to shape C |
| Matrices | Completes a 2x2 or 3x3 grid that follows rules across rows and columns |
| Rotations and reflections | Identifies a shape after turning or mirroring it |
| Codes | Matches letters to features of shapes, then decodes a new shape |
| Hidden shapes | Finds a simple shape hidden inside a complex one |
| Cubes and nets | Works out which net folds into a given cube |
A worked example
Sequence. An arrow points ↑, then →, then ↓. Which way does it point next?
Real NVR questions change two or three things at once: shape, shading, size, position, number of sides or rotation. The skill is checking each feature one at a time.
A simple method for every NVR question
- 1List the features. Shape, size, shading, number, position, direction, lines.
- 2Check one feature at a time. What changes between each step? What stays the same?
- 3Predict before looking at the options. This stops distracting answers from pulling your child off track.
- 4Eliminate. Cross out any option that breaks even one rule.
How to practise non-verbal reasoning at home
- Jigsaws, tangrams, Lego models from instructions and spot-the-difference puzzles all build spatial skills
- Fold paper nets into cubes so your child can see how faces connect
- Use a mirror to check reflections
- Practise one question type at a time before mixed papers
- Move to timed practice only once methods are secure
Our 11+ tutors teach each NVR type with a clear method and give plenty of practice through timed 11+ mock exams.
See how your child handles NVR
Book a free 11+ class. The diagnostic includes non-verbal reasoning, so you'll know where your child stands.
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