11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning: Question Types, Examples and Tips

Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) is an important part of many UK 11+ (11 plus) entrance exams. It tests a child's ability to recognise patterns, understand shapes, solve visual puzzles and think logically, usually without relying on written words.

Many parents find NVR hard to help with, because the questions can look unfamiliar and there is rarely a fact to memorise. The good news is that most questions use a set of recurring patterns and techniques that children can learn through practice.

This guide explains the main 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning question types with examples, and shares practical tips to help your child prepare.

Remember: 11+ formats vary between regions, schools and exam providers, and not every school tests Non-Verbal Reasoning. Check what your target schools use with our school finder.

Series and sequences

In a series question, a row of shapes changes according to a regular pattern. Your child works out the rule and chooses the shape that comes next.

For example, an arrow points up, then up-right, then right. It turns 45 degrees clockwise at each step, so the next arrow points down-right.

Some series change more than one thing at a time. A shape might rotate while its shading changes, or the number of objects might increase. Common patterns include:

• Rotation or a change in direction.
• Changes in size or position.
• Increasing or decreasing numbers of shapes.
• Changes in shading or colour.
• Alternating patterns.

Practice tip: ask your child to say what changes between each pair of shapes, checking each feature separately rather than guessing from the overall look.

Matrices

A matrix question shows shapes in a grid with one position missing. Each row or column follows a rule, and your child chooses the shape that completes the pattern. For example, shapes might rotate as you move across a row while their shading changes as you move down a column. The challenge is finding the rule that works across the whole grid.

Practice tip: start with one row at a time. Once you have a possible rule, check that it works vertically too. Look at rotation, shading, number of objects and position.

Try our pattern matrices lesson, where your child can explore visual patterns and complete the missing tiles interactively.

Codes

In a code question, features of shapes are represented by letters, numbers or symbols. Your child works out what each part of the code means, then uses it to solve a new question.

For example, if every shape with a curved line has the letter P in its code, a new shape with a curved line must include P too. Harder questions combine several features, such as the number of sides, shading, direction or shape type.

Practice tip: break each shape into individual features and match each feature to a letter or symbol before working out the full code.

Classification

Classification questions ask your child to find the shape that does not belong in a group, or the shape that belongs with a particular set.

For example, take a square, a rectangle, a hexagon and a triangle. The triangle is the odd one out, because it is the only shape with an odd number of sides. Other questions use symmetry, shading, orientation or the number of lines inside a shape.

Practice tip: encourage your child to name what the group shares. If two answers seem possible, look for a more specific rule that separates the right one.

Analogies

An analogy question works like "A is to B as C is to ?". Shape A changes into shape B in some way, and your child applies the same change to shape C.

For example, if shape A turns 90 degrees clockwise to become shape B, shape C must also turn 90 degrees clockwise. Other changes include reflection, shading, size and the number of objects.

Practice tip: ask your child to describe exactly how the first shape becomes the second, then apply that same change to the new shape.

Reflection, rotation and symmetry

These questions test how well children understand the position and orientation of shapes. They are related but different:

• Reflection: a shape is flipped across a mirror line, so left and right are swapped, like a mirror image.
• Rotation: a shape is turned around a fixed point, usually by an angle such as 90, 180 or 270 degrees.
• Symmetry: a shape is symmetrical if a line of symmetry divides it into matching halves.

A common mistake is confusing a reflection with a rotation. Turning a shape does not give the same result as looking at its mirror image.

Practice tip: use a small mirror to explore reflections. For rotations, draw a shape on paper and turn the paper to see how it changes.

Spatial reasoning and cube nets

Spatial reasoning questions test whether children can picture objects and how shapes relate to each other in space.

One common format is the cube net. Your child sees a flat arrangement of six squares and decides whether it folds into a cube. Not every arrangement works: some make faces overlap when folded.

Other spatial questions may involve visualising how a shape looks when rotated, working out which faces of a cube are opposite or next to each other, or seeing how a flat pattern folds into a solid.

Practice tip: encourage your child to picture each face moving as the net folds. Seeing it done can help, which is why our cube nets lesson lets children fold nets in 3D and turn the cube around, and it can be opened full screen on a phone or tablet.

How to practise 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning at home

1. Start untimed. Understand the rules first, then add time limits.
2. Ask "what changed?" before "which answer?".
3. Check rotation, shading, size, position and number of objects one at a time.
4. Discuss mistakes and name the rule that was missed.
5. Short sessions of 10 to 15 minutes, done regularly, help build confidence.
6. Use diagrams, paper shapes and interactive activities to see shapes move.

Practising Non-Verbal Reasoning with Onze+

Seeing shapes move, rotate and transform can help NVR make sense. Onze+ has interactive lessons covering series, matrices, analogies, classification, reflections, rotations, symmetry, cube nets and paper folding, including 3D models your child can turn around, plus practice questions with written explanations, and progress tracking. You can try a free lesson first and, if Onze+ suits your child, start a 7-day free trial.