What is Non-Verbal Reasoning?

Common question types

Non-Verbal Reasoning questions ask children to find the rule that links a set of figures. Typical examples include:

• Spotting the odd one out
• Completing a sequence or analogy of shapes
• Identifying rotations, reflections and code patterns
• Working out which figure completes a grid

How to improve

Because the questions are visual, the best progress comes from exposure to many examples and learning to work methodically under time pressure. Encourage your child to look for one rule at a time, such as number, shape, size or position.

Regular timed practice and mock exams help children keep up their pace, which is often the hardest part of this paper.