29 March 2026
Non-verbal reasoning is the most learnable 11+ paper. There are roughly six core question types — once a child can recognise each type instantly, they can apply the right method without thinking about it.
Type 1 — similar / odd one out
Look at one feature at a time across all options: shape, fill, rotation, line count. The 'odd one' breaks one of these.
Type 2 — analogies (A is to B as C is to ?)
Identify the transformation from A→B in one sentence ('rotate 90° and change colour'), then apply the same transformation to C.
Type 3 — matrices
Read across rows and down columns. The pattern usually runs in both directions — find one and verify the other.
Type 4 — sequences
Look for additive (one more line each step) or rotational (each step turns 45°) patterns. Children who try to 'see the whole thing' get lost — guide them to one feature at a time.
Type 5 — folding / 3D
Cube-folding questions reward practice with physical cubes — let your child fold paper cubes themselves before drilling on paper.
Type 6 — codes
Each letter of the code maps to a feature. Find the letter that varies the most and identify which feature changes alongside it.
Have a question this article didn't answer? Get in touch — we reply same working day.