11 plus non-verbal reasoning

Tested by

GL Assessment and Quest, where the area includes it; the ISEB Pre-Test; CEM. Not CSSE, SEAG or FSCE

Taught at school?

No. It uses some Key Stage 2 geometry: symmetry, reflection, angles and turns

Format

Multiple choice, with pictures in place of words

Biggest help

A checklist of things that can change, applied one at a time

What non-verbal reasoning tests

Each question shows a set of shapes that follow hidden rules, and the child works out the rules to find the answer. Because there is nothing to read, it tests reasoning in a way that depends less on how well a child reads English.

The rules are almost always built from a short list of things that can change: the number of shapes, sides or lines; shape; size; shading and line style; position; direction and rotation; and reflection. Children who check each one in turn, rather than staring at the whole picture, find the answer much more often.

The question types

• Series: which figure comes next, or fills the gap, in a sequence.
• Matrices: which figure completes a grid, where rules run along the rows and down the columns.
• Odd one out: which figure does not share the rule the others follow.
• Similarities: which figure belongs with a given group.
• Analogies: the first figure changes into the second; which answer shows the same change to the third?
• Codes: each figure has a letter code describing its features; work out the code for a new figure.
• Reflections and rotations: which figure is the mirror image, or the same shape turned.
• Spatial reasoning: which net folds into a cube, which 3D shape is shown from above, which pieces fit together, and where holes end up when folded paper is punched.

The school skills it relies on

Non-verbal reasoning is not in the curriculum, but parts of Key Stage 2 geometry help:

• Lines of symmetry (Year 4) and reflection in a mirror line (Year 5).
• Angles as turns, right angles, and quarter, half and three-quarter turns, clockwise and anticlockwise (Years 2 and 3).
• Names and properties of 2D shapes and of 3D shapes, and recognising 3D shapes from 2D drawings (Year 5).
• Counting sides, angles and lines accurately, quickly.

Which tests include it

• GL Assessment and Quest: where the area includes it. Some areas add spatial reasoning as well.
• ISEB Pre-Test: one of the four sections, on screen and adaptive.
• CEM: a section of its own, often with a strict time limit.
• CSSE, SEAG and FSCE: not tested. FSCE tests school subjects instead.

How to prepare for non-verbal reasoning

• Teach the checklist: number, shape, size, shading, position, direction, reflection. Check one feature at a time.
• Rule out wrong answers. Finding one rule often removes two or three options.
• For cube nets and folding, use real paper at first: cut out nets, fold them, punch holes.
• Learn each question type before timing it, then practise mixed sets at test speed.
• Don't get stuck. On a paper test, if a question takes too long, guess, mark it and come back if there is time.

The other 11+ subjects

• MathsKey Stage 2 maths, in harder, multi-step problems.
• EnglishComprehension, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, grammar and sometimes writing.
• Verbal reasoningWord, letter and number puzzles. Not taught in school.
• Non-verbal reasoningShape and pattern puzzles. Not taught in school.

Which subjects each test includes