Non-verbal reasoning is the subject most parents find hardest to help with — not because it's too difficult, but because it's completely unfamiliar. Unlike maths or English, NVR uses shapes and patterns rather than words or numbers. Most parents have never encountered it. Most children have never been taught it in school. And yet it appears in almost every 11+ exam in England.

This guide explains exactly what non-verbal reasoning is, covers all 9 question types with plain-English descriptions, and tells you how to help your child practise effectively at home.

What is non-verbal reasoning?

Non-verbal reasoning (NVR) is the ability to analyse visual information — shapes, patterns, sequences and spatial relationships — and solve problems without using words. Questions are presented entirely in diagrams. There is no reading required, no writing, no numbers. Just shapes, patterns and logic.

It's tested in the 11+ because it's thought to measure underlying reasoning ability — the capacity to think logically about new information — independent of learned knowledge or language skills. In theory, a child who has never studied a particular topic can still score well on NVR if they have strong visual-logical thinking.

In practice, NVR is highly trainable. Familiarity with the question types makes a significant difference to scores.

Is non-verbal reasoning taught in school?

No. This is the most important thing to understand. NVR is not part of the standard primary school curriculum. Children are not taught it in class, it doesn't appear in their homework, and most teachers won't mention it. This is why children who haven't specifically prepared for NVR find it so disorienting — the question types are completely unlike anything they've seen before.

The implication: NVR must be practised at home. Unlike English or Maths — where school teaching provides a foundation — NVR is built from scratch through exposure and practice.

GL Assessment vs CEM: does it matter for NVR?

Yes. The two main 11+ exam boards test NVR differently:

Check which exam board your target school uses — this affects how you structure practice.

The 9 non-verbal reasoning question types

Most 11+ NVR papers draw from these question types. Systematic practice of each one is the most effective approach.

1. Series (sequences)

A sequence of shapes changes according to a rule. The child must identify the rule and choose what comes next. Rules typically involve rotation, size changes, number of sides, shading or reflection.

💡 Parent tip: Ask your child to describe what changes between each shape. Verbalising the pattern helps them spot the rule.

2. Matrices

A grid (usually 2×2 or 3×3) contains shapes that follow a pattern across rows and columns. One cell is missing. The child must identify the pattern and choose the missing shape. This is one of the most commonly tested NVR types.

💡 Parent tip: Teach your child to look across rows first, then down columns. The rule usually applies in both directions.

3. Analogies

One pair of shapes is shown with a specific relationship between them. The child must apply the same relationship to a second shape to find its pair. Similar to verbal reasoning analogies but using shapes instead of words.

💡 Parent tip: "If this shape becomes that shape by doing X, what does this third shape become by doing the same X?"

4. Odd one out

Five shapes are shown. Four share a common property; one does not. The child must identify which shape is different and why. The "why" is important — there must be a logical reason, not just visual preference.

💡 Parent tip: Encourage your child to state the rule that connects the four similar shapes, then check whether it applies to the fifth.

5. Nets

A flat net (an unfolded shape) is shown. The child must identify which 3D shape it would make when folded. Or a 3D shape is shown and the child must identify its net. Tests spatial awareness and visualisation.

💡 Parent tip: Use actual paper and scissors. Cut out nets and fold them together at home — physical experience is far more memorable than looking at printed diagrams.

6. Codes

Each shape is described by a two or three-letter code that encodes its properties (size, shading, number of sides). The child must decode the rules and apply them to an uncoded shape. Combines visual reasoning with logical deduction.

💡 Parent tip: Work through one letter at a time. Find all shapes with the same first letter and identify what they have in common.

7. Reflection

A shape is shown alongside a mirror line. The child must choose the correct reflection. Common errors involve reflecting in the wrong axis or incorrectly flipping asymmetric shapes.

💡 Parent tip: Use a small mirror placed on the page to physically show the reflection. This removes ambiguity immediately.

8. Rotation

A shape is shown and the child must choose which answer option shows it rotated by a specific angle (usually 90°, 180° or 270°). Asymmetric shapes are used to prevent simple reflection from being confused with rotation.

💡 Parent tip: Trace the shape onto tracing paper and physically rotate it. Kinesthetic experience builds the mental model faster than looking.

9. Missing shapes / hidden shapes

A large shape contains a smaller shape hidden within it, or a smaller shape must be identified as part of a larger pattern. Tests the ability to see component shapes within complex visual information.

💡 Parent tip: Isolate the target shape by tracing its outline with a finger before scanning the larger shape.

How to practise NVR at home

Work through one question type at a time

Don't start with mixed NVR practice papers. Spend a week on series questions until they feel familiar. Then move to matrices. Then analogies. Build familiarity with each type before mixing them together. This is far more effective than random exposure to all types at once.

Explain every wrong answer

When your child gets a question wrong, the most valuable response is to work through the correct answer together — not just show them the right answer, but explain the rule that was being applied. Ask: "What changes between each shape?" or "What do the four shapes have in common?" Getting your child to verbalise the pattern is far more powerful than passively reviewing the answer.

Use physical materials

For nets and rotation questions especially, physical materials make an enormous difference. Trace shapes, cut them out, fold them, rotate them. The physical experience of manipulating shapes builds the spatial intuition that purely visual practice doesn't.

Introduce time pressure late

In the first weeks of NVR practice, accuracy matters far more than speed. Let your child take as long as they need to work through questions correctly. Only introduce timed practice once they're consistently getting questions right without time pressure.

When your child is stuck: Photograph any NVR question with Ask Learno. You'll get a step-by-step explanation of the rule being applied and what to look for — then a fresh practice worksheet on the same question type. All 9 NVR question types are supported.

How long will it take to improve?

Most children show measurable improvement within 3 to 5 weeks of consistent daily practice (20-30 minutes per day). The initial phase — where nothing makes sense — typically lasts 2 to 3 weeks. The breakthrough usually comes around week 3 or 4, when patterns start to feel recognisable rather than random.

NVR is one of the fastest areas to improve with the right kind of practice, precisely because it's unfamiliar — there's more room to improve.

Practise any NVR question type

Photograph any non-verbal reasoning question — get a step-by-step explanation and a fresh practice worksheet. All 9 NVR types. 7-day free trial.

Start 11+ preparation →

Frequently asked questions

What is non-verbal reasoning?

Non-verbal reasoning is the ability to analyse shapes, patterns and spatial relationships to solve problems — without using words. It is tested in the 11+ because it measures logical thinking independent of language ability.

How many NVR question types are there?

There are 9 main types: series, matrices, analogies, odd one out, nets, codes, reflection, rotation, and missing/hidden shapes. The exact types tested depend on the exam board your child's school uses.

Is non-verbal reasoning taught in primary school?

No. NVR is not part of the standard primary curriculum. It must be practised at home specifically for the 11+.

How quickly can my child improve at NVR?

Most children show significant improvement within 3 to 5 weeks of consistent daily practice. The key is working through one question type at a time rather than doing mixed practice too early.

What is the difference between verbal and non-verbal reasoning?

Verbal reasoning uses words and language — letter codes, word sequences, language analogies. Non-verbal reasoning uses shapes and visual patterns — no words involved. Both are typically tested in the 11+.