Verbal Reasoning is the subject that most parents find hardest to help with. Unlike maths or English, it wasn't taught in most schools until recently, and the question types are unfamiliar. When your Year 5 child brings home a page of word codes or letter sequences and you have no idea where to start, this guide is for you.
What is Verbal Reasoning?
Verbal Reasoning (VR) is the ability to understand and reason using words and language. In the context of the 11+ exam, it tests whether children can identify patterns in language, manipulate words according to rules, and use logic to solve word-based problems.
It's not the same as reading or writing ability. A child can be an excellent reader and still find Verbal Reasoning challenging — because VR tests a specific kind of thinking, not general literacy.
Why does Verbal Reasoning matter?
VR is a component of the 11+ exam in most selective school regions in England. It's also tested in some Common Entrance exams for independent schools. Schools use it because it's thought to measure underlying reasoning ability — the potential to think logically and abstractly — rather than just taught knowledge.
The good news: VR is highly coachable. Unlike raw intelligence, performance on VR questions improves dramatically with practice and familiarity with question types.
The 14 Verbal Reasoning question types
Most 11+ VR papers draw from a standard set of question types. Knowing them helps you target practice effectively.
1. Word codes
A word is encoded using letters or numbers. Children must work out the rule and apply it.
If CAT is written as DBU, how is DOG written?
Answer: EPH (each letter moves one forward in the alphabet)
2. Letter sequences
A sequence of letters follows a pattern. Children must identify the pattern and find the next letter.
A C F J O ?
Answer: U (gaps increase by 1 each time: +2, +3, +4, +5, +6)
3. Hidden words
A word is hidden across the boundary between two adjacent words in a sentence.
Find the hidden four-letter word: The map led us north.
Answer: APLE (mapled — hidden across "map" and "led")
4. Word analogies
One pair of words relates in a specific way. Children must find a word that has the same relationship to a third word.
Hot is to cold as light is to: [dark / bright / lamp / shine]
Answer: dark (opposites)
5. Compound words
Two words can be joined together to form a compound word.
Find a word that can follow TOOTH and precede BRUSH. [paste / paste / fairy / pick]
Answer: paste (toothpaste, pastbrush — wait, actually: TOOTH + PASTE + BRUSH... the answer word goes between)
6. Odd one out
Four or five words are given. Children must identify which one doesn't belong to the same group.
Which is the odd one out? Apple, Pear, Carrot, Banana, Cherry
Answer: Carrot (the only vegetable)
7. Word in the middle
A word is placed in the middle of two other words to form two new words (one on each side).
What word completes both: BOOK __ and __ MARK?
Answer: CASE (bookcase, casemark — or SHELF in another format)
8. Number codes
Numbers are used as codes for letters. Children must decode words.
9. Move a letter
One letter is moved from the first word to the second word to make two new words.
Move one letter from BRAND to SEEK to make two new words.
Answer: Remove B from BRAND → RAND; add B to SEEK → BSEEK (no — the letter is inserted): BEEK or actually BRAND → RAND, SEEK → BSEEK... varies by exam board
10. Closest meaning
Children choose the word closest in meaning to the given word from a list of options.
11. Opposite meaning
Children choose the word most opposite in meaning to the given word.
12. Letter pairs
Pairs of letters relate to each other in a specific way. Children must find the missing pair.
13. Related numbers
Three groups of numbers relate using the same rule. Children must find the missing number.
14. Complete the sum
A number sentence with letters representing numbers must be solved.
Don't panic if these look confusing. Most parents find VR question types baffling at first. The key is to work through each type systematically — once you've seen 20 word code questions and had each one explained, the pattern clicks. It's a skill, not a talent.
How to practise Verbal Reasoning at home
Work through one question type at a time
Don't jump straight to mixed practice papers. Spend a week or two on each question type until your child understands the method. Mixing too early is confusing and demoralising.
Always explain the method, not just the answer
When your child gets a question wrong, the most valuable thing you can do is show them how to approach it systematically. What rule is being applied? What should they look for first? This is where Ask Learno helps significantly — photograph a VR question your child is stuck on, and you get a step-by-step explanation of the method, not just the answer.
Time pressure comes later
In early practice, accuracy matters more than speed. Don't time your child until they're consistently getting questions right without time pressure. Speed follows understanding.
Keep sessions short
20 minutes of focused VR practice is more productive than an hour of distracted work. Set a timer, put phones away, and give full attention for a short, defined period.
How long will it take?
Most children who practise consistently show significant improvement in VR within 4 to 6 weeks. The initial "nothing is making sense" phase is normal and temporary. The breakthrough moment — when patterns start to feel familiar — usually comes around week 3 or 4 for children who practise daily.
Practise any VR question type — explained step by step
Photograph any Verbal Reasoning question. Get a step-by-step explanation and a fresh practice worksheet. 7-day free trial.
Start 11+ preparation →