What is non-verbal reasoning?

‘Non-verbal reasoning is problem-solving based around pictures, diagrams and shapes, rather than words,’ explains Stephen McConkey of Eleven Plus Exam Papers. Unlike verbal reasoning, it’s not as reliant on the English language; rather, the questions use drawings, shapes or codes, and your child will need to work out sequences, similarities and differences between these figures or break the code.

Non-verbal reasoning tests are designed to see how your child can use critical thinking and logic to solve problems, and are an indication of their mathematical capabilities and powers of deduction. From this, the theory is that the examining body can get a picture of your child’s potential and intelligence, rather than their learned ability.

The questions in a non-verbal reasoning test are based around mathematical concepts such symmetry, rotation, mirroring, shape, size and direction, and involve diagrams rather than words. Typical questions include:
 

• Spotting the odd shape out (e.g. a four-sided shape in a group of three-sided shapes)
• Working out what a shape would look like when folded
• Identifying the mirror image of a given shape
• Working out the next diagram in a sequence (for example a series of rectangles divided into squares, where the first has one square shaded, the second has two, the third has three, and so on)
• Finding two identical shapes in a series of five shapes
• Identifying what a shape would look like when rotated by 90 degrees
• Generally, each question has a series of three to five shapes.

‘Non-verbal reasoning is really a test of your child’s maths skills,’ says Stephen. They need to have a good understanding of mathematical concepts such as symmetry, rotation, direction and shape. ‘It’s also important that they have a good grasp of the basic principles of maths,’ adds Stephen. ‘They need to be good – and quick – at addition and subtraction, know all their number bonds and times tables, and have good spatial awareness.’

‘Non-verbal reasoning requires good visual acuity (acuteness of vision combined with good interpretation by the brain), which is a skill that comes more naturally to some people than to others,’ says Stephen. Spatial awareness – understanding the relation of objects to each other, even when they change position – is also important. And if your child is the sort who struggles to tell their left from their right, non-verbal reasoning tests could prove tricky for them.

Nevertheless, non-verbal reasoning skills can be improved even if they’re not second nature to your child. The key is to be disciplined and systematic, and to look at each element in the sequence in turn, ruling out options as you go along.