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ISEB Pre-Test Verbal Reasoning: The Question Types That Matter Now
Letter and word types, two-from-six answers — and the number types that went in 2022
The Verbal Reasoning Section (25 minutes)
At 25 minutes, VR is the fastest section of the four — letter, word and language-based items where vocabulary does most of the heavy lifting. ISEB doesn't publish an official question-type list; the types below are the best available map, consistently reported for the current platform.
Synonyms & antonyms
Choose the word closest in meaning — or most opposite. The purest vocabulary test in the section.
Analogies
“A is to B as C is to …” — spotting the relationship, then applying it.
Compound words
Join two words to make a real new word (for example, rain + bow).
Hidden words
A short word hidden across the boundary of two words in a sentence.
Letter sequences & codes
Alphabet patterns and letter-for-letter code substitutions — methodical, learnable technique.
Move or insert a letter
Move one letter between words, or insert one letter, so both words still make sense.
Word completion & formation
Complete a word, or form one word from another, often within a sentence context.
Two answers from six
Some items reportedly require two correct answers chosen from six options — both must be right.
How to prepare for ISEB VR
Vocabulary is the engine of this section — synonyms, antonyms and shades of meaning repay daily investment far more than any single technique.
At 25 minutes this is the fastest section: practise clean, quick decisions rather than long deliberation.
Learn the letter-code and sequence methods properly once — they turn “puzzles” into routine marks.
Don’t drill number-based VR (number sequences, number analogies) for this test — those types were reportedly removed in 2022. They survive in other 11+ exams, but they are not the best use of ISEB prep time.
Practise it for real: ISEB-style mocks
Our ISEB-style VR section drills the letter and word types above at the real 25-minute tempo — the section where pacing practice pays off most.
Rehearse the Pre-Test Experience Calmly
Forward-only, difficulty-ramping ISEB-style mocks with a free walkthrough — unlimited sittings in every plan, with a 7-day free trial.