11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning Syllabus
Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) tests your child's ability to spot patterns and reason logically with shapes, lines and colours. Because the questions are picture-based, language ability is not what's being tested — but careful observation and clear-headed deduction are. NVR is heavily used by GL Assessment regions (Kent, Bexley, Lincolnshire), CEM regions (Birmingham, Buckinghamshire) and the ISEB Common Pre-Test for independent schools.
11
12
12
Typically 40–50 minutes (varies by board)
Format at a glance
5-option multiple choice. Strict timing — typically 30–50 seconds per question.
Series & Sequences
A row of shapes follows a pattern. Find the shape that comes next, or fills a gap, by spotting how each step changes.
Rotation in regular steps (90°, 180°, etc.)
Adding or removing elements
Colour or shading rotation
Size changes
Identify the next shape in a row by spotting the rule of change.
Series — find the next shape:
?
Options:
Which shape comes next in the series?
Option D
Each arrow rotates 45° clockwise. The pattern shows: → ↘ ↓ ↙ then the next position is ←. The arrow turns through one-eighth of a full rotation each step.
Analogies (Like Goes With Like)
Visual analogies: A is to B as C is to ? — apply the same transformation to a new shape.
Identify the rule that turns A into B
Apply that rule to C
Common rules: rotate, reflect, recolour, add/remove parts
Apply the transformation seen in the first pair to the new shape.
First pair → apply same change → answer for the third:
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→
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Options:
The first shape changes to the second. Apply the same change to the third shape. Which option is correct?
Option B
The transformation is "the shape becomes solid black" — the outline stays the same, but the inside is filled in. Apply that to the third shape and the answer is Option B (the same orientation, now filled).
Matrices (Grid Puzzles)
A 2×2 or 3×3 grid contains shapes following a rule. One cell is missing — find the shape that completes it.
Look across rows AND down columns
Spot how shape, size, colour or position change
Sometimes rules combine across both directions
A 2×2 grid where the missing shape follows the same rule shown in the other three cells.
Find the shape that completes the 2×2 grid:
?
Options:
Which option completes the grid?
Option A
Across the top row, a circle becomes a square (shape change). Down the left column, an unshaded shape becomes shaded (colour change). The missing cell must therefore be a SHADED SQUARE.
A 3×3 grid where the missing cell follows the rule shown by the other eight cells. Look across rows AND down columns to spot two combined rules.
Find the shape that completes the 3×3 grid:
?
Options:
Which shape completes the 3×3 grid?
Option C
Across each row, the shape changes from circle → square → triangle. Down each column, the colour gets darker: white → striped → black. The missing cell is in the third column (so triangle) and third row (so black). The answer is a SHADED TRIANGLE — Option C.
Odd One Out
Five shapes are shown. Four follow a hidden rule and one does not. Find the shape that breaks the pattern.
Count sides, shaded sections, internal lines
Look for symmetry, rotation, similarity
Pick the rule that 4 shapes share — the 5th is the odd one out
Pick the shape that does not share a feature with the others.
Four shapes share a feature. Find the odd one out:
Four of the shapes share a property. Which one is different?
Option C
Four shapes have a small black dot inside; the third has a white dot. The dot's colour is the rule that picks out the odd one.
Reflection (Mirror Images)
A shape is reflected in a mirror line. Pick the mirror image of the original shape.
Mirror lines: vertical, horizontal or diagonal
Reflection swaps left↔right (or top↔bottom)
Rotation does NOT equal reflection
Choose the option that is the correct mirror reflection of the given shape.
Find the mirror image of the shape on the left:
?
Options:
Which shape is the mirror image of the shape on the left?
Option B
Reflect every part of the shape across the vertical line. Internal features that were on the left appear on the right, and vice versa.
Rotation
A shape is rotated by 90°, 180° or 270°. Pick the option that shows the correct rotation.
90° clockwise = one quarter turn right
180° = upside down
Rotation preserves left/right orientation; reflection does not
Select the shape that is the given rotation of the original.
Rotate the shape 90° clockwise. Which option is correct?
→
?
Options:
Which option shows the shape rotated 90° clockwise?
Option A
Rotating 90° clockwise turns the top of the shape to the right. The shape itself is not flipped — its parts simply move to a new orientation.
Codes
Each shape is labelled with a two-letter code. Each letter represents one feature of the shape (e.g. its colour or shape). Work out which letter means what, then label a new shape.
First letter usually relates to one feature, second letter to another
Compare codes that share a letter — what do those shapes have in common?
Work out which code labels a new shape.
Each shape has a two-letter code. What is the code for the new shape?
What is the code for this shape?
Options:
Three shapes are labelled with codes. Which code matches the new shape?
Option C
First letter = colour (X = striped, Y = white, Z = black). Second letter = shape (P = circle, Q = square). The new shape is a black square — code = ZQ.
Paper Folding & Hole Punch
A square of paper is folded one or more times, then a hole is punched through. Decide what the paper looks like when it is unfolded again.
Each fold creates a line of symmetry — the holes appear in matching positions on either side
Reverse the folds in your mind to see where each hole is reflected
Two folds (e.g. fold in half then in half again) produce 4 holes from one punch
Three folds can produce up to 8 holes
Predict how many holes appear when the folded paper is opened, and where they are.
A square of paper is folded in half (left to right), then a hole is punched. What does it look like unfolded?
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→
Options (paper fully unfolded):
A square of paper is folded in half then a hole is punched. Which option shows the paper unfolded?
Option B
Folding the square in half makes the fold line a mirror line. The single punched hole becomes two holes — one on each side of the fold line — symmetrical about it.
Nets, Cubes & 3D
A 2D net folds to make a 3D solid (usually a cube). Decide which net makes the given cube, or which cube can be made from a net.
A cube has 6 faces
Opposite faces never touch on the net
Visualise folding flap-by-flap, or use elimination
Pick the cube that can be made by folding the given net.
Net of a cube — which finished cube is correct?
Options (cube shown from a top-front-right angle):
Which cube can be made by folding the net on the left?
Option B
On the net, ■ sits on the TOP face, ● on the FRONT face and ★ on the RIGHT face. When folded, those three faces are exactly the ones visible from a top-front-right angle. Only Option B places every symbol on the correct face — the other options swap at least one pair.
Combining Shapes
Two shapes are joined to make a third. Identify the result, or work out which two shapes were joined.
Look for overlapping regions
Imagine sliding one shape onto the other
Choose the option formed when the two shapes are placed together.
Two shapes are joined along the marked edge. What is created?
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→
?
Options:
When the two shapes on the left are joined, which option is created?
Option A
Slide the second shape onto the first along the marked edge. The combined outline matches Option A exactly.
Put Non-Verbal Reasoning into practice
Use these resources to turn the syllabus into exam-ready confidence.
11 plus Non-Verbal Reasoning — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions parents ask most about 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning.