11+ guide
What are verbal and non-verbal reasoning in the 11+?
Quick answer
Verbal reasoning tests how well your child solves problems with words, letters and numbers, such as codes, hidden words and number sequences. Non-verbal reasoning uses shapes and patterns, such as spotting the next shape in a series. The Redbridge 11+ includes both, alongside English and Maths, in two multiple-choice papers.
Many parents have never seen a verbal or non-verbal reasoning question, because these are not taught as subjects at primary school. The good news is that they are very learnable. Once a child knows the main question types, practice makes a big difference.
Does the Redbridge 11+ include reasoning?
Yes. Your child sits two papers on one day: English and Verbal Reasoning, and Mathematics and Non-Verbal Reasoning, according to the Redbridge 11 plus page. The council says the test is provided by GL Assessment.
Not every 11+ is the same. The Essex CSSE test, for example, has only English and Maths papers (CSSE). Always check which test your child is sitting.
What is verbal reasoning?
Verbal reasoning is problem-solving with words, letters and sometimes numbers. It checks vocabulary, spelling, logic and how well a child spots patterns in language.
Common question types include:
- Hidden words inside sentences
- Letter and word codes
- Letter and number sequences
- Synonyms (same meaning) and antonyms (opposite meaning)
- Analogies ("a is to b as c is to ?")
- Odd one out
What do verbal reasoning questions look like?
Here are six simple questions we have written ourselves, with worked answers. Try them with your child.
1. Hidden word
Find the four-letter word hidden across two neighbouring words: Please hand over the map.
Answer: dove. Look at the end of one word and the start of the next. "hand over" gives D-O-V-E.
2. Letter code
If CAT is written as DBU, how is DOG written?
Answer: EPH. Each letter moves one place forward in the alphabet: C to D, A to B, T to U. So D to E, O to P, G to H.
3. Number sequence
What comes next? 3, 7, 15, 31, ?
Answer: 63. Each number is doubled, then 1 is added. 31 x 2 = 62, plus 1 = 63.
4. Letter pairs
What comes next? AZ, BY, CX, ?
Answer: DW. The first letter moves forward through the alphabet (A, B, C, D). The second letter moves backwards from Z (Z, Y, X, W).
5. Analogy
Hot is to cold as tall is to: high, short, big, wide.
Answer: short. Hot and cold are opposites, so we need the opposite of tall.
6. Odd one out
Which word does not belong? apple, banana, carrot, pear, grape
Answer: carrot. All the others are fruits. A carrot is a vegetable.
What is non-verbal reasoning?
Non-verbal reasoning is problem-solving with shapes, pictures and patterns, with no words needed. It checks how well a child notices changes in shape, size, shading, position, direction and number.
Common question types include:
- What comes next in a series of shapes
- Odd one out
- Shape analogies
- Grids with a missing square (matrices)
- Rotations and reflections
- Nets of cubes
Real questions use pictures. Because this page is text only, we describe the shapes in words below.
What do non-verbal reasoning questions look like?
1. Series
| Box 1 | Box 2 | Box 3 | Box 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White square, 1 dot | Black square, 2 dots | White square, 3 dots | ? |
Answer: a black square with 4 dots. Two things change. The dots go up by one each time, and the colour switches between white and black.
2. Rotation
An arrow points up, then right, then down. Which way does it point next?
Answer: left. It turns a quarter turn (90 degrees) clockwise each time.
3. Odd one out
Which is the odd one out?
- A triangle with 3 dots inside
- A square with 4 dots inside
- A pentagon with 5 dots inside
- A hexagon with 5 dots inside
Answer: the hexagon. In every other shape, the number of dots matches the number of sides. A hexagon has 6 sides but only 5 dots.
4. Shape analogy
A big circle with a small square inside becomes a big square with a small circle inside. What does a big triangle with a small circle inside become?
Answer: a big circle with a small triangle inside. The inside shape and the outside shape swap places.
Why do children find reasoning hard at first?
Mostly because it is new. Children are not used to looking for two changes at once, or to working against the clock with multiple-choice answer sheets.
Vocabulary is the other big factor. Many verbal reasoning questions depend on knowing word meanings. This is why reading widely in Year 4 and Year 5 helps so much, and why it matters even more for children who speak another language at home.
How can we practise at home?
Start slowly and untimed, then build speed. A good order is:
- Learn one question type at a time. Do five or six of the same kind until it clicks.
- Talk it through. Ask your child to explain their answer out loud. This shows you whether they really understand.
- Mix the types. Once the main types are familiar, do mixed sets.
- Add timing. In the summer of Year 5, start timed sections with an answer sheet.
GL Assessment offers free familiarisation materials, with separate downloads for verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, English and Maths. GL describes them as a guide to the style of questions; timings and question numbers in local tests may differ. See our full list of free 11+ practice papers.
How much time should reasoning take?
A little, often. In Year 5, two or three short sessions a week on reasoning is usually plenty, alongside Maths and English. Our Year 4 to Year 6 plan shows how it all fits together.
How LCB can help
Our 11+ tutoring teaches each reasoning type step by step, then builds speed with timed practice. Lessons are in small groups of 3 to 5, so your child gets attention but also learns from hearing how others think. We teach in person in Barking and online.
If you are not sure how your child would cope with reasoning questions, book a free assessment. We will try a few with them and tell you what we see.
Questions parents ask
- Is verbal reasoning the same as English?
- No. English questions usually test reading comprehension, grammar and spelling. Verbal reasoning tests logic with words, such as codes and hidden words, though a good vocabulary helps with both.
- Can reasoning be taught, or is it natural ability?
- It can be taught. Most of the gains come from learning the question types and practising regularly, which is why familiarisation matters.
- Should my child guess if they do not know an answer?
- On a multiple-choice paper, check the instructions on the paper itself. In practice, help your child narrow down the options and avoid leaving lots of blanks when time runs out.
- Are reasoning questions in the Essex CSSE test?
- The CSSE test has English and Maths papers. CSSE says the English paper no longer includes Applied Reasoning questions as of 2025 entry.
Sources
Related guides
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- Where can I find free 11+ practice papers?Free 11+ practice papers from official sources: GL Assessment familiarisation packs for Redbridge and CSSE past papers for Essex, plus how to use them well.