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Academy11+

11+ Non-verbal reasoning · Topic explained

NVR codes

What do the letters under each picture stand for?

The big idea

Each letter stands for one feature. Compare two pictures that share a letter to see what it means.

Picture it

A postcode: each part tells you one thing about where you are.

Key words

code
letters that describe a picture
feature
one thing about the picture: shape, shading, direction, number…
ignore
some features have no letter and don't matter

Worked examples

  1. 1Warm-up

    What is the code for the last picture?

    • Both circles start with A: A = circle, B = square.
    • Both white shapes end with X: X = white, Y = black.
    • A black square is BY.
  2. 211+ standard

    What is the code for the last picture?

    • L = pointing up, M = pointing right.
    • P = black, Q = white.
    • Pointing right and white: MQ.
  3. 311+ standard

    What is the code for the last picture?

    • J = square, K = circle.
    • E = one dot, F = two dots.
    • A circle with one dot: KE.
  4. 411+ standard

    What is the code for the last picture?

    • The big and small stars have the same code: size has no letter.
    • R = star, U = hexagon; G = grey, H = white.
    • A small grey hexagon: UG.

The common mistake

The mistake

Each letter is a name for the whole picture.

Instead

Each letter stands for just one feature, like shape or shading.

Why: Compare two pictures that share a letter: what else do they share? That's the feature.

Where it comes up in the 11+

Codes are a classic GL NVR question, usually with two or three letters per picture.

The video

Video coming soon

We're making a short video that explains nvr codes step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.

Free printable

NVR codes worksheet

Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.

Download the worksheet (PDF)

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Quick quiz

Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.

  1. 1. Two pictures share the first letter A. Both are triangles; one is black, one is white. What does A mean?

    • triangle
    • black
    • white
    • big
    Show the answer

    triangle

    The shared feature is the shape.

  2. 2. A big circle and a small circle have the same code. What does that tell you?

    • Size has no letter
    • Size is the first letter
    • The code is wrong
    • Circles have no code
    Show the answer

    Size has no letter

    If size changes but the code doesn't, size doesn't count.

  3. 3. S = square, C = circle, W = white, B = black. What is a black circle?

    • CB
    • SB
    • CW
    • BC
    Show the answer

    CB

    Shape letter first, then shading.