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Academy11+

11+ Non-verbal reasoning · Topic explained

NVR series

What comes next in this line of pictures?

The big idea

Find what changes from each picture to the next, then make that change once more.

Picture it

Frames in a flip book: each one moves on a little.

Key words

series
a line of pictures that follows a rule
step
the change from one picture to the next
repeat
a pattern that comes round again, like white, grey, black, white…

Worked examples

  1. 1Warm-up

    What comes next?

    • The arrow turns a quarter turn clockwise each time.
    • Up, right, down… next it points left.
  2. 211+ standard

    What comes next?

    • The star moves one corner clockwise.
    • The square swaps white, grey, white…
    • Next: star bottom left, square grey.
  3. 311+ standard

    What comes next?

    • The number goes up by 1: 1, 2, 3…
    • The shape repeats: circle, triangle, square…
    • Next: 4 circles.
  4. 411+ standard

    What comes next?

    • The arrow turns 45° clockwise each time.
    • The shading swaps black, white, black…
    • Next: pointing down, black.

The common mistake

The mistake

Compare only the first and last pictures.

Instead

Compare each picture with its neighbour: 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and so on.

Why: Repeating patterns and turns only show up step by step.

Where it comes up in the 11+

Series questions appear in nearly every GL NVR paper and in CEM-style non-verbal sections, usually with two or three changes.

The video

Video coming soon

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

Free printable

NVR series 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. A shape gains one side each time: triangle, square, pentagon… What's next?

    • hexagon
    • octagon
    • circle
    • square
    Show the answer

    hexagon

    A hexagon has 6 sides.

  2. 2. An arrow points up, then right, then down. Where next?

    • left
    • up
    • right
    • down
    Show the answer

    left

    A quarter turn clockwise each time.

  3. 3. The dots go 2, 4, 6. How many next?

    • 8
    • 7
    • 10
    • 6
    Show the answer

    8

    Two more each time.