11+ Verbal reasoning · Topic explained
Move a letter
What if one letter could jump from one word into another?
The big idea
Move one letter from the first word to the second. Both must still be real words.
Picture it
Like moving one player to another team: both teams still have to work.
Key words
- move
- take one letter out of the first word and put it in the second
- order
- the other letters stay in the same order
- real word
- both new words must be proper words
Worked examples
- 1Warm-up
dear art: which letter moves?
- Take D out of dear: ear
- Put D in front of art: dart
- The letter is d.
- 211+ standard
break coal: which letter moves?
- Take R out of break: beak
- Slot R into coal: coral
- The letter is r.
- 311+ standard
cart spot: which letter moves?
- Take R out of cart: cat
- Slot R into spot: sport
- The letter is r.
- 411+ standard
shelf sort: which letter moves?
- Take H out of shelf: self
- Slot H into sort: short
- The letter is h.
The common mistake
The mistake
You can rearrange the letters to make new words.
Instead
Only the moved letter changes place; every other letter stays in order.
Why: Swapping other letters around breaks the rule, so those answers are always wrong.
Where it comes up in the 11+
A regular GL question type. Take each letter out in turn: does a word remain? Then where could it go in the second word?
The video
Video coming soon
We're making a short video that explains move a letter step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.
Free printable
Move a letter worksheet
Practice questions on this topic to print and try on paper, at home or on the way to school.
Download the worksheet (PDF)Free account needed: it takes a minute.
Quick quiz
Have a go first, then tap to see the answer.
1. chat lap: which letter moves?
- c
- h
- t
- a
Show the answerHide the answer
c
hat and clap
2. horse book: which letter moves?
- r
- s
- h
- e
Show the answerHide the answer
r
hose and brook
3. lend sea: which letter moves?
- l
- n
- d
- e
Show the answerHide the answer
l
end and seal