11+ Verbal reasoning · Topic explained
Odd ones out
Five words. Two don't belong. Which two?
The big idea
Three words share a link. The other two share a different link.
Picture it
Sorting socks: three match, and the other two make their own pair.
Key words
- group
- words that share something: a type of thing, or a meaning
- link
- what the words in a group have in common
- odd two out
- two words that don't fit the big group, but fit each other
Worked examples
- 1Warm-up
butterfly wasp fifty bee twenty
- Butterfly, wasp, bee: insects.
- Odd two out: fifty, twenty (numbers)
- 211+ standard
topple seize snatch fall tumble
- Topple, fall, tumble: falling over.
- Odd two out: seize, snatch (grabbing)
- 311+ standard
climb respond ascend reply clamber
- Climb, ascend, clamber: going up.
- Odd two out: respond, reply (answering)
- 411+ standard
stool dishwasher table cooker toaster
- Dishwasher, cooker, toaster: kitchen machines.
- Odd two out: stool, table (furniture)
The common mistake
The mistake
Look for one word that's different.
Instead
Look for two words that go together but not with the other three.
Why: The odd two usually share their own link, which is a great way to check your answer.
Where it comes up in the 11+
GL's 'odd two out' uses meanings and types of things. CEM-style tests often use 'odd one out' with single words.
The video
Video coming soon
We're making a short video that explains odd ones out step by step. Until then, everything it covers is on this page.
Free printable
Odd ones out 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. leg blue hand wrist black
- blue, black
- leg, hand
- wrist, black
- leg, blue
Show the answerHide the answer
blue, black
The others are body parts; blue and black are colours.
2. carrot cauliflower guitar celery clarinet
- guitar, clarinet
- carrot, guitar
- celery, clarinet
- carrot, celery
Show the answerHide the answer
guitar, clarinet
Vegetables and instruments.
3. frail weak feeble tedious dull
- tedious, dull
- frail, weak
- feeble, dull
- weak, tedious
Show the answerHide the answer
tedious, dull
Frail, weak, feeble mean not strong; tedious and dull mean boring.