Non-Verbal Reasoning · Topic 1 of 18 · Free lesson
What to look for
NVR questions use pictures instead of words. Every question hides a rule: something that changes or stays the same. A short checklist of things to look at finds the rule fast.
What it is
NVR questions use pictures instead of words. Every question hides a rule: something that changes or stays the same. A short checklist of things to look at finds the rule fast.
Levels 1–3 · Getting started
Remember
Shape, size, shading, number, position, direction, lines. Say it in that order.
Light bulb
The rule is usually one or two things. Everything else is there to distract you, so a feature that changes at random doesn't matter.
Getting started (Levels 1–2)
The method
- 1Shape, size and shading first: they are the easiest to see.
- 2Then count: shapes, sides, dots and lines.
- 3Then position and direction: where things are and which way they point.
- 4Last, line type: solid, dashed, thick or thin.
Worked example
What changes in each pair?
- 1.Shape, size, shading, number: square to pentagon, small to big, white to black, 1 dot to 3
- =Position and turn: check them in this order every time
Understanding it
Every NVR question is built from a few features: shape, size, shading, number, position, direction and line type. The question setter picks one or two of these to make the rule and lets the others change at random. Your job is to sort the features that matter from the ones that are just noise.
Think like a detective. Look at the figures side by side and ask of each feature, 'Does this stay the same, change in a pattern, or change at random?' A feature that changes in a neat pattern is a strong clue. A feature that jumps about with no pattern is there to distract you.
Strong children check in the same order every time, starting with the easy features and ending with tiny details like a dot's position or a dashed line. GL papers usually give five options full of near misses. CEM papers mix question types and give less time, so a fixed checklist saves precious seconds.
Key words
- feature
- One thing you can check, like shape, shading or size.
- rule
- The hidden pattern that links the figures.
- distraction
- A change that follows no pattern, put there to fool you.
- shading
- How a shape is filled: white, black, grey, striped or dotted.
- line type
- Whether a line is solid, dashed, thick or thin.
Step by step
Three figures: a small white circle with 1 dot, a big white square with 2 dots, a medium white triangle with 3 dots. Which feature changes in a steady pattern?
- 1.Shape: circle, square, triangle. No steady pattern
- 2.Size: small, big, medium. No steady pattern either
- 3.Shading: all white, so it does not change
- 4.Number: 1, 2, 3 dots. One more dot each time
- =The pattern is in the number of dots
Common mistakes
Stopping at the first difference you notice and choosing an answer straight away.
Run the whole checklist, then choose the option that fits every feature, not just one.
Counting striped or dotted shading as extra shapes or extra lines.
Striped and dotted are kinds of shading. Count shapes by their outlines only.
Ignoring small things like a dashed outline or a tiny dot in a corner.
Check position and line type last, every time. The rule often hides in small details.
Exam level (Levels 3–4)
Which figure is the odd one out?
- a
- b
- c
- d
- e
- 1.Shape and shading: no rule there
- 2.Direction: four arrows point at the black dot
- =The odd one out is option A
Watch out
Don't stop at the first difference. Check the whole list: the real rule may be the position of a tiny dot.
Exam tip
Point at each feature with your pencil as you check it. It stops you skipping one.
Quick check
Work each one out, then tap to see the answer.
1 · Level 1
Which is the odd one out?
- a
- b
- c
- d
- e
Show the answer
B: it is smaller
2 · Level 2
Which is the odd one out?
- a
- b
- c
- d
- e
Show the answer
C: its small inside shape is grey
3 · Level 3
Which is the odd one out?
- a
- b
- c
- d
- e
Show the answer
B: one dot too few for its sides
11+ example questions, worked
Real 11+ style questions, solved for you. Read how each one is done.
11+ example question 1
Which figure is the odd one out?
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
How to solve it: Count the sides: four of the shapes have 4 sides, but figure C has 6.
11+ example question 2
The three figures in the question are alike in some way. Which option is most like them?
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
How to solve it: All the figures in the question have 3 dots. Option C has 3 dots too, and none of the other options do. The other features change from figure to figure, so they don't matter.
Try it
Have a go on your own. We'll mark each one as you go.
5 questions
1.Which figure is the odd one out?
2.The two figures in the question are alike in some way. Which option is most like them?
3.Which figure is the odd one out?
4.The two figures in the question are alike in some way. Which option is most like them?
5.Which figure is the odd one out?