The note
How schools teach it now
KS2 maths teaches turns, reflections and shape properties, which these use. The 11+ strategy: list every change from the first figure to the second (turned, flipped, shading, size, number of dots, inside shape), then apply each change to the third figure. Eliminate options that miss one.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Take a fork pointing up on a white napkin. Turn it to point down and swap to a dark napkin. Now give your child a spoon pointing right on a white napkin and ask them to make the same two changes.
Worked example
A black triangle pointing up is to a white triangle pointing down, as a black arrow pointing right is to ?
- Change 1: black becomes white.
- Change 2: pointing up becomes pointing down, a half turn.
- Apply both to the arrow: white, and turned a half turn to point left.
Answer: A white arrow pointing left
Common mistakes to watch for
- Spotting one change and missing a second one.
- Applying the change to the wrong figure.
- Confusing a turn with a mirror flip.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “List every change, then tick them off. Super organised thinking.”
- Rather than
- “That's not even close.”