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Non-Verbal Reasoning · Guide 6 of 8

Shape codes

Each letter in a code stands for one feature of the picture. Compare pictures that share a letter to find out which feature it is.

  • Ages 9 to 11
  • 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning
  • Worked examples

What is it?

In a codes question, several pictures each have a code made of letters, such as AX or BY. Each letter stands for a feature: the first letter might be the shape and the second the shading.

You work out what each letter means, then choose the code for a new picture.

What is the code for the last picture?

AX
BY
AY
?

How to spot it

  • Pictures with two or three capital letters underneath.
  • A final picture with no code and a list of possible codes.

Step-by-step method

  1. Step 1: Take the first letter position. Find two pictures that share the same first letter.
  2. Step 2: Ask: what do those two pictures have in common? That feature is what the letter means.
  3. Step 3: Check against a picture with a different first letter: it should be different in that feature.
  4. Step 4: Do the same for the second letter (and the third, if there is one).
  5. Step 5: Build the code for the new picture one letter at a time, then find it in the options.

Worked examples

Example 1: shape and shading

Question: What is the code for the black square? (above)
  1. Step 1: First letter: AX and AY are both circles; BY is a square. So A = circle, B = square.
  2. Step 2: Second letter: BY and AY are both white; AX is black. So X = black, Y = white.
  3. Step 3: A black square is B (square) then X (black).

Answer: BX

Example 2: shape and number

Question: What is the code for the last picture?
LF
MG
LG
?
  1. Step 1: First letter: LF and LG are both triangles, MG is a circle. So L = triangle, M = circle.
  2. Step 2: Second letter: MG and LG both have two dots, LF has one. So G = two dots, F = one dot.
  3. Step 3: A circle with one dot is M then F.

Answer: MF

Common traps

  • Guessing from one picture

    One picture can't tell you which letter means what. Always compare two pictures that share a letter.

  • Mixing up the letter positions

    The first letter only ever describes one feature. Don't let it swap places with the second.

  • Distractor features

    Some features (like size) may change without having a letter. Ignore anything the code doesn't track.

Top tips

  • Write a little key as you go: 'A = circle, B = square, X = black, Y = white'.
  • Cross out options that have the wrong first letter before checking the second.

Practice questions

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