Verbal reasoning is not taught in the national curriculum, so it rewards deliberate, targeted practice. The strongest preparation has two parts. First, a wide vocabulary, built mainly through reading, because knowing what words mean is half the battle. Second, familiarity with the specific question types, such as codes, analogies, hidden words and letter sequences, so nothing on the paper feels strange. For GL-based schools, working through the common GL question types is especially worthwhile.
- Verbal reasoning is not taught in school, so it needs deliberate practice.
- A wide vocabulary, built mainly through reading, is the foundation.
- Learn the specific question types so nothing on the paper is a surprise.
- For GL schools, working through the common GL question types is especially useful.
What verbal reasoning is
Verbal reasoning is problem solving with words and letters. Think codes to crack, analogies to complete, hidden words to spot and letter patterns to continue.
Because it sits outside the school curriculum, most children meet it for the first time during 11+ preparation. That is not a problem, but it does mean it will not look after itself. Seeing where it fits among the subjects tested in the 11+ helps you give it the time it needs.
Vocabulary is the foundation
Most verbal reasoning questions lean on knowing what words mean. A child with a rich vocabulary can see the link in an analogy or the odd one out almost instantly, while a child who is unsure of the words is stuck before they start.
That is why wide reading is the deepest preparation of all. It builds vocabulary naturally, day after day, which is one of the big reasons reading matters so much for the 11+. Talking about new words and exploring synonyms and antonyms adds an extra boost.
The first encounter with a code or analogy can feel baffling, but verbal reasoning question types are finite. Once your child has seen each kind a few times, the panic fades and the patterns start to feel familiar.
Learn the question types
Verbal reasoning is built from a fixed set of question types. Codes, analogies, letter sequences, hidden words, odd ones out and word logic come up again and again, just dressed in different words.
That predictability is your friend. For GL-based schools in particular, there are around 21 verbal reasoning question types, and methodically working through them removes nearly all the surprise from the paper. Once each type is familiar, your child can focus on solving rather than decoding the instructions.
How to practise
Keep practice short, regular and varied. A few question types in each session, returned to often, builds confidence faster than occasional long grinds.
Rotate the types so no skill goes rusty, and revisit the ones your child finds hardest. Short daily reasoning practice with Pip keeps these patterns fresh, and it pairs neatly with the non-verbal reasoning work that often sits alongside it.
Match practice to the board
Before you go deep, check which exam board your target schools use, because it shapes what to prioritise. GL papers tend to use clearly defined question types you can practise directly.
Other boards blend verbal skills into broader papers, so the emphasis shifts. Understanding the difference between GL and CEM helps you point your child's practice in the right direction rather than spreading it too thin.