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11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning Questions: every type explained

See exactly how matrices, sequences, codes, analogies, similarities, odd-one-outs and 3D questions work, with real diagrams and step-by-step worked examples, then practise the same skills free. This is the complete picture: the 2D pattern families most guides show, plus the 3D families most guides skip.

Get the free practice paper See the question types ↓
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Two rules change at once here. Question type 1 shows you how to spot both.

Quick answer: non-verbal reasoning is the part of the 11+ that tests problem-solving using shapes, patterns and space instead of words or numbers. It covers 2D pattern families (matrices, sequences, codes, analogies, similarities and odd-one-outs) and 3D families (nets and cubes, rotations, combining shapes and plan views). GL Assessment, CEM-style papers, the ISEB Common Pre-Test and CAT4 all test it in some form. It is not taught in school, which is exactly why familiarity with the question types below produces fast improvement.

🧠 Shapes, not words or numbers 🏫 Used by grammar & independent schools 📚 Not on the national curriculum ✅ Multiple choice, A to E 📈 Highly coachable

The question types, at a glance

Every non-verbal reasoning question your child can meet falls into one of these families. Each card shows the task and the one rule that solves it.

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1 · Matrices

Fill the missing square in a 3x3 grid. Rule: find the pattern along each row and down each column, since usually two rules run at once.

GLCEMISEBCAT4
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2 · Sequences

What comes next in a row of shapes? Rule: track one change at a time, such as rotation, size or the number of sides.

GLCEM
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3 · Codes

Shapes are given a letter code. Rule: break the code into one letter per attribute (shape, fill, size) and match each part.

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4 · Analogies

A is to B as C is to what? Rule: name the exact change from A to B in words, then apply that same change to C.

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5 · Odd-one-out

Which shape does not belong in the set? Rule: list what every other shape shares; the odd one breaks exactly that rule.

GLCEM

6 · Similarities

Which option matches the given pair or set? Rule: find what the given shapes have in common, then test each option against it.

GLCEM
FULL GUIDE →

7 · Nets & cubes

Fold a flat net into a cube, or work backwards from a cube to its net. Rule: faces separated by one square in a straight line end up opposite.

GLISEBCAT4
FULL GUIDE →

8 · Rotations, plans & more

Rotating solids, combining blocks, plan views, fold and punch, hidden shapes and block counting: the full spatial reasoning family.

GLISEBCAT4

Types 7 and 8 are the 3D side of non-verbal reasoning, and they get a full page to themselves: 11+ Spatial Reasoning: every question type explained covers all 8 spatial types with worked examples, and Nets and Cubes goes deep on the single hardest one.

Worked examples, with the elimination logic

The fastest way to learn each type is to watch the elimination happen. Try each one with your child first, then open the answer.

Example 1 · Matrices

Solving rule: check the shape rule and the fill rule separately
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Which shape completes the bottom-right square of the grid?
A
B
C
D
E
Show the answer and the elimination, step by step

Check the shape first. Reading along each row, the shapes are circle, square, triangle in some order, and the same is true down each column: every row and column contains each shape exactly once. The bottom-right square is missing a shape from a row and column that already have circle and triangle, so it must be a square. That rules out B (circle) and D (triangle).

Then check the fill. The same one-of-each rule applies to the fills (white, grey, black) along every row and column. The bottom row already has grey and black, and the right column already has black and grey, so the missing fill must be white. That rules out A (grey) and C (black).

Only E, a white square, satisfies both rules at once, so E is correct.

Example 2 · Sequences

Solving rule: track exactly one change, step by step
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The arrow turns by the same amount each time. Which option comes next?
A
B
C
D
E
Show the answer and the elimination, step by step

Measure the first step. The arrow moves from 0° to 45°, a turn of 45° clockwise. Check that the next steps match: 45° to 90° is another 45°, and 90° to 135° is another 45°. The rule is confirmed: each arrow turns 45° clockwise from the last.

Apply it once more. 135° plus another 45° is 180°, an arrow pointing straight left. A (90°) and E (0°) repeat earlier positions. B (225°) and D (315°) overshoot by turning too far.

Only C shows the arrow at exactly 180°, so C is correct.

Example 3 · Analogies

Solving rule: name the change from A to B in words, then repeat it on C
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A white circle is to a bigger white circle as a small black triangle is to what?
A
B
C
D
E
Show the answer and the elimination, step by step

Name the change first, in words. From A to B, the shape stays the same (circle) and the fill stays the same (white). The only thing that changes is the size, which gets bigger. That is the whole rule: same shape, same fill, bigger size.

Apply it to C. C is a small black triangle, so the answer must be a triangle (not B, a square), black (not A, grey, or C, white), and bigger than C (not D, which keeps the small size).

Only E, a bigger black triangle, changes size alone and keeps the shape and fill the same, so E is correct.

Which exams actually test it?

Coverage varies by exam provider and region, so check what your target school uses before prioritising practice time.

ExamWhere non-verbal reasoning appearsRead next
GL AssessmentA full non-verbal reasoning paper covering most 2D families, with a dedicated spatial element in some regions, notably Kent, Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire.GL 11+ explained · Kent Test
CEM-style papersNon-verbal reasoning is blended into mixed papers rather than given its own dedicated timed section, so question types can appear alongside verbal and numerical items.CEM 11+ explained · GL vs CEM
ISEB Common Pre-TestA dedicated 30-minute non-verbal reasoning section, used by many independent senior schools, that leans towards the 3D spatial families.ISEB Pre-Test explained
CAT4The non-verbal battery covers figure classification (similarities and odd-one-out) and figure matrices, plus spatial subtests, used by some independent schools.All 11+ exam types

The 3-stage practice plan

Non-verbal reasoning rewards method before speed. This is the order that works.

1

Learn the rule for each type

One type at a time, untimed. Talk through the pattern out loud before picking an answer, so the method becomes a habit rather than a guess.

2

Drill short, single-type sets

Five to ten questions of one type in a sitting. The free Pip app generates unlimited reasoning questions with instant marking, so drilling never runs out.

3

Move to timed, mixed practice

Only once the methods are automatic, add time pressure with full papers that mix every type, since real exams jump between families question to question.

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📄 Free 24-question NVR paper

A full Non-Verbal Reasoning paper at real exam difficulty, covering matrices, sequences, codes, analogies and spatial-style puzzles, with a printable answer sheet and a worked answer key for every question.

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♾️ Unlimited practice in the app

Pip generates fresh reasoning questions every day, free, with adaptive difficulty and instant marking. Free on Google Play and the App Store.

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🖨️ All 11+ printables

Free English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning papers, each with worked answers, plus vocabulary flashcards and interactive tools.

Browse the printables

Non-verbal reasoning FAQ

What is non-verbal reasoning in the 11+?+

It tests how children solve problems using shapes, patterns and space instead of words or numbers. It covers 2D families like matrices, sequences, codes, analogies, similarities and odd-one-outs, plus 3D families like nets and cubes, rotations and plans. It shows reasoning ability without relying on reading.

Which exam boards use non-verbal reasoning?+

GL Assessment and CEM-style papers both include it, and the ISEB Common Pre-Test and CAT4 use it too. Most grammar and independent schools test it in some form, though the exact mix of question types varies by region and provider.

How many question types are there?+

Around ten common families cover what 11+ exams use: matrices, sequences, codes, analogies, similarities, odd-one-out, nets and cubes, rotating shapes, combining shapes, and 3D shapes from above. The exact number varies by exam board.

Is it taught in school?+

No, it is not part of the national curriculum, so most children meet these question types for the first time during 11+ preparation. That also makes it one of the most coachable parts of the exam.

How can my child improve?+

Learn one question type's solving rule at a time, drill short untimed sets, then move to timed mixed practice. A little and often beats cramming, and worked answers turn every miss into a lesson.

What is the difference between non-verbal and spatial reasoning?+

Spatial reasoning is a subset of non-verbal reasoning that specifically covers 3D shapes: nets and cubes, rotations, combining blocks and plan views. Non-verbal reasoning is the wider umbrella that also includes 2D pattern families like matrices, sequences, codes and analogies.

Keep going: 11+ Spatial Reasoning covers all 8 3D question types with worked examples, Nets and Cubes goes deep on the hardest single type, how to prepare for non-verbal reasoning gives a broader parent overview, and the free NVR practice paper puts it all under exam conditions. For everything else, the 11+ Info Hub has the full library.