THE BEST Non-verbal reasoning 11 plus test practice papers for grammar school entry 2025

Welcome to our non-verbal reasoning 11 plus test practice papers.

Non-verbal reasoning 11 plus practice papers

In my 20+ years experience, I know that these can be the stuff of nightmares. It’s the most difficult of all the 11 plus tests. Non-verbal skills are often the format, 11 plus students are least familiar with. Whereas, in reality, 11 plus non-verbal reasoning test formats are very similar to what you would see in similar IQ test’s abstract reasoning questions.

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TOP non-verbal reasoning 11 plus tips

Our 11 plus non-verbal reasoning tips and our 11 Plus non-Verbal Reasoning test practice papers for 2023 entry.

We are very proud of School Entrance Tests’ popular City Kids magazine 11 Plus non-verbal reasoning tips article.

 

Here’s School Entrance Tests’ popular Passed Papers You Tube channel.

 

What are non-verbal reasoning tests?

NVR tests measure general intelligence by assessing the ability to identify the inherent patterns in a series of shapes/figures. The figures may be regular geometric shapes like triangles, squares and triangles. However, sometimes they are just dots. Or just crosses.

NVR tests come in many different formats, but here are some common characteristics:

  1. Diagrams are used – instead of numbers or words. NVR tests do not rely on any knowledge of either English or maths. This is what makes them a fairer assessment than, ‘pure’ English or Maths tests.
  2. Questions are based on a sequence involving several sets of figures.

 

How to Pass your 11 plus Non-verbal reasoning test

So, what’s the secret? Well there’s lots to tell. School Entrance Tests advise parents to start off their child by reviewing the

< <  2010 mark scheme 11 plus and the 2011 Marked 11 plus Paper (Manchester grammar school)  >>

The key learning point is to take this on-board as simply a new skill to master, like any other. Learning to drive typically takes a few months with some regular weekly time devoted to practice. Your realistic expectation is to learn strategies and a process for passing the exam –  there’s no need to overachieve and to expect to become the best driver out there. ‘Squiggles’ tests certainly can divide opinion.

 

11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning Practice colourful chalk

Intro to Non-Verbal Reasoning Tests

It’s those test questions based upon geometric shapes and interpreting the patterns in these figures which are also called abstract reasoning tests. Test takers are asked to identify the pattern in a series of these shapes. Such abstract reasoning tests usually comprise of shapes, such as squares, triangles and squares. The pattern can be how the shapes change through, for example, their shading, rotation or reflection. Such non-verbal reasoning tests usually comprise of shapes, such as squares, triangles and squares. The pattern can be how the shapes change through, for example, their shading, rotation or reflection.

Why is non-verbal reasoning so important?

Graduate non-verbal reasoning test scores provide an indication of learning potential. Non-verbal reasoning tests indicate an ability to reason logically and to work with new ‘ideas’. In summary, non-verbal reasoning tests assess critical thinking.

 

11 plus non verbal reasoning test tips

It’s those test questions based upon geometric shapes and interpreting the patterns in these figures which are called abstract reasoning tests. Test takers are asked to identify the pattern in a series of these shapes. Such abstract reasoning tests usually comprise of shapes, such as squares, triangles and squares. The pattern can be how the shapes change through, for example, their shading, rotation or reflection. Such non-verbal reasoning tests usually comprise of shapes, such as squares, triangles and squares. The pattern can be how the shapes change through, for example, their shading, rotation or reflection.

Why is non-verbal reasoning so important?

Graduate non-verbal reasoning test scores provide an indication of learning potential. Non-verbal reasoning tests indicate an ability to reason logically and to work with new ‘ideas’. In summary, non-verbal reasoning tests assess critical thinking.

Non-Verbal Reasoning Step-by-Step Strategies

Series format non-verbal reasoning tips

Series non-verbal reasoning questions present 4 to 5 boxes in a line. The individual boxes contain a series of ever-evolving figures. For example, there may be one black square and four white circles in the first box. A regular increase in the number of black figures by one each time could be the pattern that needs to be identified. The pattern in the second box would be two black figures and so on.

“Complete the pattern” non-verbal reasoning practice

In the “complete the pattern” type of non-verbal reasoning, you need to select which of the five answer options completes the 2 rows by 2 columns, or the 3 by 3 box. This sounds a lot more complicated than it actually is. Typically, the pattern is the same in both the horizontal and the vertical direction. So, if there are 3 rows by 3 columns then the pattern across each row and column becomes even easier to spot.

Odd One Out format non-verbal reasoning practice

Odd One Out non-verbal reasoning test formats present five figures; one of which does not fit with the other four figures.

Non-Verbal Reasoning 11+ Skills

  • Analysing Shapes and Letters,
  • Breaking Codes
  • Completing Series of Shapes
  • Find the Odd One
  • Matrices
  • Similar shapes and figures
  • Words Out
  • Word Connections
  • Word-Number Codes
  • Words with Multiple meanings