GL Assessment's 11+ non-verbal reasoning paper runs to around 80 questions across four roughly 20-question sections, testing pattern and shape recognition rather than taught knowledge. Real families include odd-one-out shapes, analogies, "most alike" matching, and spatial tasks like fold-and-punch. It cannot be revised the way times tables can.
What does the 11+ non-verbal reasoning paper look like?
| Section | Approx. questions | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~20 | Odd-one-out shapes |
| 2 | ~20 | Analogies (A is to B as C is to ?) |
| 3 | ~20 | "Most alike" matching |
| 4 | ~20 | Spatial reasoning — fold-and-punch, hidden shapes, sequences |
That four-way split matters for preparation: a child can be strong on straightforward pattern-matching in sections one to three and still struggle specifically with the spatial tasks in section four, which ask the child to mentally manipulate an object in a way none of the earlier sections require.
The main non-verbal reasoning question types
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Odd-one-out shapes. The child identifies the one figure among a set that does not share the others' defining property. Illustrative example (not a real exam question): Four figures are shown — three are shaded triangles, one is a shaded square. The square is the odd one out, since the others share the triangle property.
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Analogies (shape A is to B as C is to ?). The child works out how shape A was transformed into shape B, then applies the same transformation to shape C to find the answer. Illustrative example: A small black circle becomes a small black square. A small black triangle should therefore become a small black pentagon-style shape following the same "circle-to-square" substitution rule, once the underlying transformation (change of shape, same size and colour) is identified.
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"Most alike" matching. The child picks, from several options, the one figure that shares the most features (shape, shading, number of sides, orientation) with a given example figure.
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Fold-and-punch. A square of paper is shown being folded one or more times, then a hole is punched through the folded shape. The child must predict where the holes will appear once the paper is unfolded. Illustrative example: A square folded in half once, then punched with a single hole near the fold, will show two holes — mirrored either side of the fold line — once unfolded.
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Hidden-shape identification. A small, simple shape is shown, and the child must spot it hidden within a larger, more complex figure made up of overlapping lines and shapes.
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"Complete the shape" sequence continuation. A sequence of figures changes according to a rule (rotating, growing, adding a feature), and the child selects the figure that correctly continues the pattern.
Why non-verbal reasoning can't be "revised" like a subject
Unlike times tables or spelling rules, non-verbal and spatial reasoning are not curriculum content — there is no fixed body of facts to memorise, and cramming will not raise a score the way it might for a vocabulary test. What genuinely helps is familiarity: practising enough varied examples of each question type that the format itself stops being a surprise, so a child's actual reasoning ability, rather than confusion about what's being asked, determines their score. This is similar in spirit to — though distinct in purpose from — how CAT4's non-verbal battery works: CAT4 is used by secondary schools, mainly in Year 7, to inform internal setting and target-grades, not to decide admission, whereas 11+ non-verbal reasoning is one of the papers used to decide entry itself.
FAQ
Can my child revise for non-verbal reasoning?
Not in the way they would revise for a maths or spelling test. Non-verbal reasoning measures pattern-recognition and spatial thinking rather than taught content, so practice builds familiarity with the question formats rather than "knowledge" that can be recalled on the day.
How is 11+ non-verbal reasoning different from CAT4's non-verbal battery?
They draw on similar underlying reasoning skills, but serve different purposes. CAT4 is used internally by secondary schools, typically in Year 7, to inform setting and target-grades rather than to decide entry, whereas 11+ non-verbal reasoning is one of the papers schools and local authorities use to decide admission in the first place.
How many non-verbal reasoning questions are on the 11+ paper?
Around 80 in total for GL Assessment's format, spread across four sections of roughly 20 questions each, though the exact number can vary between specific practice packs and providers.
What is a fold-and-punch question?
A fold-and-punch question shows a square of paper being folded one or more times, with a hole then punched through the folded shape. The child must work out where the resulting holes will appear once the paper is unfolded — a specifically spatial skill rather than a pattern-matching one.
For structured practice across every 11+ non-verbal reasoning question type, explore aitutors.me.