Non-Verbal reasoning

Non-verbal reasoning is a visual approach to problem-solving that does not require any literacy or numeracy. Instead, it is a skill which measures whether one can identify patterns or common themes in images using perception and logic. Although it may seem simple at first glance, it is actually one of the most challenging skills to learn as it requires an extremely sharp attention to detail. While verbal reasoning focuses primarily on vocabulary and calculations, non-verbal reasoning focuses on geometric concepts such as:

• Rotation
• Symmetry
• Reflection
• Enlargement
• Direction

Similar to verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning is also not taught at school, meaning it is equally important for a child to learn both of these skills beyond the classroom. The non-verbal reasoning exam, in particular, demands immense creativity and intuition from students as it is almost impossible to write the correct answer without knowing how to identify specific details within a wider pattern of complex images. Non-verbal reasoning is especially important to grammar and independent schools as the skills of deduction, logic and perception acquired through this exam are fundamental to excelling in a range of subject such as the sciences. Thus, a child must perform exceptionally well in this exam in order to demonstrate their academic worth to a selector who may then ultimately grant them a place at a grammar school.

In this non-verbal reasoning exam, students must complete a range of complex geometric questions such as:

• Identifying the reflected image of a shape
• Spotting two identical shapes in a sequence of images
• Visualising how a shape would look when rotated at various angles
• Determining the next image in a sequence of images
• Spotting the odd shape

At AssistTutor, our learning centres are staffed with highly experienced tutors who are trained to teach each component of the 11 Plus curriculum. Our approach to teaching verbal and non-verbal reasoning is through rigorous and repeated practice ensuring that, by the end of the learning programme, our students will have perfected their exam technique and will be completely prepared to tackle every style of questions in the exam. While many other 11 Plus tuition centres solely rely on past papers, we have created our own specially designed series of 11 Plus resources exclusively for our students. These resources teach students the specific numeracy and literacy skills needed to perform well in the verbal and non-verbal reasoning exams which students may otherwise struggle to acquire by only completing past papers. These resources – at the hands of our tutors – have enabled many of our pupils to attend some of the most prestigious grammar and independent schools across the UK.