Non-verbal reasoning is important in the 11+ exams because it tests a child's ability to understand and analyse visual information. This is a key skill that is necessary for success in many subjects, including mathematics and science. Non-verbal reasoning is also a good predictor of academic achievement.
At the start of the 11+ preparation journey, many parents and pupils feel daunted by the prospect of tackling the non-verbal reasoning (NVR) questions. These can seem like a minefield, with their seemingly random shapes and patterns.
However, some strategies can be employed to help crack these types of questions:
- Look for visual clues. Sometimes the answer can be staring you in the face if you take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
- Sometimes, it can be helpful to break the image into smaller chunks and look for repeated patterns.
- Another useful tip is to think about what the question is asking. If you can identify what it is you need to do, it can make finding the answer a lot easier.
With NVR questions, it is often easy to get caught up in the details and lose sight of the bigger picture. If you can identify the key information the question asks for, it can be much easier to zero in on the answer. Of course, practice makes perfect. The more NVR questions you see, the more familiar they will become and the easier they will be to tackle.
If you have just started your 11+ journey our about to start, we recommend starting with the following books:
