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11+ preparation · a guide for parents
Non-Verbal Reasoning
NVR tests logic with shapes and space. It is in GL and ISEB — but not FSCE. Here is how to prepare wisely.
GL grammarFSCE grammarIndependent & ISEB
Non-Verbal Reasoning (NVR) tests how your child thinks with shapes, patterns and space — not what they have been taught. Because it relies on logic, focused practice can lift scores quickly. Importantly, it is not part of every exam.
What NVR involves
- Spotting patterns and the “odd one out”.
- Completing sequences and matrices (grids of shapes).
- Rotations, reflections and symmetry.
- Shape analogies (“A is to B as C is to…”).
- Codes, nets and 3D / spatial reasoning.
Where NVR is — and isn’t — tested
GL AssessmentMost grammar schools
A standard part of most GL grammar assessments, in multiple-choice form. The challenge is keeping accuracy high at speed.
FSCEFuture Stories
Not tested. FSCE has no non-verbal reasoning paper — NVR is not on the KS2 curriculum. If your target school uses FSCE, time is better spent on English, Maths and writing.
Independent / ISEBPrivate schools
Included in the ISEB pre-test, and many independents value spatial reasoning. Weightings vary, so check each school.
Check first: before investing heavily in NVR practice, confirm whether your target school’s exam actually includes it. GL and ISEB do; FSCE does not.
How you can help at home
- Play with tangrams, jigsaws, building blocks and pattern puzzles.
- Teach a systematic checklist: shape, then number, size, rotation, shading.
- Practise eliminating wrong options rather than hunting for the right one.
- Add gentle timing only once accuracy is reliable.
- Review mistakes together — understanding why beats chasing the score.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Guessing randomly instead of eliminating systematically.
- Staring at the whole puzzle rather than one feature at a time.
- Practising NVR heavily for an FSCE school that never tests it.
Not sure where your child stands?
Book a free, no-pressure initial assessment. We’ll pinpoint strengths and gaps across spatial and logical reasoning and map out a realistic plan — whichever exam your target schools use.
Book a free assessment
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