How Verbal Reasoning Works

What verbal reasoning is

Verbal reasoning (VR) tests how well you can think using words and language. Some questions are about vocabulary and meaning; others are logic puzzles that use letters, numbers and codes. It's a common part of the 11+.

The main question types

• Synonyms and antonyms: words with similar or opposite meanings.
• Analogies: "cat is to kitten as dog is to ?" — find the same relationship.
• Odd one out: which word doesn't belong with the others.
• Letter and number codes: work out a rule and apply it.
• Letter sequences: what comes next (e.g. AB, CD, EF, ?).
• Hidden words: find a small word hidden across two words.
• Word logic / rearranging: make a word from jumbled letters, or complete a word.
• Reading logic: short puzzles ("Tom is taller than Sam…").

Skills that help

• A wide vocabulary — the more words you know, the easier synonyms, antonyms and analogies become.
• Knowing the alphabet positions (A = 1, B = 2 … Z = 26) for code questions.
• Careful, logical thinking for puzzles.

A method for VR

1. Read the question type carefully — they change quickly.

2. Work out the rule or relationship.

3. Apply it and check your answer makes sense.

4. If stuck, use elimination to remove wrong options.

Worked example

"Big is to small as tall is to ?"

• The relationship is opposites (big/small). The opposite of tall is short. ✓

Common mistakes

• Not spotting the type of relationship in analogies (opposite, part of, kind of).
• Miscounting alphabet positions in code questions.
• Rushing and picking a word that's close but not quite right.

Top tips

• Build your vocabulary by reading widely and learning synonyms/antonyms.
• Learn the alphabet with its positions for code questions.
• Read each question type carefully — they're all different.

Quick recap

• VR uses words and logic: synonyms/antonyms, analogies, odd-one-out, codes, sequences, hidden words and reading puzzles.
• A strong vocabulary and knowing alphabet positions are the biggest helps.
• Find the rule/relationship, apply it, and use elimination if unsure.