Shape Codes Worksheets, Questions and Revision

Revision notes: Shape Codes

A shape codes question in 11+ non-verbal reasoning gives three or four worked examples pairing a two-part code, such as a number and a letter, with a figure, then asks the pupil to work out what each part of the code means so they can identify the figure matching a new, unseen code. It rewards comparing examples that differ in only one place.

Find two examples whose codes differ in only one position - the feature that changes between them tells you what that position controls.

Repeat this comparison for every position in the code until you have confirmed what each letter or number represents.

Write down your confirmed meanings as a simple key, for example digit equals number of shapes, letter equals shading.

Build the target figure feature by feature using your key and the new code.

Check your built-up figure against each option and choose the exact match.

Worked example. Example 1: code 4T shows a small square. Example 2: code 6T shows a large square. Example 3: code 4P shows a small pentagon. What figure does the code 6P show?

Compare Example 1 (4T, small square) with Example 2 (6T, large square): the digit changes from 4 to 6 and the size changes from small to large, so the digit controls size.
Compare Example 1 (4T, small square) with Example 3 (4P, small pentagon): the letter changes from T to P and the shape changes from square to pentagon, so the letter controls shape.
Apply the confirmed key to code 6P: digit 6 means large, letter P means pentagon.

Answer: The code 6P shows a large pentagon.

Question 0

0 marks

Choose an answerA) An unshaded (white) square, sides horizontal and vertical, thin outlineB) An unshaded (white) equilateral triangle, apex pointing straight up, thin outlineC) A solid black square, sides horizontal and vertical, thin outlineD) A solid black equilateral triangle, apex pointing straight up, thin outlineE) An unshaded (white) circle, thin outline

Question 1

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A small solid black circle, thin outlineB) A small solid black five-pointed star, thin outlineC) A large solid black five-pointed star, thin outlineD) A large solid black circle, thin outlineE) A small solid black square, thin outline

Question 2

1 mark

Choose an answerA) One solid black regular pentagon, thin outlineB) Two solid black regular pentagons side by side and touching, thin outlineC) One solid grey (mid-grey fill) regular pentagon, thin outlineD) Two solid grey (mid-grey fill) regular pentagons side by side and touching, thin outlineE) Three solid grey regular pentagons in a row, thin outline

Question 3

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A solid black straight arrow pointing straight up, thin outlineB) A solid black straight arrow pointing to the left, thick outlineC) A solid black straight arrow pointing to the right, thin outlineD) A solid black straight arrow pointing to the right, thick outlineE) A solid black straight arrow pointing to the left, thin outline

Question 4

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A solid grey (mid-grey fill) regular hexagon, thin outlineB) A solid grey (mid-grey fill) diamond, standing on one point, thin outlineC) A solid black diamond, standing on one point, thin outlineD) A solid black regular hexagon, thin outlineE) A diagonally hatched diamond, standing on one point, thin outline

Question 5

1 mark

Choose an answerA) The right-angled triangle rotated 90 degrees clockwise (right angle at the top-left corner), containing 2 small solid black dots inside, side by sideB) The right-angled triangle rotated 90 degrees clockwise (right angle at the top-left corner), containing 1 small solid black dot insideC) The right-angled triangle rotated 270 degrees clockwise (right angle at the bottom-right corner), containing 2 small solid black dots inside, side by sideD) The right-angled triangle rotated 270 degrees clockwise (right angle at the bottom-right corner), containing 1 small solid black dot insideE) The right-angled triangle rotated 180 degrees (right angle at the top-right corner), containing 2 small solid black dots inside, side by side

Question 6

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A circle with a dashed outline, filled with horizontal stripesB) A circle with a zigzag (jagged) outline, filled with horizontal stripesC) A circle with a dashed outline, unshaded (white) insideD) A circle with a zigzag (jagged) outline, unshaded (white) insideE) A circle with a solid (continuous) outline, unshaded (white) inside

Question 7

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A large solid black regular pentagon, one vertex pointing straight up, thin outlineB) A small solid black square, sides horizontal and vertical, thin outlineC) A small solid black regular pentagon, one vertex pointing straight up, thin outlineD) A large solid black square, sides horizontal and vertical, thin outlineE) A small solid black regular hexagon, thin outline

Question 8

1 mark

Choose an answerA) An unshaded (white) straight arrow pointing straight up, thin outlineB) An unshaded (white) straight arrow pointing to the right, thin outlineC) A solid black straight arrow pointing to the left, thin outlineD) A solid black straight arrow pointing to the right, thin outlineE) An unshaded (white) straight arrow pointing to the left, thin outline

Question 9

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A large dotted (stippled) five-pointed star, filled with a pattern of small evenly spaced dotsB) A large solid grey (mid-grey fill) five-pointed starC) A medium dotted (stippled) five-pointed star, filled with a pattern of small evenly spaced dotsD) A medium solid grey (mid-grey fill) five-pointed starE) A large solid black five-pointed star

Question 10

1 mark

Choose an answerA) Three upside-down trapeziums (longer side at top) in a row, evenly spaced, thin outlineB) One upside-down trapezium (longer side at top), thin outlineC) Three standard trapeziums (longer side at bottom) in a row, evenly spaced, thin outlineD) One standard trapezium (longer side at bottom), thin outlineE) Two upside-down trapeziums in a row, thin outline

Question 11

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A solid black oval (horizontal, wider than tall), thin outlineB) A solid black cross (plus-sign shape, four equal arms), thick outlineC) A solid black oval (horizontal, wider than tall), thick outlineD) A solid black cross (plus-sign shape, four equal arms), thin outlineE) A solid black circle, thick outline

Question 12

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A solid black five-pointed star, thin outlineB) An unshaded (white) six-pointed star, thin outlineC) An unshaded (white) five-pointed star, thin outlineD) A solid black six-pointed star, thin outlineE) A solid grey five-pointed star, thin outline

Question 13

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A pennant-shaped triangle pointing straight down, filled with horizontal stripes, thin outlineB) A pennant-shaped triangle pointing straight down, filled with vertical stripes, thin outlineC) A pennant-shaped triangle pointing straight up, filled with vertical stripes, thin outlineD) A pennant-shaped triangle pointing straight up, filled with horizontal stripes, thin outlineE) A pennant-shaped triangle pointing to the right, filled with vertical stripes, thin outline

Question 14

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A medium circle, dashed outline, unshaded (white) insideB) A large circle, solid (continuous) thin outline, unshaded (white) insideC) A large circle, dashed outline, unshaded (white) insideD) A medium circle, solid (continuous) thin outline, unshaded (white) insideE) A large circle, solid thick outline, unshaded (white) inside

Question 15

1 mark

Choose an answerA) Two solid grey (mid-grey fill) squares stacked vertically, one directly above another with a small gap, thin outlineB) Three solid black squares stacked vertically, one directly above another with a small gap, thin outlineC) Three solid grey (mid-grey fill) squares stacked vertically, one directly above another with a small gap, thin outlineD) Two solid black squares stacked vertically, one directly above another with a small gap, thin outlineE) Three solid grey squares in a row side by side (not stacked), thin outline

Question 16

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A dotted (stippled) regular hexagon (6 sides), filled with a pattern of small evenly spaced dots, thin outlineB) A dotted (stippled) regular heptagon (7 sides), filled with a pattern of small evenly spaced dots, thin outlineC) A solid black regular heptagon (7 sides), thin outlineD) A solid black regular hexagon (6 sides), thin outlineE) A dotted regular octagon (8 sides), thin outline

Question 17

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A solid black straight arrow pointing to the upper-right (north-east), thin outlineB) An unshaded (white) straight arrow pointing to the upper-right (north-east), rotated 45 degrees clockwise from pointing straight up, thin outlineC) An unshaded (white) straight arrow pointing straight up, thin outlineD) A solid black straight arrow pointing straight up, thin outlineE) An unshaded (white) straight arrow pointing to the right, rotated 90 degrees clockwise from pointing straight up, thin outline

Question 18

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A solid black oval (horizontal, wider than tall), thin outlineB) An oval (horizontal, wider than tall) filled with diagonal hatching, thin outlineC) A solid black regular hexagon, thin outlineD) A regular hexagon filled with diagonal hatching (evenly spaced parallel lines running top-left to bottom-right), thin outlineE) A regular hexagon filled with a dotted (stippled) pattern, thin outline

Question 19

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A large solid black square, sides horizontal and vertical, thin outlineB) A large unshaded (white) regular pentagon, one vertex pointing straight up, thin outlineC) A small solid black regular pentagon, one vertex pointing straight up, thin outlineD) A small unshaded (white) square, sides horizontal and vertical, thin outlineE) A small unshaded (white) regular pentagon, one vertex pointing straight up, thin outline

Question 20

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A circle, solid black fill, thick outlineB) An oval (horizontal, wider than tall), solid grey (mid-grey fill), thick outlineC) An oval (horizontal, wider than tall), solid black fill, thin outlineD) A circle, solid grey (mid-grey fill), thin outlineE) An oval (horizontal, wider than tall), solid grey (mid-grey fill), thin outline

Question 21

1 mark

Choose an answerA) The right-angled triangle not rotated (right angle at the bottom-left corner, original position), small size, unshaded (white)B) The right-angled triangle rotated 180 degrees (right angle at the top-right corner), small size, solid blackC) The right-angled triangle rotated 180 degrees (right angle at the top-right corner), large size, unshaded (white)D) The right-angled triangle rotated 180 degrees from the original bottom-left right-angle position (right angle now at the top-right corner), small size, unshaded (white)E) The right-angled triangle not rotated (right angle at the bottom-left corner, original position), large size, solid black

Question 22

1 mark

Choose an answerA) A five-pointed star filled with horizontal stripes, thin outlineB) A cross filled with horizontal stripes, thick outlineC) A cross filled with a dotted (stippled) pattern, thin outlineD) A cross (plus-sign shape, four equal arms) filled with horizontal stripes, thin outlineE) A five-pointed star filled with a dotted (stippled) pattern, thick outline

Shape Codes - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

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EP.N6 Shape Codes

Revision notes: Shape Codes

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