Letters for Numbers: Practice Set 2
Letters for Numbers: Practice Set 2 is a second practice round on the letter-key calculations used in 11+ verbal reasoning, where each letter stands for a fixed number and a short calculation must be worked out to find which letter matches the result. This set moves into calculations with two brackets, a mix of three operations, and keys where more than one letter has a value close to the answer.
Method
- Write down the letter-to-number key exactly as given before starting any calculation.
- Underline or mark every bracket in the calculation, since whatever is inside a bracket must always be worked out first.
- Apply the order of operations precisely: brackets first, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction, working left to right within each stage.
- Substitute each letter's number into the calculation and write down the result of every stage, rather than trying to do the whole calculation in your head.
- Compare your final answer carefully to every value in the key, since this set often includes two letters with close values to catch a small arithmetic slip.
- Check your answer by substituting that letter's value back into the original calculation to confirm both sides match exactly.
Worked example
A=5, B=6, C=3, D=27, E=33. Work out (A + B) x C - B. Which letter has this value?
- Work out the bracket first: A + B = 5 + 6 = 11.
- Multiply this by C: 11 x 3 = 33.
- Subtract B from this result: 33 - 6 = 27.
- Compare 27 to the key: D = 27, so D matches.
- Final answer: D (value 27).
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1F=3, G=7, H=2, J=17, K=20. Work out F + G x H. Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: J (multiply first: G x H = 7 x 2 = 14, then F + 14 = 3 + 14 = 17, and J = 17)
Q2F=10, G=4, H=3, J=18, K=22. Work out F + (G x H). Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: K (brackets first: G x H = 4 x 3 = 12, then F + 12 = 10 + 12 = 22, and K = 22)
Q3L=8, M=3, N=5, P=10, Q=25. Work out (L - M) x N. Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: Q (brackets first: L - M = 8 - 3 = 5, then 5 x N = 5 x 5 = 25, and Q = 25)
Q4L=5, M=6, N=3, P=23, Q=33. Work out L + M x N. Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: P (multiply first: M x N = 6 x 3 = 18, then L + 18 = 5 + 18 = 23, and P = 23)
Q5R=6, S=2, T=5, U=38, V=40. Work out (R + S) x T - S. Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: U (brackets first: R + S = 6 + 2 = 8, then 8 x T = 8 x 5 = 40, then 40 - S = 40 - 2 = 38, and U = 38)
Q6W=8, X=5, Y=3, Z=37, A=40. Work out (W x X) - Y. Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: Z (multiply first: W x X = 8 x 5 = 40, then 40 - Y = 40 - 3 = 37, and Z = 37)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
K=6, L=4, M=3, N=18, P=30. Work out K + L x M. Which letter has this value? Show your working.
Show mark scheme
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Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
F=7, G=4, H=5, J=47, K=8. Work out (F + G) x H - K. Which letter has this value? Show your working.
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Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
F=6, G=4, H=7, J=5, K=50. Work out (F + G) x H - J x G. Which letter has this value? Show your working.
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Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the letters for numbers: practice set 2 worksheet pack - 9 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 9 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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