Verbal Reasoning: Letter and Number Sequences Set 2
Verbal Reasoning: Letter and Number Sequences Set 2 is a deeper practice round on the two sequence formats found throughout 11+ verbal reasoning papers, letter series linked by a hidden alphabet rule and number series linked by a hidden arithmetic rule. This set moves beyond a single constant step to less familiar patterns, such as a step that grows by a fixed amount each time, two operations that alternate, or a step that follows the earlier terms of the sequence, pushing pupils to check every gap rather than only the first one.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Find the gap between the first two terms and check whether that same gap repeats exactly between every other pair of consecutive terms; if it does, the rule is a simple constant step.
- If the gap is not constant, write out every gap between consecutive terms as its own short list, since the pattern is very often hidden in how those gaps themselves change rather than in the original terms.
- Check whether the gaps increase or decrease by a fixed amount each time (a growing difference), whether two different operations alternate from term to term, or whether each term is built from the two terms before it.
- For a letter series, convert each letter to its alphabet position before working out the gaps, since it is much easier to spot a numerical pattern in numbers than in letters directly.
- Once you are confident the rule fits every gap already given, not just the first one or two, apply it once more to find the missing term.
- For a letter answer, convert your final number back to a letter, remembering that a step past Z wraps back around to A.
- Re-read the sequence once more after finding an answer to check you have not miscounted a step, since a slipped count is the most common way marks are lost on this question type.
Worked example
Find the letter that continues the series, where the gap between letters grows by one place each time: B, D, G, K, ( ? )
- Find the gap between the first two letters: B to D is a move of 2 places forward in the alphabet.
- Find the next gap: D to G is a move of 3 places forward.
- Find the next gap: G to K is a move of 4 places forward, confirming the gap grows by 1 place each time.
- The next gap must be 5 places forward from K: K, L, M, N, O, P.
- Final answer: P.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Find the letter that continues the series: C, F, I, L, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: O - each letter moves 3 places forward in the alphabet (C to F, F to I, I to L, L to O).
Q2Find the letter that continues the series: A, Y, C, W, E, U, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: G - the letters in odd positions (A, C, E) move 2 places forward each time, so the next odd-position letter after E is G; the letters in even positions (Y, W, U) move 2 places back each time.
Q3Find the letter that continues the series, where the gap between letters grows by one place each time: D, F, I, M, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: R - the gaps are 2, 3, 4, then 5 places forward, and M plus 5 places gives R.
Q42, 6, 18, 54, ( ? ) A) 108 B) 144 C) 150 D) 162 E) 216Show answer
Answer: D) 162 - each term is multiplied by 3 (2x3=6, 6x3=18, 18x3=54, 54x3=162).
Q55, 9, 6, 10, 7, 11, ( ? ) A) 6 B) 7 C) 8 D) 12 E) 15Show answer
Answer: C) 8 - the sequence alternates adding 4 and subtracting 3 (5+4=9, 9-3=6, 6+4=10, 10-3=7, 7+4=11, 11-3=8).
Q61, 2, 4, 7, 11, ( ? ) A) 14 B) 15 C) 16 D) 17 E) 18Show answer
Answer: C) 16 - the gap between terms grows by 1 each time (1, 2, 3, 4, then 5), and 11 plus 5 gives 16.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Find the letter that continues the series, where the gap between letters follows the pattern 1, 2, 3, 5, 8: B, C, E, H, M, ( ? )
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ( ? )
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
3, 6, 5, 10, 9, 18, ( ? )
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning: letter and number sequences set 2 worksheet pack - 14 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 13 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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