Verbal Reasoning: Logic and Deduction Set 2
Verbal Reasoning: Logic and Deduction Set 2 is a deeper practice round on the reasoning question types found on 11+ verbal reasoning papers: working out an order, such as who is tallest or who finished first, by chaining several true statements together, applying an 'every' or 'no' rule to a specific case, and the closely related number connections and missing number puzzles that use the same step-by-step working. This set uses four or five people or items rather than three, with statements given out of order, training pupils to build a full picture from information that does not arrive in a convenient sequence.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Decide whether the question asks you to order people or things from statements (a ranking deduction), to apply an 'if... then' rule to a specific case (a conditional or categorical deduction), or to find a numeric rule linking two given numbers (a number connection or missing number).
- For a ranking deduction, rewrite every statement as a simple 'X is above Y' order, using the same direction each time, before you try to combine them.
- Chain the individual orders together by finding the person or thing that appears in two different statements, since that shared name is what links the separate orders into one full order.
- For a conditional or categorical statement ('every... also...', 'no... is...'), follow the rule through step by step for the specific case given, rather than assuming what feels likely.
- For a number connection or missing number, test the simplest single operation (add, subtract, multiply) on the first pair first; if it does not match exactly, look for a two-step rule instead.
- Once you have a full order or a confirmed rule, re-read the question to check exactly what it is asking for (the tallest, the third position, the missing number) before giving your final answer.
Worked example
Priya is taller than Sam. Tom is shorter than Sam. Priya is shorter than Zara. Who is the tallest?
- Write the first statement as an order: Priya > Sam (Priya is taller than Sam).
- Write the second statement the same way: Sam > Tom (Tom is shorter than Sam, so Sam is above Tom).
- Write the third statement: Zara > Priya (Priya is shorter than Zara, so Zara is above Priya).
- Chain all three orders together using the people who appear twice, Priya and Sam: Zara, then Priya, then Sam, then Tom, from tallest to shortest.
- The person at the start of the chain is the tallest.
- Final answer: Zara.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Omar scored higher than Layla. Layla scored higher than Freya. Freya scored higher than Ravi. Who scored the lowest?Show answer
Answer: Ravi - the chain Omar > Layla > Freya > Ravi places Ravi last.
Q2In a race, Ben finished before Cara. Dev finished after Ben but before Cara. Who finished first?Show answer
Answer: Ben - since Dev finished after Ben but before Cara, the order must be Ben, then Dev, then Cara.
Q3All the books on the top shelf are non-fiction. 'Ocean Explorers' is on the top shelf. What must be true about 'Ocean Explorers'?Show answer
Answer: It must be non-fiction, since every book on the top shelf is non-fiction and 'Ocean Explorers' is on that shelf.
Q43 (10) 7 | 5 (?) 9. The number in brackets is found the same way both times. What is the missing number?Show answer
Answer: 14 - the rule is add the two outside numbers (3 + 7 = 10), so 5 + 9 = 14.
Q512 - 5 = [ ] + 3. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 4 - the left-hand side is 12 - 5 = 7, so [ ] + 3 = 7, meaning [ ] = 4.
Q6Every dog in the park is on a lead, except Max, who is off the lead. If a dog in the park is NOT on a lead, which dog must it be?Show answer
Answer: Max - he is the only dog in the park stated to be off the lead.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Five friends compare their ages. Grace is older than Finn. Finn is older than Hana. Hana is older than Ivy. Grace is younger than Kofi. Put the five friends in order from oldest to youngest, and state who is third oldest.
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Every pupil who plays the violin also plays the piano. Every pupil who plays the piano is in the music club. Sam plays the violin. What must be true about Sam? Explain your reasoning in full.
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7 (24) 3 | 9 (?) 5. The number in brackets follows the same two-step rule in both cases. Work out the rule from the first pair, then find the missing number.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning: logic and deduction set 2 worksheet pack - 15 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 26 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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