Verbal Reasoning Mixed Practice Set I
Verbal Reasoning Mixed Practice Set I is a timed drill built around the calculation-heavy half of a GL Assessment-style 11+ verbal reasoning paper: letter and number codes, letter and number series, letters-for-numbers, missing numbers and number connections. On the real paper these question types typically appear in short, separately timed sections, so this set trains the specific skill of working quickly and accurately without a calculator while still checking each answer before moving on.
Method
- Before starting, glance across the whole set to see how many separate question types it contains, since each type needs a slightly different first move.
- Work the first question of each type carefully and correctly rather than rushing, since a wrong first guess at the rule wastes far more time than a careful first look.
- For any code or sequence, write down your working, the shift amount, the difference, the rule, rather than doing it in your head, since written working can be checked and does not have to be re-found if you lose your place.
- Keep a rough time budget in mind, around one minute per question in this set, and move on and come back at the end if a single question is taking much longer than that.
- Leave a few seconds at the end of the set to re-check your two or three quickest answers, since speed under time pressure is where a correct rule most often gets applied to the wrong letter or number.
- If you run out of time, prioritise attempting every question type at least once over perfecting a single hard question, since marks are weighted equally across the set.
Worked example
If the code for SOUTH is UQWVJ, what is the code for NORTH, using the same rule?
- Compare SOUTH with its code UQWVJ letter by letter: S+2=U, O+2=Q, U+2=W, T+2=V, H+2=J.
- Every letter has moved exactly 2 places forward in the alphabet, so the rule is add 2 places to each letter.
- Apply the same rule to NORTH: N+2=P, O+2=Q, R+2=T, T+2=V, H+2=J.
- Write the coded letters in the same order as the original word: P, Q, T, V, J.
- Final answer: PQTVJ.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Find the letter that continues the series: E, I, M, Q, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: U - each letter moves 4 places forward in the alphabet.
Q24, 10, 16, 22, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: 28 - each term adds 6.
Q3Using A=1, B=2, up to Z=26, the code for MUSIC is 13-21-19-9-3. What is the code for DANCE, using the same rule?Show answer
Answer: 4-1-14-3-5 - the rule is each letter's position in the alphabet.
Q4M=7, N=3, P=10, R=21, S=31. Work out M x N + P. Which letter has this value?Show answer
Answer: S (value 31) - M x N is worked out first, 7 x 3 = 21, then + P = 21 + 10 = 31, matching S.
Q56 (14) 8 | 7 (?) 5. Find the missing number, using the same rule as the first pair.Show answer
Answer: 12 - the rule is add the two outside numbers (6 + 8 = 14), so 7 + 5 = 12.
Q620 - 8 = [ ] + 5. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 7 - the left-hand side is 20 - 8 = 12, so [ ] + 5 = 12, meaning [ ] = 7.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
If the code for CHESS is HMJXX, what is the code for BOARD, using the same rule?
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
100, 93, 86, 79, ( ? ), ( ? ). Find the two missing terms.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the verbal reasoning mixed practice set i worksheet pack - 16 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 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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