Verbal Reasoning: Sequences Set 3
Verbal Reasoning: Sequences Set 3 is a focused practice set on letter series and number series at a deeper level than the introductory topics, covering constant-step sequences, sequences where the gap itself grows or shrinks by a fixed amount, and two sequences woven together into a single list of terms. GL Assessment and CEM style 11+ papers use both letter and number series heavily because they test pattern recognition and accurate counting under time pressure without needing any outside knowledge.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Write down the gap between each pair of consecutive terms before deciding on a rule, since guessing the rule from only the first two terms is the most common cause of a wrong answer.
- Check whether the gap stays constant first, since this is both the most common rule and the fastest to confirm or rule out.
- If the gap is not constant, check whether it grows or shrinks by the same amount each time, for example +2, then +3, then +4.
- If neither of those fit, check whether the terms alternate between two simpler sequences woven together, by comparing every other term.
- For letter series, convert each letter to its alphabet position (A=1 to Z=26) only if the jump is not obvious by eye, and take extra care counting through W, X, Y, Z.
- Once you have confirmed the rule against every gap you can check, apply it once more to the final given term to find the missing one, then check it against the options given.
Worked example
Find the letter that continues the series: G, I, L, P, ( ? )
- Find the gap between the first two letters: G to I is a move of 2 places forward in the alphabet.
- Find the next gap: I to L is a move of 3 places forward, and L to P is a move of 4 places forward.
- The gap is growing by 1 place each time: +2, then +3, then +4, so the next gap should be +5.
- Apply a gap of +5 to the last letter, P: counting forward 5 places from P gives P, Q, R, S, T, U.
- The next letter in the series is U.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Find the next number: 12, 19, 26, 33, 40, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: 47 (add 7 each time)
Q2Find the next letter: T, Q, N, K, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: H (each letter moves back 3 places)
Q3Find the next number: 5, 6, 8, 11, 15, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: 20 (the gap grows by 1 each time: +1, +2, +3, +4, +5)
Q4Find the next letter in this woven series: B, Y, D, W, F, U, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: H (the letters in positions 1, 3, 5, 7 form B, D, F, H, adding 2 each time; the letters in positions 2, 4, 6 form Y, W, U, subtracting 2 each time)
Q5Find the next number: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: 37 (the gap grows by 2 each time: +3, +5, +7, +9, +11)
Q6Find the next number: 96, 48, 24, 12, 6, ( ? )Show answer
Answer: 3 (divide by 2 each time)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Find the missing number and state the rule you used: 81, 27, 9, 3, ( ? )
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
This question has two parts. Part A: find the next letter in the series C, F, J, O, ( ? ). Part B: find the next number in the series 100, 91, 83, 76, 70, ( ? ).
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: sequences set 3 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 36 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on verbal reasoning: sequences set 3, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.