Move a Letter
A move-a-letter question gives two words in brackets and asks which single letter can move from the end of the first word to the start of the second so both results are still correctly spelled, real words. It tests spelling and the ability to recognise real words quickly, since the wrong letter creates a non-word. Common in GL Assessment-style 11+ verbal reasoning papers.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Look at the last letter of the first word and check whether removing it still leaves a correctly spelled, real word.
- If it does, try adding that same letter to the front of the second word and check whether that also makes a real word.
- Only confirm the letter as correct if BOTH the shortened first word and the lengthened second word are genuine English words.
- Work through the letter options in turn if the last letter is not obvious, since some questions expect you to identify the letter from a list.
- Be alert to less common but still real short words, such as words for animals or old-fashioned terms, that a wrong-seeming option might create.
- If two options both seem to work on one side, use the other side of the move to decide between them.
Worked example
(CLAMP) (AIN). Exactly one letter can move from the end of the first word to the front of the second word so that both words made are still correctly spelled real words. Which letter moves? A) C B) L C) A D) M E) P
- Remove the last letter of CLAMP: taking away P leaves CLAM, a real word.
- Add that same letter, P, to the front of AIN: this makes PAIN, a real word.
- So P is the letter that moves, which is option E.
- None of the other letters is the actual last letter of CLAMP, so none of them can be the letter that moves.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
(STARE) (AT). Which letter moves from the end of the first word to the front of the second, and what two new words are formed? A) S B) T C) A D) R E) E
(CROWN) (EAR). Which letter moves from the end of the first word to the front of the second? Explain both resulting words fully. A) C B) R C) O D) W E) N
(SPARE) (VEN). Which letter moves from the end of the first word to the front of the second? Explain both resulting words fully, and state why the letter A cannot be the answer. A) S B) P C) A D) R E) E
Free printable worksheet
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