Bond NVR
Bond NVR
How 11+ exams work Tutors’ top tips for 11+ success
Approaching 11+ exams for the first time can be a Find out what exams your child will sit but don’t
daunting experience. They are unlike any other agonise over ‘school gate gossip’. Find out what
school exam your child will take for several reasons: the exams are and get the advice that the
secondary schools give out, but don’t waste your
There’s no pass mark. Success or failure energy following rumours about what the pass
depends on your child’s performance relative to mark is or exactly which questions will come up.
the performance of other children sitting the test. It’s better to spend your time helping your child.
The pass mark can vary from year to year and
from school to school. It’s always worth practising. Whatever
secondary schools say, it’s worth it. Children can
They can’t be retaken. There is no second improve their performance by 10–15 per cent by
chance with the 11+ so it all rests on your child’s careful practice.
performance on the day.
Start early if you can, but don’t worry if you
There’s no national syllabus. 11+ exams vary haven’t. Ideally it is best to start preparation for
from area to area, and often from town to town. the 11+ exam at least one year ahead. However,
Often schools are extremely unwilling to give out don’t panic if you don’t have that much time;
any information about the content of the exams. even a few weeks can make a difference.
It’s often impossible to see past papers. This Make a simple action plan. However long you’ve
varies from area to area but the actual papers got, have a clear, simple strategy. There are two
usually remain a closely guarded secret. key principles:
– start from your child’s present level of
Selective schools give out very little advice. It is
knowledge
common for selective schools to give out only
the vaguest advice to parents when approaching – help your child to learn from their mistakes.
the exam and to discourage very much practice. The Parents’ Stress-free Guide to the 11+
provides a set of ready-made action plans you
All these factors make preparing a child for the 11+ a
can use, whether you have two years or just a
mysterious and often stressful process for parent
few weeks to go.
and child alike. The most common question parents
ask about using practice tests is ‘What percentage Motivation, motivation, motivation! You have to
does my child need to get to pass?’ Unfortunately take your child with you on this journey. A simple
there’s no easy answer to this but we can give rewards system can be highly effective. The
guidance. (See ‘What a score means and how to Parents’ Stress-free Guide to the 11+ can
boost it’ on page 4.) The second most common provide a tried and tested motivational system if
question is ‘How can I help them improve?’ The you want one.
following sections give our tutors’ top tips to help
Don’t just practise. There’s a tendency to think
your child through the 11+ process and boost their
that just practising one paper after another will
scores. We strongly recommend that you think about
do the trick. It’s far more important to learn from
purchasing at least two of the Bond books mentioned
mistakes. Going through the paper afterwards
inside the front cover. These are:
with your child and filling in the gaps in learning
The Parents’ Stress-free Guide to the 11+. The is crucial.
essential manual that provides a simple and Stay calm, manage stress, build confidence.
practical 4-step system for making the most of Don’t talk about the 11+ all the time. Use breaks,
11+ preparation. treats and bite-sized learning sessions to keep
things fresh. Be realistic about your child’s
How to do … 11+ Non-verbal Reasoning. All the
potential. Pass or fail, it’s important to try to make
question types in these tests are fully explained
this process a positive one.
in this guide to 11+ non-verbal reasoning.
Manage the exam day. Make sure that you have
everything ready for the day, that your child tries
to get a good night’s sleep, eats breakfast and
gets there in good time.
In order to be successful at non-verbal reasoning Unravel other maths-based logic puzzles that
there are a set of invaluable background skills to can help to develop spatial awareness as well
practise. These are the ability to: as strengthen basic maths abilities (e.g.
Sudoku and Kakuro).
think logically
Assemble 3-D interlocking or shape-building
analyse images puzzles and construct 3-D modelling kits.
spot common links, patterns, differences and Solve dissection puzzles such as tangrams.
rules These Chinese puzzles encourage spatial
relate objects to space awareness and problem-solving skills
because they consist of seven geometric
work systematically. shapes that, when put together correctly, form
a rectangle or a square. They can also be
1 Reinforce key maths concepts. A number of positioned in various outlines to form other
non-verbal reasoning question types are shapes (e.g. an animal or a person). Ready-
underpinned by some key maths skills, so it made tangram sets are widely available or you
will be extremely beneficial to strengthen your can have fun together making your own out of
child’s understanding in these areas. In stiff card.
particular, your child needs to be comfortable
working with: Crack a Rubik’s cube!
Practice 1 Step 2 The solid lines that form the left-hand side of the
e The shaded inner shape becomes unshaded and the shape and the central section are changed to
unshaded inner shape becomes shaded. dotted lines.
Practice 2 10 a The shape is rotated 180°.
b The right-hand side of the shape becomes indented. 11 b Step 1 The shape is repeated.
1 e The larger shape remains the same; however, the Step 2 The inner shape is repeated and placed above
smaller outer shape is removed. the outer shape.
2 b The top halves of both shapes are removed. Step 3 The inner shape becomes striped.
3 a Step 1 The shape is rotated 90° anticlockwise. 12 a The shape is rotated 90° clockwise and the areas with
black shading become unshaded.
Section 2
B 2
The missing box must have two black squares and two
Step 2 The first horizontal line is in the same position in dots on the sloping edge:
each box.
Step 3 The second horizontal line is in the same
position and extends over the two vertical lines
of the box border.
4 a This sequence has two alternating patterns. Each
Section 3 pattern follows the same rule.
B 4
Step 1 In the first pattern the contents of box 1 rotate
180° to form box 3. The contents of box 3 rotate
Practice 1 180° to form box 5.
e The sequence is two pictures that alternate.
1 3 5
Step 2 In the second pattern box 4 must have been
formed by the contents of box 2 being rotated
Practice 2 180°.
a The number of stars and the number of solid straight
edges increase by one each time.
1 b Step 1 The outer shape alternates between a pentagon
and a square.
Step 2 The inner shape changes with each step in the
sequence: each shape has one more side than 2 4
the previous shape. 5 b Step 1 The arrow moves 135° in a clockwise direction.
2 b Step 1 The number of small rectangles on the box
borders is reduced by one each time.
Step 2 The bottom trapezium (▲❙❙❙❙▲) is always shaded
black.
Step 2 The inner square loses one side in an Step 3 The central square alternates: boxes 1, 3 and 5
anticlockwise direction each time. show the same shading and boxes 2 and 4
show the same shading.
1 3 5
Step 3 A line is added to the centre of the box each
time in an anticlockwise direction. It eventually
forms a cross. 2 4
Step 4 The striped trapezium moves anticlockwise.
When it reaches the bottom position it is hidden
because this trapezium is always black (see
Step 2).
Step 4 The number of corner points increases by one
each time. These are added in an anticlockwise
direction.
Step 5 The small circle moves clockwise but when it
reaches the bottom position it is hidden (see
above).
s it is the fourth in the sequence, the missing box
A
must have one rectangle, one side of the square, three
lines of the cross and three corner points:
The missing box must therefore look like this:
Practice 1
7 d Step 1 The diagonal cross alternates in size. d First letter: represents the inner shape.
(nothing)
R S
Second letter: represents the outer shape.
Step 2 The horizontal line alternates in length from one
box to the next. The vertical line remains the
same length. X Y
Step 3 The shading moves towards the centre one The answer is SY because there is no inner shape (S)
square at a time, then moves back out one and the outer shape is a circle (Y).
square at a time. Practice 2
a First letter: represents the outer shape.
As it is the fifth in the sequence, the missing box must P Q
have a shorter diagonal cross, a longer horizontal line,
and a shaded outer square: Second letter: represents the number of inner lines:
E = 2
F = 1
G = 0
The answer is QE because the outer shape is a
hexagon (Q) and there are two inner lines (E).
8 b The stripes in each section of the shape rotate 45° 1 b First letter: represents the position of the arrows.
clockwise each time.
9 e The boxes are grouped into pairs.
1 2 3
L M N
Second letter: represents whether the arrows are bold
(F) or not (G).
Step 1 Each pair has one more dollar sign ($) and The answer is NF because the arrows are directly
one more pound sign (£) than the preceding opposite each other (N) and are bold (F).
pair. 2 b First letter: represents the angle of the bar.
Step 2 The first box of each pair is rotated 180° to form
the second box of that pair.
$ $ $ $ $ $ S T U
£
££ ££
££ ££ ££ Second letter: represents the number of shaded
£ ££
$ $ $
sections:
As it is the fourth in the sequence, the missing box C = 2 sections
must have two dollar signs in the bottom of the box and D = 3 sections
three inverted pound signs as shown above. E = 1 section
10 b Step 1 Each box contains a different set of shapes. The The answer is TC because the bar is tilted to the right
three linked shapes are always on a diagonal (T) and has two shaded sections (C).
from top right to bottom left. 3 c First letter: represents the shaded inner shape.
Step 2 The pattern alternates so that the striped
shapes become clear and the clear shapes
D E F
become striped.
Step 3 The middle shape alternates from being in front Second letter: represents the number of squares.
of the other two shapes to being behind them.
As it is the third in the sequence, the missing box must
have two striped circles sitting diagonally from top right
to bottom left and the middle circle must be behind the
other two: X Y Z
The answer is EY because the shaded inner shape is a
circle (E) and there is only one square (Y).
4 e First letter: represents whether the arrow is pointing up
(A) or down (B).
D E F G
Second letter: represents whether the inner bar is 2 b The shape from the first box in a row is rotated 90°
shaded (R) or unshaded (S). clockwise.
The answer is ER because the arrow is pointing to the 3 a Step 1 The largest shape in the first box in each row is
left (E) and the inner bar is shaded (R). rotated 180° and then shaded.
9 b First letter: represents the shape of the lines.
H I J
Second letter: represents the size of each shape in a pair: Step 2 The smaller version of the same shape
V = different sizes increases in size and is rotated 180°.
W = same size
The answer is IV because each shape is a reversed S
(I) and the two shapes are different sizes (V).
10 c First letter: represents the position of the square:
C = top left
D = bottom right Step 3 The thickness of the lines does not change from
E = centre the box on the left to the box on the right.
Second letter: represents whether the diagonal line is Step 4 The smallest shape increases in size slightly
thin (F) or thick (G). and links the other two shapes.
The answer is DG because the square is located in the The missing box must therefore look like this:
bottom right (D) and the line is thick (G).
11 c First letter: represents the outer shape.
J K 4 d The shapes in the top row are reflected horizontally
Second letter: represents the inner symbol. (flipped over) and the solid lines that form the letters
become dashed.
?
R S T
The answer is KR because the outer shape is a
rectangle (K) and the inner symbol is an arrow (R).
Step 2 Each object is copied, reflected horizontally
The missing box must therefore look like this:
(flipped over) and placed on the opposite side
of the dotted line.
10 d Step 1 Each row has a different shape. The number of
shapes increases by one in each column.
6 d The boxes in the middle row contain the objects from
Step 2 There is one shape in the left-hand column,
both the top and bottom rows. The position of each
which is shaded black.
object remains the same.
Step 3 The two shapes in the middle column overlap.
7 b Step 1 The boxes in the same row contain the same
The area where they overlap is unshaded
shapes.
(highlighted by dashed lines on the diagram
Step 2 The shading of the smallest central shape in
below).
the right-hand column becomes clear in the
left-hand column.
Step 4 The three shapes in the right-hand column also
overlap. The top half of the third shape overlaps
the middle of the other two shapes. Only the
Step 3 The striped background in the right-hand area where all three shapes overlap remains
column becomes clear in the left-hand column. unshaded (highlighted by dashed lines on the
diagram below).
Step 4 The clear outer shape in the right-hand column
becomes striped in the left-hand column. The missing box must therefore look like this:
8 a Step 1 Each row consists of a solid shape, a group of 11 d Each box rotates 90° anticlockwise.
x’s and a star-like shape.
Step 2 The shape made of solid lines can be formed
by connecting the outline of the shapes in the
other two boxes.
The missing box must contain a group of x’s that, when
joined together, correctly form the hexagon as shown 12 c Step 1 Each row has a different shape. The size of the
above. shape increases with each column.
9 a Step 1 The diagonal shape in the right-hand box is Step 2 The number of lines increases by one with each
repeated in the left-hand box but with the column.
bottom arrow removed. Step 3 The lines in the third box in a row are made up
of the lines in the first two boxes.
Step 2 The shape in the top left corner in the right-hand The missing box must therefore look like this:
box becomes unshaded and crossed through in
the left-hand box.
Practice 1
e The shaded inner shape becomes unshaded and the
unshaded inner shape becomes shaded. Step 2 The individual sections of the overall shape are
Practice 2 joined together.
b The right-hand side of the shape becomes indented.
1 e Step 1 The shapes are rotated 90° clockwise.
Step 3 The central section becomes striped.
Step 4 The shape is placed in a frame that is the same
Step 2 The shapes are reflected vertically (flipped to shape as the central section. In the missing
the left). shape this would be a circle.
The missing shape must therefore look like this:
becomes
2 c Step 1 Solid lines remain solid and dashed lines
remain dashed. 11 b Step 1 The central shape stays in the same position.
Step 2 The inside shape is moved from the centre to Step 2 The small shapes at the vertices rotate.
one of the corners and duplicated in the other
corners.
3 e Step 1 The shape is rotated 150° clockwise.
Step 3 The lines of the smaller and the larger shapes
are visible where the shapes overlap as shown
Step 2 The shaded inner shape becomes unshaded. above.
The other shape remains the same. 12 a Step 1 The overall shape is rotated 90° clockwise:
4 e The shapes remain the same except that the dashed
lines become solid and the solid lines become
dashed.
5 c Step 1 The overall shape is enlarged slightly.
Step 2 The border of the shape is made up of smaller
versions of the overall shape, which for the Step 2 The solid outer line becomes dashed.
missing pattern is a square.
6 d Step 1 The arrow is rotated 90° anticlockwise. Section 2
B 2
Practice 1
b The pattern is a hammer shape with no base and a
rectangular head.
Step 2 The arrow is reduced in size. Practice 2
Step 3 The shading on the different sections of the d The inner shape is a square. The outer shape has one
arrow is swapped so that the unshaded right angle (90°) and is a mixture of straight and curved
sections become shaded and the shaded lines.
sections become unshaded. 1 e Step 1 The outer shape is an oval.
Step 2 The inner shapes are a circle and square which
are linked and a pentagon (five sides) which sits
separately.
becomes
2 b The large shape is a triangle. Each triangle has a small,
a medium and a large version of the same shape. The
7 b Step 1 The large shape is reflected in a vertical mirror medium-sized shape is unshaded and the small and
line and the two shapes are joined. large shapes are shaded.
3 a The individual shapes that make up the overall shape
are identical.
4 e The outer shape is a hexagon made up of dashed lines.
It contains a tick mark, an ‘x’ and a question mark.
5 a The outer line of the square is solid and the inner line is
Step 2 The small shape is placed in the centre of the dashed. The inner shapes consist of two shaded
large shape and becomes striped. squares and one unshaded square.
8 d Step 1 The shape is copied and reflected vertically 6 d Step 1 Each large shape is divided in half by a dashed
(flipped to the right). line.
Step 2 Small circles are placed behind each vertex of
the large shape.
Step 3 In the areas where the circles and the large
shape overlap, the line of the circle is hidden.
Step 2 The dashed inner line becomes solid and the
solid outer line becomes dashed.
two one none
Section 3 Triangle
B 4
Practice 1
e The sequence is two pictures that alternate.
The direction of the stripes remains the same.
Practice 2 none one two
a The number of stars and the number of solid straight As it is the fifth in the sequence, the missing box must
edges increase by one each time. therefore look like this:
1 a The striped shading moves from one square to the next
in a clockwise direction each time. The direction of the
stripes remains the same.
2 c Step 1 The diagonal square loses a side in an
anticlockwise direction each time.
5 d Step 1 The large triangle in each box is repeated every
third box.
Step 2 The central square is divided into four boxes, one
of which is shaded. This shading moves in an
anticlockwise direction from one box to the next. Step 2 The small outer triangle is inverted (flipped
over) from one box to the next.
Step 3 The small outer triangle remains on the same
side of the large triangle for the first pair of boxes,
then moves to the next side in a clockwise
As it is the third in the sequence, the missing box must direction for each of the following pairs.
therefore look like this:
11 a Step 1 The arrow shape rotates 45° anticlockwise each
6 a The shape alternates between being large and small
time.
and is rotated 90° anticlockwise each time.
7 d The overall shape is rotated 90° clockwise each time.
As the missing box is the first in the sequence, it must
have been used to form box 2. Box 1 is, therefore,
formed by rotating box 2 90° anticlockwise.
Step 2 The other shape also rotates 45° anticlockwise.
The direction of the ends alternates between
pointing outwards and pointing inwards.
Box 1 Box 2
8 e Step 1 The shapes rotate 45° anticlockwise each time. As it is the fifth in the sequence, the missing box must
therefore look this:
Step 2 Additionally, the J-shapes are inverted (flipped 12 a The lines of the cross extend one square at a time until
over) each time. they reach the outer square, then reduce in length one
square at a time.
The missing square must therefore look like this:
As it is the second in the sequence, the missing box
must therefore look like this:
Section 4
B 9
Practice 1
9 c Step 1 The black pencil shape rotates 45° clockwise d First letter: represents the inner shape.
each time. (nothing)
R S
Second letter: represents the outer shape.
Step 2 The small rectangle alternates between being X Y
striped and clear. The answer is SY because there is no inner shape (S)
Step 3 The small rectangle moves clockwise around and the outer shape is a circle (Y).
the pencil, landing on the next side each time. Practice 2
a First letter: represents the outer shape.
10 d Step 1 The number of short, diagonal lines decreases P Q
by one each time. Second letter: represents the number of inner lines:
Step 2 The number of triangles increases by one each E = 2
time. The first time a new triangle is added it is F = 1
unshaded. Each time after that, a triangle is G = 0
added to the centre of the row and is shaded. The answer is QE because the outer shape is a
As such, the shaded triangles are bordered on hexagon (Q) and there are two inner lines (E).
each end by a white triangle. 1 c First letter: represents the location of the line:
P = top
Q = middle
R = bottom
Second letter: represents whether the line is horizontal
(U) or vertical (V).
Step 3 The number of squares increases by one each The answer is QU because the line is in the middle (Q)
time. The first time a square is added it is and is horizontal (U).
unshaded. Each square after that is shaded and 2 b First letter: represents the direction of the outer shape.
added between the two unshaded squares.
M N O
Second letter: represents whether the inner rectangle is
striped (D) or shaded black (E).
The answer is NE because the outer shape points right
(N) and the inner rectangle is shaded black (E).
10
11
The missing box must therefore look like this: 4 c Step 1 The three overall shapes are reflected
horizontally (flipped over) and then joined
together.
Step 2 The shading of the three identical shapes is
reversed.
7 e Step 1 The stars in each column have the same 5 e Step 1 The overall shape (including the letter at the
shading: bottom) is copied and reflected vertically
Left column: black (flipped to the right).
Middle column: striped
Right column: grey
Step 2 As they proceed down the columns, each star is
rotated 90° clockwise. The same point remains b b b b
shaded.
Step 2 The small shapes swap places.
90°
b b b b
90° Step 3 The type of line used for the small shapes is
swapped so that the dashed line becomes solid
and the solid line becomes dashed.
8 c Each row has three versions of the same shape.
Step 1 The size of the shape in each row increases
from one box to the next.
Step 2 Each row has one shape that is unshaded, one b b b b
that is shaded black and one that is striped. 6 c Step 1 The overall shape is rotated 180°.
The missing box must therefore contain a
medium-sized striped triangle.
9 b Step 1 The boxes in the right-hand column are rotated
180° and repeated in the left-hand column.
Step 2 The solid lines become dashed and the dashed
lines become solid. Step 2 The lines change from solid to dashed.
The missing box must therefore look like this: Step 3 A solid line border is added around the dashed
shape.
Step 4 A small circle is placed below the bottom line of
the border.
12
Practice 2
a The number of stars and the number of solid straight
Step 2 An arrowhead is added to the end of the line edges increase by one each time.
that is empty. 1 d Step 1 The unshaded area inside the rectangle moves
from left to right in three steps, then the pattern
starts again.
Step 3 The inner part of the shape at the end of the
other line is removed, leaving the outer frame.
Step 2 The number of shaded rhombuses (diamond
shapes) below the rectangle decreases from
Step 4 The part that was removed moves to the bottom 3 to 0 in three steps, then the pattern starts
of the line with the arrowhead and has its again.
shading reversed.
12 a Step 1 The outer frame of the grid becomes thicker. 3 2 1 0 3
Step 2 The left-hand column remains the same.
Step 3 The shapes at the top of the middle and The missing box must therefore look like this:
right-hand columns move to the bottom row.
Section 2
B 1 2 d Step 1 The direction of the large outer arrow alternates
from pointing upwards to pointing downwards
Practice 1 from one box to the next. Its style also
d The others all have the shortest side of the trapezium alternates from having a solid line to a dashed
(the large shape) at the top. line.
Practice 2 Step 2 The direction of the small inner shape alternates
c The other shapes have sides that are all the same from pointing downwards to pointing upwards
length. from one pair of boxes to the next pair. Its style
1 c The other arrows all travel in a clockwise direction also alternates from having a dashed line to a
around the inside of the square. solid line from one box to the next.
2 c The others all have the two unshaded squares close to The missing box must therefore look like this:
each other but in option c the two unshaded squares
are separated by the shaded square.
3 c The others all have different shapes at the ends of each
line, whereas this option has the same shape at both
ends. 3 e Step 1 The diagonal lines are reflected vertically
4 c The others all have one black square in the smallest (flipped to the right) from one box to the next.
section of the divided rectangle. Step 2 The inner rectangle alternates from lying
5 a All of the other shapes are symmetrical. vertically to lying horizontally in the centre of the
6 a It is the only one with the same number of horizontal box.
lines as stars (two of each). Step 3 The shading of the rectangle is split into three
7 e The others all have the same number of short horizontal equal sections. The shading decreases by one
lines as there are vertical lines, whereas option e has section at a time until only one shaded section
four short horizontal lines but only three vertical lines. is left. The shading then starts to increase by
8 e The others all have a bold line in between two thinner one section at a time.
lines, whereas this option has one thin line in between
two bold lines.
13
5 c Step 1 The number of horizontal lines and shaded
circles increases by one each time. 12 b The sequence is made up of two alternating boxes. The
Step 2 The position of the shaded circles alternates missing box will therefore look the same as the second
from being placed on the right-hand end of box.
each line to the left-hand end.
The missing box must therefore look like this:
Section 4
B 9
Practice 1
d First letter: represents the inner shape.
6 b Step 1 The square remains in the same position in
each box. (nothing)
Step 2 The circle moves in a clockwise direction from R S
one box to the next. The area where the two Second letter: represents the outer shape.
shapes overlap is shaded.
The missing box must therefore look like this:
X Y
The answer is SY because there is no inner shape (S)
7 a Step 1 The number of shaded squares decreases by and the outer shape is a circle (Y).
one each time from alternate sides. Practice 2
Step 2 The number of horizontal lines increases by one a First letter: represents the outer shape.
each time, alternating from being added below to
above the ellipse (oval shape).
The missing box must have the middle three squares in
the ellipse shaded, and two horizontal lines – one above P Q
the ellipse and one below: Second letter: represents the number of inner lines:
E = 2
F = 1
G = 0
The answer is QE because the outer shape is a
8 d Step 1 Each group of shapes moves around the box, hexagon (Q) and there are two inner lines (E).
from one corner to the next, in a clockwise 1 b First letter: represents whether the shape is a square (J)
direction. or a triangle (K).
Step 2 One circle is removed from the group of circles, Second letter: represents the position of the shape that
becomes shaded, and replaces a square in the is shaded:
group of squares each time. V = middle
Step 3 The replaced square is shaded and moves W = top
ahead to the next corner. X = bottom
The missing box must therefore look like this: The answer is JX because the shape is made up of
squares (J) and the bottom square is shaded (X).
2 a First letter: represents the inner symbol:
F =
G =
9 c Step 1 The square containing the cross moves H =
clockwise half a side each time. Second letter: represents whether the hexagon is small
Step 2 The square containing the circle moves (A) or large (B).
clockwise from one corner to the next. The answer is FB because the inner shape is (F) and
The missing box must therefore look like this: the outer shape is a large hexagon (B).
3 c First letter: represents the type of shape used to make
the pattern.
10 a Step 1 The number of small arrows decreases by one
each time. The small arrows always point R S T
downwards.
Step 2 The number of horizontal lines on the large arrow Second letter: represents whether the pattern is
decreases by one each time. The direction of the pointing to the left (V) or to the right (W).
arrow alternates from pointing upwards to Third letter: represents whether there are two shapes
pointing downwards. (E) or three shapes (F).
14
D E F
Second letter: represents the direction of the stripes: 4 c Step 1 The top section of the shape in the first column
X = diagonal increases in size in the second column.
Y = vertical
Z = horizontal
The answer is FX because the circle has a thick outer
line (F) and diagonal stripes (X).
15
The missing box must therefore look like this: 11 d The symbol in each box is made up of three connected
shapes: a small rectangle, a straight line and a small
black circle.
Step 1 In each row, the straight line is positioned: once
diagonally pointing to the top right-hand corner;
6 b Moving from left to right in each row, the number of once diagonally pointing to the top left-hand
lines decreases by one each time and the squares corner and once vertically.
alternate between being shaded and unshaded. Step 2 In each row, the black circle is placed twice at
7 e Step 1 Each column has three large versions of the one end of the line and once in the middle of
same shape and three small versions of the the line.
same inner shape: Step 3 In each row, the rectangle is placed twice at one
Step 1 Column Large shape Inner shape end of the line and once in the middle of the
Step 1 Left square triangle line. In the top and bottom rows, the rectangle
Step 1 Middle octagon square is unshaded.
Step 1 Right circle circle The symbol in the missing box must therefore look like
Step 2 As you go down each column, a new shape is this:
added to the inner shapes: a hexagon is added
in the middle row; a square is added in the
bottom row.
The missing box must show a large octagon that
contains a small square inside a hexagon, inside a 12 b The pattern in this matrix works from left to right.
square: Step 1 The two shapes on the top row in the left-hand
column are copied and reflected horizontally
(flipped over). The copies are then attached to
the top of the original shapes in the right-hand
column.
8 a Step 1 Different-sized versions of the same shape are
shown in each row:
Step 1 Top = triangle
Step 1 Middle = square
Step 1 Bottom = hexagon Step 2 The left-hand and right-hand shapes in the
Step 2 Each shape in the left-hand column is shaded middle row swap positions, but do not change
black and has a horizontal line below it. In the direction.
middle column, the shapes are striped and
have two outer lines that are parallel to the sides
of the shape. In the right-hand column, there
are two unshaded versions of the same shape,
one placed inside the other, and both are made Step 2 The central symbol in the middle row remains
up of solid lines. unchanged.
The missing box must contain two unshaded Step 3 The line in the third row is copied and the copy
hexagons, one placed inside the other, with both being is added below the last line of the pattern.
made up of solid lines:
The missing box must therefore look like this:
9 c Step 1 Each pattern in the top row is rotated 90°
clockwise to form the pattern in the bottom
row.
Step 2 The square is moved slightly to the left.
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Practice 1
e The shaded inner shape becomes unshaded and the Step 3 The lines of the triangular section of the flag
unshaded inner shape becomes shaded. shape become dashed.
Practice 2
b The right-hand side of the shape becomes indented.
1 e Step 1 The first shape is copied and turned
horizontally. 8 d The overall shape is reflected horizontally (flipped over).
Step 2 The copied shape is placed on top of the
original shape. The lines where the shapes
overlap show through.
2 b The outer shape is reduced in size and rotated 180°.
The inside shape is removed.
3 a The two shapes swap positions.
4 e Step 1 The shape is copied and reflected vertically
(flipped to the right).
9 b Step 1 The shape is rotated 180° and the shading is
removed.
10 a The shape is rotated 180° and reduced in size.
Step 2 The sections that jut out horizontally become 11 e Step 1 The shape is rotated 180°.
striped.
5 b Step 1 The shape is rotated 90° anticlockwise.
B
M
M
B B
M
B B Step 1 The right-hand section of Shape C is detached
M
B Step 2 The bottom section of Shape C that overlaps
M
6 b Step 1 The shape is rotated 180°. The shaded square Shape A is removed.
becomes unshaded.
Step 3 The diagonal shading in Shape B moves from
the bottom right-hand corner to fill the rest of
Shape B.
Step 2 The outline of the original shape is copied,
rotated 90° clockwise and placed on top of the
original shape.
Section 2
B 1
7 b Step 1 The large shape is reflected vertically (flipped to
the right). Practice 1
d The others all have the shortest side of the trapezium
(the large shape) at the top.
Practice 2
c The other shapes have sides that are all the same length.
1 d The others have the same number of slanted lines as
small vertical lines, whereas this option has six diagonal
lines and eight small vertical lines.
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Section 3
B 4
Practice 1 Step 3 This unshaded shape now moves anticlockwise
e The sequence is two pictures that alternate. to the next corner and becomes shaded. The
other shape in this corner becomes unshaded.
For example:
Practice 2 This pattern continues throughout the sequence so the
a The number of stars and the number of solid straight missing box must therefore look like this:
edges increase by one each time.
1 b Step 1 The letters in the first box are reflected
horizontally (flipped over) to form the second
box.
4 a Step 1 The number of triangles in the centre of the box
increases by one each time.
Step 2 The small black dot moves forward five squares
in a clockwise direction each time.
Step 2 The letters in the second box are reflected Step 3 The square in which the small black dot was
vertically (flipped to the right) to form the third located is removed in the following box.
box.
The missing box must therefore look like this:
Step 3 The pattern then starts again, so the third box is
reflected horizontally to form the fourth box.
5 c The first three boxes form a repeating block. The
missing box will therefore look the same as the first
box.
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Step 3 Once a shape that was shaded black has
become unshaded it is removed.
1 3 5 The missing box must therefore look like this:
7 e Step 1 One arrow pointing upwards is added each time.
Step 2 One parallelogram is added to the front of the
row each time. The new parallelogram always
has opposite shading to the parallelogram on
its right. 11 e The shapes rotate 90° clockwise from one box to the
next.
12 c This sequence has two alternating patterns. Each
pattern follows the same rule.
Step 1 In the first pattern the contents of box 1 are
Step 3 One square is added to the bottom right-hand reflected horizontally (flipped over) to form the
corner of the row of squares each time. The contents of box 3. The contents of box 3 are
new square always has opposite shading to the reflected horizontally to form the contents of
square above. box 5.
The missing box must therefore look like this:
1 3 5
Step 2 In the second pattern, box 4 must have been
formed by the contents of box 2 being
reflected horizontally (flipped over).
8 b Step 1 The shapes rotate 90° anticlockwise each time.
Step 2 The number of arrows decreases from three to
two to one then back up to three again.
2 4
Step 3 The number of small shaded squares Section 4
decreases from six to five to four then back up B 9
to six again. Practice 1
The missing box must therefore look like this: d First letter: represents the inner shape.
(nothing)
R S
Second letter: represents the outer shape.
9 b Step 1 The boxes are grouped into pairs. The shape in
the first box of each pair is reflected horizontally
(flipped over) to form the shape in the second
box of each pair. X Y
The answer is SY because there is no inner shape (S)
and the outer shape is a circle (Y).
Practice 2
a First letter: represents the outer shape.
P Q
Step 2 In the second box of each pair, the shaded Second letter: represents the number of inner lines:
section becomes unshaded and the unshaded E = 2
secton becomes shaded. F = 1
The missing box must therefore look like this: G = 0
The answer is QE because the outer shape is a
hexagon (Q) and there are two inner lines (E).
1 e First letter: represents whether the arrow is pointing up
(A) or down (B).
10 d Step 1 The stripes are removed from one shape each Second letter: represents whether the two circles
time in the following order: attached to the arrowhead are shaded (G) or unshaded
top left → centre → top right. (H).
Third letter: represents whether all of the circles are
shaded (R) or whether the circles are a mixture of being
shaded and unshaded (S).
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L M N
Second letter: represents the bottom section of the
shape. 4 a Step 1 The shapes in the bottom row are reflections
(flipped over versions) of the shapes in the top
row.
X Y Z
20
Step 2 The small squares are copied over to the top of
the box. The squares are then repeated at the
5 e Step 1 Each row has two small versions and one large base of the box but, for these copies the
version of the same shape. shading is reversed.
Step 2 The shapes in the left- and right-hand columns The missing box must therefore look like this:
are divided in half by a straight line that extends
beyond the shape.
Step 3 The shapes in the middle column contain three
straight lines. These lines follow the same
direction as the lines in the other shapes in the
row, but they do not extend beyond the shape. 11 c Step 1 The small squares in the boxes in the left-hand
The missing box must therefore look like this: column are repeated in the boxes in the right-
hand column.
Step 2 Each row has a different style of line.
Step 2 Top =
6 e Step 1 Each row and each column contain a circle, a
square and a hexagon. Step 2 Middle =
Step 2 The shapes in each row are the same size:
Top = small
Middle = medium
Bottom = large Step 2 Bottom =
The missing box must therefore look like this:
8 d The shapes in the left-hand column are copied and ?
reflected vertically (flipped to the right) in the right-hand
column. 12 a Step 1 The cubes in the top row are reflected
horizontally (flipped over) in the bottom row.
The circle on the top face of the original cube is
removed.
9 b Step 1 The shapes in the right-hand column are
repeated in the left-hand column.
Step 2 The shaded squares become unshaded.
Step 3 The number of triangles and black dots
decreases by one.
Step 4 A central line is added between the two angular
lines. Step 2 The small triangles are also reflected
The missing box must therefore look like this: horizontally (flipped over) but the dashed line
becomes solid.
The missing box must therefore look like this:
21