Online 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning tutors
Calm, step-by-step teaching for the shape and pattern puzzles that children often find the strangest part of the 11+.
- Every tutor interviewed
- Live one-to-one lessons
- Weekly progress updates
About 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning
Non-Verbal Reasoning uses shapes, patterns and diagrams instead of words. Children are asked to spot the odd one out, finish a sequence, rotate or reflect a shape, or fold and unfold paper in their heads. It tests logical and spatial thinking.
It is not part of the school curriculum, so it feels unfamiliar. Many children get stuck at first, then improve quickly once they learn what to look for: size, shading, position, number of sides and direction of movement.
Some areas test it, others do not, and CEM-style papers may fold it into spatial or matrix tasks. Practice should match the format your schools use, so check this before choosing materials.
Exam boardsGL Assessment and CEM-style papers, in the formats used by the region or school. Not every 11+ includes it.
What we cover
Odd one out
Spotting the shape that breaks a pattern in size, shade, position or number.
Sequences
Working out what comes next in a series of changing shapes.
Matrices
Completing a grid where rows and columns follow a rule.
Rotation and reflection
Turning and flipping shapes accurately, in the mind and on paper.
Analogies
Applying the change between one pair of shapes to another.
Hidden shapes
Finding a smaller shape inside a complicated figure.
Nets and 3D shapes
Folding nets and imagining cubes from different views.
Codes and shape logic
Matching shapes to symbols or following simple rules.
How a Nerdely 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning tutor helps
Shows what to look for
Children learn a checklist: shape, size, shading, position and movement.
Uses the whiteboard
Drawing, rotating and annotating shapes together makes ideas clear.
Builds spatial confidence
Regular, varied practice helps children visualise changes more easily.
Grows speed gradually
Untimed learning comes first, then timed sets as accuracy improves.
How Nerdely works
Tell us what your child needs
Subject, level, exam board and the times that suit you. It takes a couple of minutes.
We find and interview a tutor
We shortlist tutors who teach that subject and level, interview them ourselves and match the right one.
Lessons are booked in
Live, one-to-one, 50-minute lessons in our online classroom, with video, chat and a shared whiteboard.
You see the progress
Homework, quizzes and weekly test scores in your account, plus a short report every month.
11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning tutoring questions
What is Non-Verbal Reasoning?
It is a set of picture and pattern puzzles that test logic and spatial thinking without needing reading. Children look for rules in shapes and apply them to find an answer.
Why does my child find it so hard?
Because it is unfamiliar. School rarely teaches it. With a few lessons on how to read patterns, most children improve quickly and begin to enjoy the puzzles.
Do all 11+ tests include it?
No. Some areas and schools drop it, others include it as a main section. Check the admissions page for each school and tell us, so we only teach what is needed.
Can practice at home help?
Yes. Short, regular sessions work best. Your tutor can set homework in the right style, and puzzle books or drawing shapes at home also help spatial thinking.
Related tutoring
Other 11+ subjects
Find your child’s 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning tutor
Tell us their exam board, target grade and the times that suit you. We will find, interview and book the right tutor.