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Non-verbal reasoning (NVR), as the name suggests is a way of testing reasoning skills without using words. This should ensure that children who do not have English as a first language or do not have a wide vocabulary are not disadvantaged. Non-verbal reasoning questions are multiple choice and involve the child selecting a diagram which completes a series or a pattern or selecting a code which represents a particular pattern. Although NVR is supposed to test innate intelligence and to therefore be "un-tutorable" I have incontrovertible evidence that this is not the case as I have seen the NVR scores of my tutees increase dramatically after tuition. Some of the things to look out for in NVR questions are reflection (in either the horizontal or vertical plane), rotation (clockwise or anti-clockwise by 45, 90, or 180 degrees), similarities or differences in numbers of different elements.
If your child is signed up to the Roots 2 Success website they will be able to complete our 10 typical NVR tests. The is also an extensive range of materials available in bookshops which we can advise you about it you get in touch. If you purchase any, ensure that the answer booklet provides explanations as to why a particular answer is correct. Some NVR questions are extremely difficult and obscure so your child should not feel discouraged if he or she is unable to score over 80% in a NVR test. Any child who can score 100% in a typical NVR 11 plus test should go straight to university to study mathematics or engineering and miss out secondary school altogether!