100+ Free 11 Plus NVR Practice Questions
Pass your 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning (GL Assessment) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
A square piece of paper is folded once along its vertical centre line (right half folded onto the left half). One hole is punched through both layers near the top. When the paper is unfolded, how many holes appear and where?
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Key Facts: 11 Plus NVR Exam
Year 6
Age 10-11 when the paper is sat
GL Assessment
~80 questions
Typical GL NVR paper length
GL Assessment
111-121+
Standardised score grammar schools require
Grammar school consortiums
11 types
Series, matrices, analogies, odd-one-out, codes, rotation, reflection, symmetry, hidden shapes, hole-punch, nets
11+ NVR syllabus
4 sections
Common GL section structure, each timed separately
GL Assessment
100% MCQ
Every NVR question is multiple choice
GL Assessment
Age-standardised
Marks adjusted for the pupil's exact age in months
GL Assessment
100
Free practice questions available here
OpenExamPrep
GL Assessment 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning is a Year 6 multiple-choice paper (around 80 questions in timed sections) that measures spatial logic through series, matrices, analogies, odd-one-out, codes, rotation, reflection, hidden shapes and cube nets. Marks are age-standardised; most grammar schools require 111+.
Sample 11 Plus NVR Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your 11 Plus NVR exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A series shows squares with a black dot. Figure 1: dot in the top-left corner. Figure 2: dot in the top-right corner. Figure 3: dot in the bottom-right corner. Following the pattern, where is the dot in Figure 4?
2Four of these five figures are alike in one way. Figure A: a triangle with one shaded corner. Figure B: a square with one shaded corner. Figure C: a pentagon with one shaded corner. Figure D: a hexagon with two shaded corners. Figure E: a circle... actually a heptagon with one shaded corner. Which figure is the odd one out?
3An analogy is shown as A is to B as C is to ?. Figure A: an upward-pointing arrow. Figure B: the same arrow pointing downward. Figure C: a rightward-pointing arrow. Which figure completes the analogy?
4A 2x2 matrix has one empty cell. Top-left: a small white circle. Top-right: a large white circle. Bottom-left: a small black circle. Bottom-right is empty. Which figure completes the matrix?
5A shape is shown to the left of a vertical mirror line: a right-angled triangle with its right angle at the bottom-left and its slope rising to the upper-right. What is the correct reflection on the right side of the mirror?
6Three figures are each given a two-letter code. A square has code 'PX'. A triangle has code 'QX'. A circle has code 'QY'. Codes use the first letter for shape type and the second for size, where all three figures so far are large except the circle, which is small. What is the code for a small square?
7A square piece of paper is folded once along its vertical centre line (right half folded onto the left half). One hole is punched through both layers near the top. When the paper is unfolded, how many holes appear and where?
8A simple target shape is shown: a small right-angled triangle. You must find it hidden, in the same size and orientation, inside one of the answer figures. Which statement describes the correct answer?
9A cube net is shown as a cross shape. The centre square is white. The four arm squares (top, bottom, left, right) are each marked with a different symbol: a star on top, a circle on the bottom, a triangle on the left and a cross on the right. When folded into a cube, which two faces are opposite each other?
10A series of three figures shows a square containing dots. Figure 1 has one dot, Figure 2 has two dots, Figure 3 has three dots. Each new dot is added in a clockwise position starting from the top. Which figure comes next?
About the 11 Plus NVR Exam
The 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning paper from GL Assessment tests spatial and logical thinking using shapes and patterns rather than words or numbers. Pupils sit it in Year 6 (ages 10-11) as part of grammar and independent school entrance, usually as a standalone multiple-choice paper of around 80 questions split into timed sections. Question types include series, matrices, analogies, odd-one-out, figure codes, rotation, reflection, symmetry, hidden shapes, hole-punch folding and nets of cubes.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Approximately 45-60 minutes, with each section timed separately
Passing Score
No fixed pass mark — raw marks are age-standardised; grammar schools typically require an overall standardised score of 111+ (often 121+ in selective areas)
Exam Fee
Free for state grammar schools (registration through the Local Authority); coaching and mock papers are paid (GL Assessment)
11 Plus NVR Exam Content Outline
Series and Sequences
Identifying the next figure in a pattern where shapes change in position, size, rotation, shading, count or division, including alternating and doubling rules
Matrices and Analogies
Completing 2x2 and 3x3 grids using simultaneous row and column rules, and solving A:B::C:? analogies by transferring a transformation (rotation, resize, recolour, add or remove elements) to a new shape
Odd One Out and Codes
Finding the figure that breaks a shared rule of shape, count, shading or position, and decoding figure and letter codes where each letter represents one feature such as size, colour or direction
Spatial Reasoning
Rotation through 90 and 180 degrees, reflection across vertical, horizontal and diagonal mirror lines, lines of symmetry, hidden shapes at the same size and orientation, hole-punch paper folding, and folding nets into cubes to find opposite and adjacent faces
How to Pass the 11 Plus NVR Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No fixed pass mark — raw marks are age-standardised; grammar schools typically require an overall standardised score of 111+ (often 121+ in selective areas)
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Approximately 45-60 minutes, with each section timed separately
- Exam fee: Free for state grammar schools (registration through the Local Authority); coaching and mock papers are paid
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
11 Plus NVR Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning test?
It is a paper that measures problem-solving with shapes, patterns and spatial logic rather than words or numbers. GL Assessment uses it alongside English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning for grammar and independent school entry in Year 6, and it is entirely multiple choice.
How many questions are in the GL Non-Verbal Reasoning paper?
GL's Non-Verbal Reasoning paper typically has around 80 multiple-choice questions, often arranged in four sections of 20 that are each timed separately. The total working time is usually about 45-60 minutes including instructions and practice questions.
What question types appear in 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning?
Common types are series, matrices, shape analogies, odd-one-out, figure and letter codes, rotation, reflection, symmetry, hidden shapes, hole-punch folding, and nets and cubes. Each tests how quickly a child spots transformations and rules in pictures.
How is the Non-Verbal Reasoning score used?
Raw marks are converted to an age-standardised score, so younger pupils are not disadvantaged, then combined with the other papers. Most grammar schools require an overall standardised score of 111+, and selective consortiums often set 121+.
Is Non-Verbal Reasoning harder than Verbal Reasoning?
Many children find Non-Verbal Reasoning unfamiliar at first because it uses no words, but it becomes one of the most improvable papers with practice. Learning to scan figures methodically for changes in size, shading, rotation and position raises scores quickly.
How can my child prepare for 11+ Non-Verbal Reasoning?
Practise each question type separately to learn its rules, then mix them under timed conditions. Free practice questions with worked explanations, like those here, help children recognise common transformations such as rotation, reflection and adding elements at speed.