Non-Verbal Reasoning Codes: How to Solve 11 Plus Questions

Codes questions test whether a child can connect letters with visual features such as shape, shading, position, borders or symbols. The method becomes much more manageable when the code is treated as several small decisions rather than one large puzzle.

Watch: how to solve non-verbal reasoning codes

A step-by-step method for code questions

1. Count the code positions. A three-letter code normally represents three separate features.
2. Look for a repeated letter in the same position. Compare only the features shared by those figures.
3. Name the feature represented by that letter. It might describe the main shape, a dot, shading, orientation or a border.
4. Apply that letter to the question figure immediately. Do not wait until every position has been decoded.
5. Leave the position with all-different letters until last. Other decoded features will make the remaining distinction easier to see.
6. Eliminate impossible answers. A single incorrect letter is enough to rule out an option.

Worked example

Imagine that the first and second figures both have A in code position one. If the only visual feature they share is a dot inside the main shape, A represents “has a dot”. If the question figure has a dot, its first letter must also be A.

Next, suppose the first and third figures both have X in position two and both have a border. X therefore represents “has a border”. If the question figure has no border, choose the alternative letter for position two.

Finally, use the position where every letter is different to distinguish the main shapes. For example, N might represent a square, M a star and L a pentagon. Decode only the feature assigned to that position.

Choose the right practice book

Digital option: select Digital Download on the relevant product page if you want the PDF version. Physical copies are also available where shown.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Comparing letters in different code positions
• Trying to decode every visual feature when each position represents only one
• Holding several letters in memory instead of writing each one down
• Guessing from the main shape before checking dots, shading, borders and orientation
• Rushing before the method is accurate

Non-verbal reasoning codes FAQs

What should a child check first?

Start with repeated letters that appear in the same code position. These provide the clearest evidence about which visual feature a letter represents.

Should codes practice be timed?

Learn the decoding method without time pressure first. Introduce short timed sets only when the child can explain each code accurately.

Are codes the same as spatial reasoning?

No. Both sit within non-verbal reasoning, but code questions map letters to visual features. Spatial reasoning focuses more heavily on mentally rotating, combining or viewing shapes.