Verbal reasoning is a key part of many grammar and private school entrance exams. Here are our favourite free verbal reasoning worksheets and questions for you to download! We've crafted a full-length free verbal reasoning practice paper to help your child prepare.
What is verbal reasoning?
Verbal reasoning involves analysing written information and using logic to solve problems with letters, words and symbols. It's used by most 11 plus exam boards, including GL Assessment, CEM Select and ISEB, as well as many bespoke school-written tests.
Take a look at our verbal reasoning exam preparation guide for a full breakdown of the verbal reasoning skills that your child will need for their exam.
Why practise verbal reasoning at home?
Verbal reasoning is not taught at primary school as part of the English Key Stage 2 national curriculum. Some private prep schools will prepare children for entrance exams – but this is not compulsory, and is rare in state primary schools.
So, if your child is applying to grammar school or a selective private school, be aware that they are not likely to have seen this style of problem-solving exercise at school before.
Reasoning exams often aim to measure 'natural' ability. But the reality is that children who are familiar with these question styles will be at a strong advantage compared to children who are encountering them for the first time on exam day.
Using verbal reasoning practice papers at home can help your child develop this familiarity so that on exam day they can focus on answering the questions to the best of their ability, rather than puzzling out what is being asked of them.
Verbal reasoning helpsheets
The exact content of the verbal reasoning test will vary depending on the exam board and paper configuration your child's school has chosen.
Here is an overview of some of the main topics and subtopics assessed in most verbal reasoning exams. We've also included some free helpsheets to introduce your child to key topics:
1. Vocabulary
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Homonyms
- Odd ones out
- Identifying connections
2. Finding words
- Jumbled words
- Jumbled sentences
- Finding a missing word
- Anagrams
3. Building words
- Joining words
- Morphing words
- Transferring letters
- Identifying missing letters
4. Codes and sequences
- Solving codes (using letters, numbers and/or symbols)
- Solving sequences (using letters, numbers and/or symbols)
5. Logic
- Statement logic
- Deductions
- Number logic
- Letter logic
Verbal reasoning questions
Here are ten verbal reasoning sample questions in PDF format to help your child practise.
The pack also contains an answer sheet with explanations of the steps to approach each question. You can work through these together with your child to help them build their understanding.
