11+ Verbal Reasoning Made Simple

Your heart sinks as you realise your child has never encountered anything like this at school, and neither have you.

This moment of panic hits thousands of parents every year. You’re not behind, and your child isn’t at a disadvantage. Verbal reasoning feels foreign because it genuinely is new territory for most families.

The good news? Children often pick up verbal reasoning faster than parents expect, precisely because they approach it with fresh eyes rather than overthinking the logic.

What is verbal reasoning?

Verbal reasoning tests your child’s ability to reason and solve problems using written information. Unlike English comprehension, which focuses on understanding stories and texts, verbal reasoning tests logical thinking with words, letters, and language patterns.

The skills involved in verbal reasoning include:

Don’t be fooled by the word ‘verbal’. Verbal reasoning can also involve solving problems with letters and numbers! However, for most questions, your child will need to show they understand the meanings of words and relationships between them.

Having a wide vocabulary is useful for understanding these questions, but logical thinking skills are often more important than knowing lots of words.

Which 11+ exams test verbal reasoning?

Many grammar schools and independent schools include verbal reasoning as part of their entrance exams. The specific format depends on the exam provider your target schools use:

Important: Check your target schools’ specific requirements. Some schools test verbal reasoning, others don’t. Some belong to consortiums using the same test, whilst others have unique exams.

Common types of verbal reasoning questions

Verbal reasoning questions come in several main categories. Understanding these types helps your child recognise what each question is asking for:

This might seem overwhelming, but don’t worry. Most question types use the same logical thinking skills. Once your child understands the underlying patterns, they can adapt to any format they encounter.

Verbal reasoning example questions

Here are examples of common verbal reasoning question types with tips on how to approach them:

How to prepare for 11+ verbal reasoning

Verbal reasoning can be tricky because children attending primary schools aren’t taught how to answer these types of questions. However, getting started early and building your child’s familiarity with verbal reasoning can help significantly.

How does progress look like?

Many parents expect verbal reasoning to “click” immediately, then worry when their child still finds questions challenging after a few weeks. Real progress looks different than you might imagine.

Speed comes later. Understanding comes first. A child who works through reasoning questions slowly but correctly is much closer to exam success than one who rushes through and gets lots wrong.

How our Cambridge tutors approach verbal reasoning

Verbal reasoning requires a different teaching approach than traditional school subjects. Our tutors understand that parents often feel lost trying to help with these unfamiliar question types.

Wynn holds a First Class degree in Human, Social and Political Sciences from Cambridge and works extensively with 11+ entrance exams. He breaks down verbal reasoning into manageable patterns that children can recognise and apply, helping students master both the logical thinking and the time management needed for exam success.

Mark achieved a Double First in History from Cambridge and has over 3,000 hours of tutoring experience. He’s guided students through entrance exams for leading schools including Eton, Harrow, Winchester, and St Paul’s. Mark specialises in building confidence alongside technique, helping children approach unfamiliar question types calmly.

Olivia studied History of Art at St John’s College, Cambridge, and has extensive experience with 11+ preparation. She focuses on developing the analytical thinking skills that verbal reasoning tests, helping students see the logical patterns rather than memorising question types.

Our tutors don’t just teach verbal reasoning techniques. They help children develop the calm, methodical thinking that serves them well in any challenging situation.

Ready to turn verbal reasoning from mystery to mastery?

Our Cambridge-educated tutors specialise in making verbal reasoning accessible for children who are starting from scratch. We understand the time pressure families face and know exactly how to build both skills and confidence efficiently.

Every consultation begins with understanding exactly where your child stands with verbal reasoning, then creating a focused plan that makes the best use of your preparation time.