Some areas (e.g. Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire) select using verbal and non-verbal reasoning only.
At a glance
Subjects
Verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning
Usually held
September
Set by
GL Assessment
Schools
18
The papers
Stage
Paper
Questions
Time
11+
Verbal Reasoning
80
60 minutes
11+
Non-verbal Reasoning
50
40 minutes
Paper formats are indicative and change from year to year. Always check the current arrangements with the school or local authority.
How to prepare for the GL reasoning
The GL reasoning test covers verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. Most families start steady preparation in Year 4 or early Year 5, building accuracy first and speed later, then sit timed papers through the summer before the test, which usually takes place in September.
Verbal reasoning is a set of learnable question types, such as letter codes, hidden words and word analogies. Learning each type, then practising it against the clock, lifts scores quickly.
Non-verbal reasoning is about spotting patterns in shapes: rotations, reflections, sequences and matrices. Short, regular sessions work better than long ones.
Which one letter can be moved from the first word into the second word to make two new words? The other letters stay in the same order.
NEARLY BOY
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, N
How to work it out
Take N out of NEARLY to leave EARLY, and put it into BOY to make BONY.
Why the other options are wrong
A (Y): Taking Y out does not leave two real words.
B (A): Taking A out does not leave two real words.
C (R): Taking R out does not leave two real words.
E (L): Taking L out does not leave two real words.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Which of the shapes below could join this group?
The group
Show the worked answer
Answer: C
How to work it out
Every shape in the group has the same number of dots as it has sides.
Shading and rotation change freely, so they are distractors.
Questions parents ask
What subjects are in the GL reasoning?
The GL reasoning tests verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning.
When is the GL reasoning?
The main test usually takes place in September. Dates change each year, so always confirm them with the school or local authority.
How should my child prepare for the GL reasoning?
Build the core skills in Year 4 and 5, learn each question type, then practise timed papers in the GL reasoning format. Prism builds this plan automatically from a free starting assessment.
Find out where your child stands today
Prism starts with a free assessment across maths, English, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, then builds a weekly plan for your target schools. Parents follow progress free.