Work out which letter stands for which feature of a figure.
OftenIn many papers, especially GL AssessmentAbout 45 seconds a question in the test
The big idea
Each figure has a code, and each letter stands for one feature: the shape, the shading or the number of dots. Find two figures that share a letter and ask what else they share. That tells you what the letter means.
Tips that save marks
Work on one letter position at a time.
Cross out features that change while the letter stays the same.
The letters keep their order: the first letter always describes the same feature.
Now try five
Try each one before you look at the answer: answering from memory is what makes it stick. Tap an option to check it. Most children get three or four right at first; five out of five means move on to the next topic.
Question 1Aim for about 45 seconds
Each figure has a code. Each letter stands for one feature of the figure. Which code belongs to the last figure?
ET
AT
ER
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, AR
How to work it out
Compare figures that share a letter.
E and A are the shapes (triangle, hexagon); T and R are the shadings (white, striped).
The last figure is a striped hexagon: AR.
Why the other options are wrong
B (ER): The first letter is for the shape: this figure is a hexagon, which is A.
C (AT): The second letter is for the shading: this figure is striped, which is R.
D (RA): The letters are in the wrong order: the shape letter comes first.
E (ET): Both letters are wrong: match each feature to its letter one at a time.
Question 2Aim for about 45 seconds
Each figure has a code. Each letter stands for one feature of the figure. Which code belongs to the last figure?
CR
DR
CS
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, DS
How to work it out
Compare figures that share a letter.
C and D are the shapes (triangle, circle); R and S are the shadings (black, grey).
The last figure is a grey circle: DS.
Why the other options are wrong
A (CR): Both letters are wrong: match each feature to its letter one at a time.
B (SD): The letters are in the wrong order: the shape letter comes first.
C (CS): The first letter is for the shape: this figure is a circle, which is D.
E (DR): The second letter is for the shading: this figure is grey, which is S.
Question 3Aim for about 45 seconds
Each figure has a code. Each letter stands for one feature of the figure. Which code belongs to the last figure?
DP
AP
DR
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, AR
How to work it out
Compare figures that share a letter.
D and A are the shapes (star, circle); P and R are the shadings (white, striped).
The last figure is a striped circle: AR.
Why the other options are wrong
A (AP): The second letter is for the shading: this figure is striped, which is R.
C (RA): The letters are in the wrong order: the shape letter comes first.
D (DP): Both letters are wrong: match each feature to its letter one at a time.
E (DR): The first letter is for the shape: this figure is a circle, which is A.
Question 4Aim for about 45 seconds
Each figure has a code. Each letter stands for one feature of the figure. Which code belongs to the last figure?
ET
CT
ES
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, CS
How to work it out
Compare figures that share a letter.
E and C are the shapes (star, square); T and S are the shadings (grey, striped).
The last figure is a striped square: CS.
Why the other options are wrong
A (ET): Both letters are wrong: match each feature to its letter one at a time.
B (ES): The first letter is for the shape: this figure is a square, which is C.
C (CT): The second letter is for the shading: this figure is striped, which is S.
E (SC): The letters are in the wrong order: the shape letter comes first.
Question 5Aim for about 45 seconds
Each figure has a code. Each letter stands for one feature of the figure. Which code belongs to the last figure?
BQ
AQ
BR
?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, AR
How to work it out
Compare figures that share a letter.
B and A are the shapes (triangle, crescent); Q and R are the shadings (striped, black).
The last figure is a black crescent: AR.
Why the other options are wrong
B (RA): The letters are in the wrong order: the shape letter comes first.
C (AQ): The second letter is for the shading: this figure is black, which is R.
D (BQ): Both letters are wrong: match each feature to its letter one at a time.
E (BR): The first letter is for the shape: this figure is a crescent, which is A.
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