Letter sums: 11 Plus verbal reasoning practice

Substitute numbers for letters and calculate.

OftenIn many papers, especially GL AssessmentAbout 35 seconds a question in the test

The big idea

Replace each letter with its number, work out the calculation (remember BIDMAS), then convert the answer back into a letter.

Tips that save marks

  • Write the numbers above the letters in the question.
  • If your answer isn’t one of the letters, recheck the arithmetic.

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 35 seconds

Work out the sum and give the answer as a letter.

A = 3, B = 8, C = 1, D = 4, E = 6. B × C − D = ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: D, D

How to work it out

  1. Swap each letter for its number: 8 × 1 − 4 = 4.
  2. The letter worth 4 is D.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds

Work out the sum and give the answer as a letter.

A = 4, B = 8, C = 5, D = 3, F = 12. C × D − F = ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: D, D

How to work it out

  1. Swap each letter for its number: 5 × 3 − 12 = 3.
  2. The letter worth 3 is D.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds

Work out the sum and give the answer as a letter.

B = 3, C = 10, D = 4, E = 5, F = 2. D × B − C = ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: E, F

How to work it out

  1. Swap each letter for its number: 4 × 3 − 10 = 2.
  2. The letter worth 2 is F.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds

Work out the sum and give the answer as a letter.

A = 2, B = 5, D = 1, E = 4, F = 8. B × A − F = ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: A, A

How to work it out

  1. Swap each letter for its number: 5 × 2 − 8 = 2.
  2. The letter worth 2 is A.
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds

Work out the sum and give the answer as a letter.

A = 2, B = 10, C = 5, D = 4, E = 6. D × A − E = ?

Show the worked answer

Answer: A, A

How to work it out

  1. Swap each letter for its number: 4 × 2 − 6 = 2.
  2. The letter worth 2 is A.

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