Logic problems: 11 Plus verbal reasoning practice

Put people in order from clues, then answer a question.

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

The big idea

Logic questions give a few clues, such as “Ada is taller than Ben”. Write the names in a line from tallest to shortest as you read each clue, then answer the question from your line.

Tips that save marks

  • Turn “shorter than” round: “Ben is shorter than Ada” means Ada is taller than Ben.
  • Draw a quick line or ladder: it is faster than keeping it in your head.
  • Check the question: tallest, shortest or second tallest?

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

Read the clues. Who is the oldest?

  1. Ben is older than Hal.
  2. Ben is younger than Esme.
  3. Gita is younger than Cara.
  4. Gita is older than Esme.
Show the worked answer

Answer: A, Cara

How to work it out

  1. Put the clues in order from oldest to youngest: Cara, Gita, Esme, Ben, Hal.
  2. Who is the oldest: Cara.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B (Esme): Esme is in position 3 from the oldest.
  • C (Gita): Gita is in position 2 from the oldest.
  • D (Ben): Ben is in position 4 from the oldest.
  • E (Hal): Hal is the youngest.
Question 2Aim for about 35 seconds

Read the clues. Who is the oldest?

  1. Cara is older than Gita.
  2. Hal is older than Finn.
  3. Finn is older than Esme.
  4. Hal is younger than Gita.
Show the worked answer

Answer: D, Cara

How to work it out

  1. Put the clues in order from oldest to youngest: Cara, Gita, Hal, Finn, Esme.
  2. Who is the oldest: Cara.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A (Esme): Esme is the youngest.
  • B (Finn): Finn is in position 4 from the oldest.
  • C (Hal): Hal is in position 3 from the oldest.
  • E (Gita): Gita is in position 2 from the oldest.
Question 3Aim for about 35 seconds

Read the clues. Who is the fastest?

  1. Esme is slower than Ada.
  2. Esme is faster than Cara.
  3. Finn is slower than Cara.
  4. Dev is slower than Finn.
Show the worked answer

Answer: B, Ada

How to work it out

  1. Put the clues in order from fastest to slowest: Ada, Esme, Cara, Finn, Dev.
  2. Who is the fastest: Ada.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A (Cara): Cara is in position 3 from the fastest.
  • C (Esme): Esme is in position 2 from the fastest.
  • D (Dev): Dev is the slowest.
  • E (Finn): Finn is in position 4 from the fastest.
Question 4Aim for about 35 seconds

Read the clues. Who is the second oldest?

  1. Hal is older than Ben.
  2. Dev is older than Ada.
  3. Finn is older than Dev.
  4. Hal is younger than Ada.
Show the worked answer

Answer: B, Dev

How to work it out

  1. Put the clues in order from oldest to youngest: Finn, Dev, Ada, Hal, Ben.
  2. Who is the second oldest: Dev.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A (Finn): Finn is the oldest.
  • C (Hal): Hal is in position 4 from the oldest.
  • D (Ben): Ben is the youngest.
  • E (Ada): Ada is in position 3 from the oldest.
Question 5Aim for about 35 seconds

Read the clues. Who is the slowest?

  1. Dev is faster than Gita.
  2. Gita is faster than Esme.
  3. Ada is slower than Ben.
  4. Ada is faster than Dev.
Show the worked answer

Answer: A, Esme

How to work it out

  1. Put the clues in order from fastest to slowest: Ben, Ada, Dev, Gita, Esme.
  2. Who is the slowest: Esme.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B (Ada): Ada is in position 2 from the fastest.
  • C (Dev): Dev is in position 3 from the fastest.
  • D (Ben): Ben is the fastest.
  • E (Gita): Gita is in position 4 from the fastest.

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