Verbal Reasoning & Non-Verbal Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning
Pupils at St Hilary’s start Verbal Reasoning lessons in Year 4 and continue until the Spring Term of Year 6. Verbal Reasoning is a form of problem solving based around words and language. It involves thinking about text, solving word problems, following written instructions to find a solution, finding letter sequences and deciphering letter and number based codes. Verbal Reasoning encourages the girls to be inquisitive and explore topics to gain a greater understanding and think for themselves. Verbal reasoning tests are a key part of most senior school selection and 11+ exams. The exams are intended to test a child’s ability to understand and reason using words, and are a test of skill, rather than of learned knowledge.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Pupils at St Hilary’s start Non-Verbal Reasoning lessons in Year 4 and continue until the Spring Term of Year 6. Non-verbal reasoning is problem-solving based around pictures, diagrams and shapes, rather than words. Unlike verbal reasoning, it is not as reliant on the English language; rather, the questions use drawings, shapes or codes, and pupils need to work out sequences, similarities and differences between these figures or break the code. Non-Verbal Reasoning tests are designed to see how pupils can use critical thinking and logic to solve problems. The questions in a Non-Verbal Reasoning test are based around mathematical concepts such as symmetry, rotation, mirroring, shape, size and direction, and involve diagrams rather than words.