NVR - Odd One Out

What Are Odd One Out Questions?

In Odd One Out questions, children are shown a set of shapes or symbols. Usually, all but one share the same important feature.

The task is to find the shape that does not belong with the others.

These questions test visual comparison. Children may need to look at shape, symmetry, shading, position, number of parts, direction, pattern or small internal details.

How Are These Questions Shown in the 11 Plus Exam?

Candidates are usually shown four or five shapes.

Three or four of the shapes will have something in common. One shape will be different in a meaningful way.

The challenge is to explain why one shape is different, not simply choose the one that “looks wrong”.

Example One: Look for Shared Features

This first example is simple, but it shows the method clearly.

All four shapes are polygons. They also all have horizontal shading.

Now children need to find the feature that three shapes share, but one does not.

Option D is the odd one out because it has no reflection symmetry. If a line is drawn down its middle, the two halves would not be mirror images of each other.

Technique Tip: Do Not Rely Only on Gut Feeling

Sometimes the odd one out seems obvious straight away.

That can be helpful, but children should still be able to say what makes it different.

A good habit is to ask: “What do the others have in common?” If the child can answer that, they are less likely to be caught by a trap.

Example Two: Check Small Details

In this example, all of the shapes appear to be cuboids with the same three faces visible.

They also use the same colour shading and have six smaller shapes on them: two at the top, two at the front and two at the side.

Each cuboid uses the same four smaller shape types, including a triangle, a circle, a square and a heart.

The answer is found by looking closely at where the smaller shapes are placed.

In boxes A, B and C, the shapes on the top are the same as the shapes on the side. In box D, the same two shapes appear on the front and the side instead.

That makes D the odd one out.

Time Management Matters

Odd One Out questions can sometimes take longer than expected because the difference may be small.

Children should learn not to spend too long on one question. A difficult question may cost time that could be used on easier questions later in the test.

During revision, it is useful to practise both untimed reasoning and timed decision-making.

Example Three: Avoid Red Herrings

This example is more complicated because there is a lot happening in each box.

All four boxes contain four different types of arrow. They all contain one curved arrow and one regular arrow. They also all contain two arrows pointing up and two pointing down.

Each box has two vertically shaded shapes and two horizontally shaded shapes.

Some differences are red herrings. For example, the exact quadrilateral shapes vary, but that does not produce one clear odd one out. The number of shapes at the top and bottom also does not isolate one single answer.

The useful clue is the relationship between arrow direction and shading.

In boxes A, C and D, the horizontally shaded shapes contain arrows pointing up, while the vertically shaded shapes contain arrows pointing down.

In box B, the opposite is true. That makes B the odd one out.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Children may lose marks on Odd One Out questions because they stop at the first difference they notice.

Common mistakes include:

• Choosing an answer because it looks different without explaining why
• Missing symmetry
• Ignoring small symbols or repeated shapes
• Being distracted by red herrings
• Spending too long on one difficult question
• Not checking whether three shapes really share the same feature

A calm, evidence-based method is usually more useful than guessing. Accuracy should come before speed during early 11 Plus revision.

11 Plus Practice Quizzes for Odd One Out

This free guide explains the method, but practice helps children become more familiar with Odd One Out questions.

Education Quizzes has seven Odd One Out quizzes in the 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning section, giving children 70 questions to practise this skill.

Next Steps for Parents

This guide has introduced Odd One Out questions, where children identify the shape that is least like the others.

The next Non-Verbal Reasoning guides look at the other side of Similar Shapes questions: finding shapes that are most alike.

Both question types use the same careful comparison skills, so practice with Odd One Out questions will also help children with Similar Shapes revision.