NVR - Relationships Between Symbols (4)

What Is This Analogy Question Testing?

Relationship between symbols questions are visual analogies. Children look at a first pair of symbols, work out how the first changes into the second, and then apply the same relationship to a third symbol.

In this example, the question appears to involve flipping. However, the safest answer depends on recognising that a shape may look as though it has flipped when it has actually rotated 180 degrees.

This is a useful reminder that children should copy the process, not simply rely on the first visual impression.

How Are These Questions Shown in the 11 Plus Exam?

Candidates are shown three shapes or patterns.

The first two are related in some way. Children then choose the answer option that relates to the third shape in the same way.

These questions may use flipping, rotation, size changes, shape changes, movement, shading or several changes together.

Start by Describing the First Pair

As usual, children should begin by putting the first pair into words.

At first glance, the relationship appears to be:

1. The shield shape flips from top to bottom.
2. The upside-down house shape becomes a triangle.
3. The circle becomes a square.

This seems straightforward, but the question is more subtle than it first appears.

Why the Obvious Answer Is a Trap

If children assume the first shape simply flips from top to bottom, they may quickly choose answer C.

However, answer C does not follow the same pattern for the smaller shapes. The circle becomes smaller and the upside-down house becomes bigger, which is not what happened in the first pair.

This shows why children should not stop after checking only one feature. The main shape may look correct, but the smaller shapes must also follow the rule.

Flip or Rotate?

The important trick in this question is that flipping some shapes can look the same as rotating them 180 degrees.

With the shield shape in the first pair, the result may look similar whether children think of it as a flip or a half-turn rotation.

However, the trapezium in the third symbol behaves differently. If it is flipped, one answer looks possible. If it is rotated 180 degrees, a different answer becomes more logical.

How the Answer Is Found

When the main shape is treated as rotating 180 degrees, the trapezium should end up looking like the one in answers A and E.

Both of these options have the correct main shape, so children must next look at the smaller shapes.

In the first pair, the upside-down house becomes a triangle, while the circle becomes a square.

Applying the same logic to the third symbol means the target shape should contain a triangle in the middle, surrounded by a larger square.

This leads to answer A.

Why This Question Is Useful for Revision

This is a good revision example because it shows that analogy questions may contain traps.

A child may find an answer that fits one part of the pattern, but not the whole relationship.

The safest approach is to check each element: main shape, smaller shapes, size, position, direction and any changes from the first pair.

Technique Tip: Beware of “Too Easy” Answers

Some 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning questions include answers that are deliberately tempting.

If one answer seems correct immediately, children should still spend a moment checking the other parts of the symbol.

This does not mean overthinking every question. It simply means confirming that the answer follows the whole process, not just one obvious clue.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Children may lose marks on these analogy questions because they stop after finding one matching feature.

Common mistakes include:

• Choosing the first answer that matches the main shape
• Confusing flipping with 180-degree rotation
• Ignoring the smaller internal shapes
• Copying only one part of the first relationship
• Forgetting that wrong answers may be designed as traps

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

11 Plus Practice Quizzes for Analogies

This free guide completes the Relationships Between Symbols section, but practice helps children become more familiar with analogy questions.

Education Quizzes has eight Analogies quizzes in the 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning section, giving children plenty of opportunities to apply the methods from these guides.

Next Steps for Parents

This guide completes the Analogies section of the 11 Plus Non-Verbal Reasoning exam illustrations.

Children have now seen how relationships between symbols can be formed through size, number, rotation, shading, movement, flipping and trap answers.

The next Non-Verbal Reasoning guides move on to similarities and differences between shapes. These questions use many of the same visual comparison skills, so the analogy practice here will still be useful.