Well done, you scored out of 10. Your Streak will increase and as a reward for completing the quiz, meet “Harry, Hermione, Ron, Genny, Luna and Neville” some of our favourite pets!
Bad Luck, you only scored out of 10. Your Streak will not increase but as a reward for completing the quiz, meet “Harry, Hermione, Ron, Genny, Luna and Neville” some of our favourite pets!
In these puzzles, letters are swapped with numbers using hidden codes. They train pupils to think flexibly, spot patterns, and develop strong problem solving skills for the 11 Plus.
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(quiz starts below)
Fascinating Fact:
Another fun one is that the word H I sums to 17, which makes it a cheerful coded greeting.
In 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning, letters for numbers puzzles mix maths and literacy. By translating between the two, pupils practise memory, logic, and flexible thinking that supports exam success.
Key Terms
Code: A system of symbols or numbers that represent letters or words.
Pattern: A repeated or predictable arrangement used to solve puzzles.
Logic: The process of reasoning to reach clear and correct answers.
For more background, see our guide on
11 Plus courses and materials
to understand how these puzzles fit into wider preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)
What do letters for numbers puzzles test?
They test reasoning, memory, and pattern recognition by making pupils switch between maths and literacy skills within the same puzzle.
Why are these puzzles used in the 11 Plus?
They are used because they strengthen logical thinking and flexibility, which are important for success in exams and beyond school learning.
How can pupils get better at these puzzles?
Regular practice with quizzes, writing number codes for words, and playing reasoning games help pupils improve speed and accuracy.
Example:
What is the answer to the sum below, written as a letter?
A = 5, B = 14, C = 12, D = 13, E = 3 A + C – E = ?
A
B
C
E
Answer: The correct answer is B. If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 5 + 12 – 3, which = 14. 14 = B.
1 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
M = 4, A = 8, T = 3, E = 6
E x M ÷ A + T
M
A
T
E
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 6 x 4 ÷ 8 + 3, which = 6. 6 = E
2 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
P = 4, A = 2, N = 32, T = 8
N x A ÷ T x P
P
A
N
T
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 32 x 2 ÷ 8 x 4, which = 32. 32 = N. Interesting number alert! On average, an adult has 32 teeth
3 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
M = 3, O = 8, L = 2, E = 14
E - M x L - O
M
O
L
E
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 14 - 3 x 2 - 8, which = 14. 14 = E
4 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
L = 9, A = 2, N = 1, D = 72
D ÷ L - N + A
L
A
N
D
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 72 ÷ 9 - 1 + 2, which = 9. 9 = L. Interesting number alert! 9 is a square number. In the times tables, it is easy to work out 9 times anything. If you want 7 x 9, take one away from the first number and see how many it will take to make that number up to nine. (6 x 9, take one less = 5, 5 + 4 = 9. Answer 54.) It works every time!
5 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
P = 11, L = 2, A = 19, N = 4
A - N x L - P
P
L
A
N
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 19 - 4 x 2 - 11, which = 19. 19 = A
6 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
M = 52, O = 5, N = 2, K = 13
M ÷ K x N + O
M
O
N
K
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 52 ÷ 13 x 2 + 5, which = 13. 13 = K. Interesting number alert! 13 is a prime number. In our culture, 13 is also considered unlucky. Many hotels and restaurants do not have tables or rooms with the number 13
7 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
A = 22, R = 2, C = 3, H = 47
H - A x R - C
A
R
C
H
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 47 - 22 x 2 - 3, which = 47. 47 = H
8 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
M = 3, O = 2, P = 20, E = 17
E + M x O ÷ P
M
O
P
E
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 17 + 3 x 2 ÷ 20, which = 2. 2 = O. Interesting number alert! Two is the only even prime number
9 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
P = 20, I = 5, N = 45, E = 9
N - P ÷ I x E
P
I
N
E
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 45 - 20 ÷ 5 x 9, which = 45. 45 = N. In geometry, the name of a 45-sided shape is known as a tetracontakaipentagon
10 .
What is the answer to the sum, written as a letter?
N = 8, E = 17, W = 42, T = 6
W - N ÷ E + T
N
E
W
T
If we translate all the letters into numbers, our new sum is 42 - 8 ÷ 17 + 6, which = 42. 42 = N