Page 1 · Introduction
What is verbal reasoning?
Verbal reasoning tests how well you think with words — spotting relationships, cracking codes, following logic and playing with language. It rewards a calm, careful reader, not the fastest guesser.
Every question type has a method, and we'll cover the main ones and build up the difficulty gently.
The big ideaVerbal reasoning isn't about a huge vocabulary alone — it's logic applied to words. Find the pattern, then apply it carefully.
💡Slow and careful beats fast and careless here. We'll go from gentle warm-ups to genuinely tricky puzzles, one step at a time.
On the real testWhere this appearsWord logic feeds the Thinking Skills section, and careful reading of language supports the Reading section (which now includes vocabulary) — each 25% of your mark from 2025.
Page 2 · Word analogies
"A is to B as C is to ?"
Find how the first pair relates, then apply the same relationship to the second.
Big is to Small as Tall is to ?
Relationship: opposites. Opposite of Tall is Short.
Short
Puppy is to Dog as Kitten is to ?
Relationship: young to adult. A kitten grows into a Cat.
Cat
Common relationships to check
Opposites · young→adult · part→whole · object→use · category (rose→flower). Name the link out loud before you answer.
Page 3 · Odd one out
Which word doesn't belong?
Find the category the words share, then the one that isn't in it.
apple, banana, carrot, grape
All fruits except carrot (a vegetable).
carrot
robin, eagle, salmon, sparrow
All birds except salmon (a fish).
salmon
✅If more than one category seems possible, pick the one where exactly one word is the exception — that's the intended answer.
Page 4 · Letter codes
Cracking simple codes
Codes usually shift letters along the alphabet. Numbering them helps: A=1, B=2 … Z=26.
If CAT is coded DBU, what is DOG?
Each letter moves forward 1 (C→D, A→B, T→U). So D→E, O→P, G→H = EPH.
EPH
If BED is 2-5-4, what is ACE?
Letters become position numbers: A=1, C=3, E=5.
1-3-5
💡First work out the shift from the example they give you, then apply that exact shift. Check the direction — forwards or backwards.
Page 5 · Hidden words
Words tucked inside words
A small word is often hidden across two words, or inside a longer one. Read the letters in order, ignoring the spaces.
Find the hidden 3-letter animal: "The referee scowled loudly."
Inside "scowled": s-c-OWL-e-d.
OWL
Find the hidden body part: "She sat in a fine armchair."
Across the gap: "fine armchair" → EAR.
EAR
✅Slide a window across the sentence letter by letter (ignore spaces). Hidden words often straddle the gap between two words.
Page 6 · Logic statements
Following the clues
These give facts and ask what must be true. Take each clue literally — don't add anything extra.
Tom is taller than Sam. Sam is taller than Ben. Who is shortest?
Tallest to shortest: Tom > Sam > Ben.
Ben
CarefulUse only what you're told. "Milo has whiskers, so Milo is a cat" is wrong — other animals have whiskers too. Follow the logic one direction only.
Page 7 · Practice
Level 1 · Easy
Warm up
Gentle ones to get started. Tap to check.
1. Hot is to Cold as Up is to ?
Opposites. The opposite of Up is Down.
2. Odd one out: rose, tulip, oak, daisy
A rose
B tulip
C oak
D daisy
All flowers except oak (a tree).
3. If DOG is coded EPH (+1), what is the code for CAT?
Move each letter forward 1: C→D, A→B, T→U = DBU.
🎉Nicely done. Now a bit more care needed.
Page 8 · Practice
Level 2 · Medium
More care needed
Relationships and logic that need a second's thought.
1. Finger is to Hand as Toe is to ?
Part to whole. Fingers are part of a hand; toes are part of a foot.
2. Anna is older than Bea. Cara is older than Anna. Who is oldest?
A Anna
B Cara
C Bea
D Can't tell
Order: Cara > Anna > Bea. Cara is oldest.
3. Find the hidden 3-letter pet: "A big cathedral."
"big CAThedral" → CAT.
💪Hidden words hide in plain sight — scan longer words carefully and you'll spot them.
Page 9 · Practice
Level 3 · Hard
Multi-step
These combine steps or hide the rule. Read every word carefully.
1. In a code, FISH = GJTI. Using the same rule, what is BIRD?
Each letter +1 (F→G, I→J, S→T, H→I). Apply to BIRD: B→C, I→J, R→S, D→E = CJSE.
2. Find the hidden 3-letter girl's name: "The clever student worked hard."
Inside "clever": c-l-EVE-r → EVE. Scan longer words letter by letter and the hidden word appears.
3. If "all robins are birds" and "all birds have feathers", which MUST be true?
A All robins have feathers
B All birds are robins
C All feathered things are robins
D Some birds have no feathers
Chain the facts one direction: robins → birds → feathers. So all robins have feathers. The others reverse the logic, which isn't allowed.
💡With logic chains, follow the arrows one way only. Reversing them is the classic trap the test sets.
Page 10 · Challenge
Level 4 · Challenge
Think smart
The toughest tier. Read slowly — the answer is always in the words if you're careful.
1. In a code each letter moves forward 2. What is the code for LAMP?
Move each letter +2: L→N, A→C, M→O, P→R = NCOR.
2. Five children sit in a row: Sam, Ann, Meg, Jo, Kim (in that order). Who is exactly in the middle?
Five positions; the 3rd is the middle. Counting Sam(1), Ann(2), Meg(3) — Meg is in the middle.
3. All cats are animals. Some animals are pets. Which MUST be true?
A All cats are animals
B All animals are cats
C All pets are cats
D Some cats are not animals
Only A restates a fact you were given. B, C and D all claim more than the statements allow. When unsure, pick the option that simply repeats a given fact — it can't be false.
🌟Careful logic like this defeats most students. Reading every word slowly is your superpower — keep it up.
Complete
Well reasoned!
You've completed the Verbal Reasoning module.
You've met analogies, odd-one-out, codes, hidden words and logic — and pushed all the way to challenge level. The golden habit throughout: name the rule, apply it carefully, and use only what you're told.