Non-verbal reasoning, often also known as abstract reasoning, is the process of identifying and solving problems that are typically presented as pictures or diagrams. This implies that non-verbal cues, such as visual cues, are more significant than verbal cues (words).
Most independent schools in the London area do not offer a separate 7 Plus Non-Verbal exam that assesses verbal and nonverbal reasoning. Instead, they may incorporate problem-solving exercises in the mathematics portion of the exam, which may require examining figures and symbols, finding anomalies, and identifying patterns and differences.
Parents should understand that the 7 Plus non-verbal reasoning exam does not evaluate a child’s reading ability, but rather concentrates on the child's capacity for visual identification and interpretation. Schools that test non-verbal thinking independently may do so to specifically assess the student's potential academic success.
The reality is that most schools are quite hesitant to provide non-verbal reasoning sample papers or questions, but private tutoring may be very beneficial for Year 2 students, and there are also a few activities and games that students can play at home to help improve their problem-solving and analytical thinking skills.
Requirements for 7 + plus non verbal reasoning exam
When it comes to the 7 Plus exams, some schools around London may have additional requirements for the 7 Plus exams, such as interviews, or small student group projects. During these interviews, the school will assess a prospective student’s social skills, and as a result, students will be expected to be enthusiastic about their studies and cooperate while playing with others.
This assessment will also evaluate both verbal and nonverbal reasoning but note that the structure can vary substantially from one school to the next. For instance, some schools may require pupils to work alone on an art project or a game, while others may require students to collaborate to create a model or complete a specific task.
Although there are many different activities that parents can do at home to help their children develop their nonverbal reasoning abilities (such as playing with Lego blocks), private tutoring is often one of the best approaches to make sure your child gains confidence through learning.
Why do schools test non verbal reasoning for the 7 + plus
Independent schools often test non-verbal reasoning since it demonstrates a range of abilities that are not constrained by language or words. These tests can be especially helpful for children who have trouble vocally expressing themselves, for students for whom English is a second language, and for children who suffer from problems like dyslexia. Non-verbal reasoning assessments are also said to demonstrate a student's general intelligence and aptitude without relying on their particular proficiency in English and mathematics.
The non-verbal reasoning assessment for 7 Plus provides evidence of how students typically perceive novel concepts, and how quickly they are able to identify differences or similarities in the information provided. Making quick decisions is also essential because of the time constraints of the 7 Plus exams. In later years, non-verbal reasoning skills are particularly helpful in the study of mathematics, physics, computing, design, and engineering. The reality is that non-verbal reasoning skills are often applied in job interviews, which means these skills should be developed from a very young age.
The typical format of the 7 Plus exam is multiple-choice questions. For example, students in Year 2 will need to answer questions correctly by identifying the odd one out, following in the sequence, or answering questions relating to groups of four or five diagrams, images or shapes. It is important to note that the format will differ from one school to the next, and the difficulty of the assessment may also increase as it progresses.
Remember, if your child is well-prepared, he or she will be able to complete the exam with confidence and reach their full potential by possibly being accepted into an elite school.
