Verbal reasoning vs nonverbal reasoning, what\u2019s the difference?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
If you read the title of this blog and applied a bit of verbal reasoning, you may have deduced what nonverbal reasoning (NVR) is. If you guessed something along the lines of \u201cnonverbal reasoning is the ability to understand and analyze visual information without relying on written or spoken language\u201d, you pretty much nailed it. Unlike nonverbal reasoning, verbal reasoning is the ability to comprehend words and letters as opposed to numbers and shapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What sort of visual information, you may ask? NVR questions can take many shapes. It can be any sort of problem-solving using pictures and diagrams. It tests a pupil’s ability to analyze visual information and find the correct answer based on visual reasoning as opposed to reading comprehension. It\u2019s been a part of the national curriculum for quite some time (as far back as the 1950s!) But like many types of testing, its popularity varies from state to state and decade to decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though verbal reasoning tests can sometimes consist of identifying sequences in letters and numbers, they\u2019re mostly centered around following written instructions and responding with a written answer. If you didn\u2019t guess, or all of this sounds new to you, read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What do nonverbal reasoning tests look like?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
NVR questions are nearly always presented as diagrams or pictures. below are some ideas of example questions that a typical nonverbal reasoning exam might contain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Often, pupils are asked to look at a sequence and find the odd one out. Other examples of typical NVR questions include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Working out what a piece of paper would look like when folded<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Identifying the mirror image of a shape<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Figuring out the next shape in a sequence of shapes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Finding identical shapes in a group of shapes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Identifying what shapes look like when rotated<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
These are just a few examples of the types of questions you might see in an NVR test. If you\u2019re interested in helping a child prepare for these kinds of tests, or just want to improve their nonverbal reasoning skills, why not try out some practice papers? There are tons of free resources online \u2014 check out these practice tests<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n