Shape analogies is one of the standard non-verbal reasoning patterns in GL-style 11+ papers, and it rewards method over talent more than almost any other question type. The format is always the same: the first shape is to the second as the third is to a missing fourth, and your child must pick the answer that completes the pattern. Children who learn to interrogate shapes systematically routinely overtake "naturally spatial" peers who guess, because analogies are won by naming the exact change and applying it faithfully rather than by an eye for pictures.
What a shape analogy question looks like
A shape analogy shows you a labelled pair (shape A becomes shape B) and then a single third shape (C) followed by a set of multiple-choice options, usually five, on a separate answer sheet. The relationship that turns A into B is the rule; your job is to apply that same rule to C and choose the matching option. In GL papers this sits alongside series, matrices, odd-one-out, rotations, reflections and codes, and in reasoning-heavy regions non-verbal reasoning can carry a large share of the total marks. Because GL never tells you in advance which patterns appear, your child needs to recognise an analogy on sight and switch straight into the analogy method.
The step-by-step method
The single most reliable approach is to describe the transformation from A to B in plain words before you even glance at the options. Vague rules let wrong answers slip through, so precision is everything. Walk through these steps every time:
- Scan A and B side by side and list what changed: orientation, shading, size, number of sides, number of elements, position, line thickness or an added or removed feature.
- State the rule out loud as one exact sentence, for example "rotated 90 degrees clockwise and the shading flipped from black to white".
- Apply that rule to C in your head before looking at the choices, so you already know roughly what the answer should be.
- Match against the options and use process of elimination, ruling out any option that breaks even one part of your rule.
- Check for a second simultaneous change — analogies frequently combine two rules at once, and missing the second one is the commonest way to lose the mark.
The visual attributes to scan
Almost every analogy rule is built from a small, fixed menu of properties. Teaching your child to run through this checklist turns a vague "something changed" into a specific, testable rule.
- Orientation — has the shape rotated (90, 180 or 270 degrees) or reflected across a mirror line?
- Shading and fill — black, white, striped or dotted, and has it swapped?
- Size — larger, smaller, doubled or halved.
- Number of sides or elements — has a shape gained or lost sides, or has the count of small dots or lines changed?
- Position — has an element moved to a new corner or inside another shape?
- Line thickness and style — solid to dashed, thin to bold.
- Symmetry and added or missing lines — an extra internal line, an arrow that reverses.
The classic traps
Shape analogies are seeded with red herrings, and knowing the traps in advance is half the battle. The table below pairs the most frequent mistakes with the fix.
| Trap | What happens | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Rule applied backwards | The child reads the change as B to A and inverts it | Always work left to right, A then B, then C to answer |
| Rotation vs reflection | A mirror image is mistaken for a turn, or vice versa | Check whether the shape would map onto itself by turning (rotation) or flipping (reflection) |
| Missing the second change | Only shading is spotted, but the shape also rotated | Deliberately look for two rules before answering |
| Distractor near-miss | An option is correct except for one tiny detail | Re-check every property in your stated rule against the chosen option |
The rotation-versus-reflection confusion is worth drilling on its own. A rotation keeps the shape "the same way round" but turned; a reflection produces a mirror image, so any asymmetric detail (an arrow, an L-shape, a notch) will point the opposite way. If your child can tell those two apart at a glance, they will clear a large slice of NVR marks.
Timing and pacing
GL non-verbal papers are tightly timed at roughly 35 to 50 seconds per question, so accuracy has to come at speed. Use a simple pacing plan: read the pair, state the rule, glance at the options, answer, and if you are stuck after a few seconds, mark it and move on rather than sinking a minute into one item. Skipping and returning protects the easy marks further down the paper. A printable pacing card next to the desk helps children internalise the rhythm.
How the marks become a score
Raw NVR marks are converted into a Standardised Age Score (SAS), which adjusts for your child's exact age in months so that younger pupils are not disadvantaged. Scores typically run from about 69 to 141 with 100 as the average, and many grammar schools look for around 111 or above, though exact qualifying marks vary by area and year and should never be assumed. Getting the harder analogy variations right — the ones combining two rules — lifts the SAS most, which is why targeted practice on this pattern pays off.
How to practise this type
Do shape analogies in short, focused bursts — ten questions, mark them, then review every error out loud by asking "which property did I miss?" Little and often beats occasional marathons. Our free NVR worksheet sets isolate each pattern so your child drills analogies in a block, the full NVR types list maps the whole territory, and timed mock papers knit the types back together at exam pace. When you are ready to rehearse under real conditions, the centre-specific mocks match the format of 52 selective centres, and the revision hub sequences everything from Year 4 foundations to Year 6 timed refinement. Parents can check the key 11+ dates to plan backwards from the exam.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a rotation from a reflection in a shape analogy?
A rotation turns the shape while keeping it the same way round; a reflection flips it into a mirror image. Watch any asymmetric feature such as an arrow or notch — under a reflection it points the opposite way, under a rotation it simply swings round.
Does GL tell you which NVR patterns will appear?
No. GL does not disclose in advance which question types are in a given paper, so your child needs to recognise an analogy on sight and apply the correct method quickly. Practising every pattern until recognition is automatic is the safest preparation.
How long should each analogy question take?
Aim for about 35 to 50 seconds. If your child is stuck after a few seconds, they should mark the question, move on, and return at the end rather than losing easy marks elsewhere on the paper.