Most alike pairs is one of the standard non-verbal reasoning patterns in GL-style 11+ papers, and it is the type where good method beats natural talent by the widest margin. The question is deceptively simple: which two of five shapes are most alike? Children who learn to interrogate shapes systematically — scanning a fixed list of visual attributes and scoring matches — routinely overtake the 'naturally spatial' classmates who glance and guess. This guide gives you the exact GL question type (part of the NVR Similarities family, sometimes labelled Most Like), a repeatable step-by-step method, the classic traps that cost easy marks, a timing budget tied to the real paper, and free practice you can start today.
What the question actually looks like
You are shown five shapes or small figures in a row. Two of them belong together because they share a hidden rule; the other three are decoys. Your job is to pick the pair. In a GL paper this is multiple choice: you mark your answer on a separate answer sheet, so you must transfer the letter cleanly and not lose your place. Expect several of these per paper, and remember that in reasoning-heavy regions such as Lincolnshire, NVR can carry a large slice of the total marks, so a reliable method here lifts your overall Standardised Age Score (SAS) noticeably.
The shared rule is almost never "they look the same". It is usually one specific relationship — for example, both shapes have the same number of small elements inside, or both are the shaded version of a symmetrical figure, or in both the arrow points away from the largest shape. The three decoys will each share one obvious feature with the pair to tempt you.
The visual attributes to scan
The whole skill rests on checking a fixed mental checklist for every shape, in the same order every time, so nothing is missed. Teach your child this list and drill it until it is automatic:
- Number of sides or edges on the main shape.
- Number of elements — how many separate dots, lines, arrows or inner shapes there are.
- Shading and fill — black, white, striped, dotted; and which part is shaded.
- Size of the shape and of the elements inside it.
- Orientation — which way it points or how far it has been turned.
- Position of the small elements relative to the big shape (inside, outside, touching a corner).
- Line thickness and line style (solid, dashed).
- Symmetry — does it have a mirror line, and where?
The step-by-step method
Work it like a detective ruling out suspects rather than hunting for the answer:
- Scan all five quickly against the checklist above — no more than a couple of seconds each — building a rough property note for each.
- Find the strongest shared property that exactly two shapes have, and nobody else.
- Verify against every other attribute. The intended pair matches on the hidden rule and differs only in trivial, incidental ways (usually just position or a mirrored orientation). If two shapes match on the rule but also clash on shading or element count, that is a decoy pairing.
- Use elimination. If three shapes clearly break the rule, the answer is among the remaining two — confirm and move on.
The classic traps
Almost every wrong answer comes from one of these:
- Pairing on one striking similarity (both black, both big) while ignoring two quiet differences. Meaning of the whole figure beats one loud feature.
- Missing rotated or mirrored twins. Two shapes can be identical but one is turned or flipped — don't confuse a rotation with a reflection, and don't reject a true pair just because it is spun round.
- Missing a second simultaneous change. The rule may combine two attributes at once (e.g. same element count and same shading pattern).
- Falling for the red herring decoy deliberately placed to share the pair's most obvious trait.
Timing: your seconds-per-question budget
GL NVR papers run roughly 50 minutes with a tight per-question budget. Use this as a rough pacing plan:
| Paper length | Approx. questions | Target per question | Tactic |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~50 minutes | ~50–60 | ~35–50 seconds | Skip-and-return: flag any that eats 60+ seconds, move on, come back. |
The most alike type should be near the fast end of that range once the checklist is automatic. Speed comes from consistency of method, not rushing.
How to practise this type
Do it in short, focused bursts — ten questions, mark, then review every error out loud with the single question "which property did I miss?" That parent-marking habit turns each mistake into a fixed rule. Our free NVR worksheet sets isolate each pattern, 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 see how the wider GL paper fits together, the exam guides and revision hub sequence everything from Year 4 foundations to Year 6 timed refinement.
Frequently asked questions
Is "most alike" the same as "odd one out"?
They are mirror images of the same skill. Most alike asks you to find the two shapes that belong together; odd one out asks you to find the ones that don't. The same attribute checklist solves both.
How many should my child get right?
Aim for near full marks on this type — it is one of the more learnable NVR families. Because papers are marked as an age-adjusted SAS (roughly 69–141, 100 average), reliably banking these questions helps push toward the ~111+ many grammar schools look for, though exact marks vary by area and year.
Does turning the page or a shape help?
Yes — with mirrored or rotated pairs it is fine to tilt your head or imagine spinning the figure. Just be sure you are matching a genuine rotation to a rotation, not mistaking a reflection for one.