Letter connections questions appear in almost every GL Assessment-style verbal-reasoning paper, and once your child owns a fixed method they turn from stressful puzzles into reliable, fast marks. The question shows two letter pairs joined by a rule, then a third pair that needs completing on the same rule: AB is to DE as MN is to ? This guide gives you the exact technique, a fully worked example with the alphabet hops drawn out, the classic traps that cost marks, and where to practise the type for free.
What the question actually looks like
In the GL papers this type sits inside the wider family of letter-based verbal reasoning: letter sequences, letter codes, letter connections and analogies. In the popular Bond labelling it maps roughly onto the paired-letter analogy types (the A-to-U scheme), and crucially GL does not tell you in advance which types appear in a given paper. A typical VR paper carries three to five letter-connection items, each worth the same single mark as anything else, so quick, dependable technique here is genuinely high-value preparation.
The format is nearly always multiple-choice with answers marked on a separate answer sheet, roughly 35 to 50 seconds per question. That timing matters: a child who freezes on letter puzzles loses far more than one mark, because the panic spills into the questions that follow.
The fixed method (five steps)
Teach these five steps as a routine your child runs the same way every single time:
- Write the pairs vertically if it helps: first pair on top, second pair beneath, so the letters line up.
- Find the jump BETWEEN the pairs, not the gap inside a pair. Compare the first letter of pair one to the first letter of pair two, then the second letters to each other.
- Count the hop along the alphabet, writing a small number above each move (for example +3, or -1).
- Apply the identical hops to the third pair, letter by letter.
- Check against the alphabet strip and, if it is multiple-choice, confirm your answer is one of the options before committing.
A printed alphabet strip taped to the desk removes almost all counting errors while the skill is still forming. Insist on it early; speed comes later.
A fully worked example
Take AB : DE :: MN : ?
Write the alphabet so the hops are visible: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
Now compare the first pair to the second. A to D is a jump of +3. B to E is also +3. So the rule is "add three to each letter." Apply it to the third pair: M + 3 = P, and N + 3 = Q. The answer is PQ. Notice that the within-pair gap (A to B is +1, D to E is +1) is a red herring here — the rule that matters is the jump from pair to pair.
Harder papers add a twist: the two letters move by different amounts, or one letter moves forwards while the other moves backwards. Try AZ : CY :: EX : ? — the first letter goes +2 (A, C, E) and the second goes -1 (Z, Y, X), so the next pair is GW. Whenever a single constant step fails, test a split rule and a mirror rule (A pairs with Z, B with Y) before giving up.
Reference table: the hop types to know
| Rule type | What happens | Mini example |
|---|---|---|
| Constant step | Both letters move the same amount | AB → DE (+3 each) |
| Split step | Each letter moves a different amount | AZ → CY (+2 / -1) |
| Opposite directions | One forwards, one backwards | BF → DE (+2 / -1) |
| Mirror rule | Letters reflect across the alphabet (A↔Z) | A → Z, B → Y |
| Wrap-around | A move that passes Z loops back to A | Y + 3 = B |
The classic traps
- Using the within-pair gap instead of the between-pair jump. This is the single most common mistake — the child measures A to B rather than A to D.
- Alphabet wrap errors near Z. When a hop passes the end (X, Y, Z) children forget to loop back to A. Y + 3 is B, not "off the end."
- Assuming both letters share one rule when the pair uses a split or opposite-direction rule.
- Miscounting by one because they count the starting letter as "one" rather than "zero." The alphabet strip fixes this instantly.
How the marks feed the Standardised Age Score
GL marking converts a child's raw score into a Standardised Age Score (SAS), age-adjusted by exact age in months and typically reported on a range of roughly 69 to 141, with 100 as the average. Younger children in the year group are not disadvantaged because the adjustment accounts for age. Many grammar schools look for around 111 or above, though exact qualifying marks vary by area and year. Getting reliable, quick marks on predictable types like letter connections is one of the cleanest ways to lift that score, because it frees time and confidence for the harder items.
How to practise this type
Little and often wins: five questions of this type daily for a week beats fifty in one sitting. Our free verbal-reasoning worksheets are organised by exact question type, and the Arena's VR mode gives instant feedback with XP so mistakes are corrected while they are still fresh. Pair drilling with a printable alphabet strip, and mark at home by asking "which step failed?" rather than just right-or-wrong. When the type feels automatic, fold it back into full timed mock papers so pacing develops alongside accuracy. For the full landscape of related question families, see the 21 VR types overview.
Frequently asked questions
What is a letter connections question?
It shows two letter pairs linked by a rule, then a third pair to complete on the same rule, for example AB is to DE as MN is to PQ. The skill is spotting the alphabet hop between the pairs and applying it.
Does GL tell you which VR types will appear?
No. GL Assessment does not disclose in advance which of its verbal-reasoning types are in a given paper, which is why broad, type-by-type practice matters more than memorising a single format.
How much time should each question take?
Aim for around 35 to 50 seconds. GL papers are tightly timed at roughly a minute or less per question with no calculator, so a fast, fixed method is essential.