Number connections questions appear in almost every GL-style verbal-reasoning paper, and they reward one thing above all: a fixed, repeatable method. The question looks like a puzzle — complete a number analogy such as "4 is to 12 as 7 is to ?" — but underneath it is simple arithmetic dressed up in an unfamiliar layout. Once your child stops guessing and starts testing operations in a set order, this becomes one of the fastest, most reliable ways to bank marks in the whole paper. Here is exactly how the type works, how to solve it every time, and where children throw marks away.
What a number connection question looks like
Number connections are number analogies. You are given one complete pair that demonstrates a hidden rule, then a second pair with a gap, and you must apply the same rule to fill the gap. In a GL-format paper the answer is chosen from five options labelled A to E on a separate answer sheet, and you have roughly a minute per question with no calculator. A typical paper carries three to five of these, each worth the same single mark as any other question, so a dependable method here is high-value preparation.
The most common presentations are:
- Analogy style: "6 is to 18 as 9 is to ?" — find what turns 6 into 18, then do the same to 9.
- Bracketed-middle style: "5 (20) 4" then "7 ( ? ) 3" — the middle number is made from the two outer numbers by a hidden operation (here 5 x 4 = 20, so 7 x 3 = 21).
- Sequence style: a short run of numbers with one missing, where you spot the step or pattern.
The fixed method
The whole skill is knowing which operations to try and in what order, so your child never freezes. Teach this exact checklist and drill it until it is automatic:
- Find the relationship on the complete pair first. Never look at the gap until you know the rule.
- Test operations in order: multiply, then add, then subtract, then divide, then "square/double and adjust". Most 11+ rules are one simple operation.
- Write the rule down as a tiny note ("x3" or "+8") so a slip under time pressure does not erase it.
- Apply the rule to the second pair and calculate carefully.
- Check against the options. If two rules fit the first pair, the answer list is what disambiguates — pick the rule whose result actually appears.
For the bracketed-middle style, add one line: try combining the two outer numbers by +, then -, then x (in either direction), then look for "add then halve" or "difference" rules. Test your candidate rule on the complete triple before you trust it.
Worked example
Take "4 is to 12 as 7 is to ?". Step one: what turns 4 into 12? Both x3 and +8 work, so hold both rules in mind. Step two: apply each to 7 — x3 gives 21, +8 gives 15. Step three: look at the options. If the list is (A) 14 (B) 15 (C) 18 (D) 21 (E) 28, both 15 and 21 appear, which feels like a trap. The tie-breaker is consistency: multiplication is the more common connection rule, and a well-set question usually offers only one clean fit, so scan for a third clue or check whether the paper's earlier examples in the set used the same operation. Here, x3 giving 21 is the intended answer. The lesson is not "always pick multiply" — it is that the option list, not your first hunch, decides.
Now a bracketed example: "8 (11) 3" then "9 ( ? ) 5". Test the outer numbers: 8 + 3 = 11, so the rule is "add the outer numbers". Apply it: 9 + 5 = 14. Always confirm on the given triple before committing.
The rules children should recognise instantly
Speed comes from pattern recognition. Make sure these connection types are second nature:
| Rule type | Example | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Multiply by a small number | 4 to 12 (x3) | Second number is a times-tables answer of the first |
| Add or subtract a constant | 7 to 15 (+8) | Even gap that repeats across the pair |
| Double / halve | 6 to 12, 20 to 10 | Exactly twice or half |
| Square numbers | 3 to 9, 5 to 25 | Small first number, much larger second |
| Combine two outers | 5 (20) 4 as 5 x 4 | Bracketed-middle layout |
The classic traps
Almost every lost mark comes from one of these:
- Committing to the first rule that fits. When a pair fits two rules, children apply the wrong one before checking the options.
- Arithmetic slips under the clock. A rushed 7 x 3 becoming 24 wipes out a correct method.
- Reading the pair backwards. Applying x3 as division because they misread the direction of the analogy.
- Ignoring the answer sheet layout. In GL papers the mark only counts if the right lozenge is filled on the separate OMR sheet — teach children to transfer answers carefully.
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 on the spot. When the type feels automatic, fold it back into full timed mock papers so pacing develops alongside accuracy. For the wider picture, see the 21 VR types overview, browse structured exam guides, or plan your run-up with the revision hub. Children who already dominate this type can climb the live leaderboard for extra motivation.
Frequently asked questions
Is a calculator allowed on number connections?
No. GL-style 11+ papers are done without a calculator, so children must be fast and accurate with mental times tables, doubling, halving and simple addition. Fluent arithmetic is what makes this type quick.
How many number connection questions appear in a paper?
Usually three to five within a verbal-reasoning paper, each worth a single mark. Because they are quick once the method is drilled, they are an efficient place to secure marks and save time for harder types.
What should my child do if two rules seem to fit?
Work out the result of each rule, then check which answer actually appears in the A to E options. A well-set question offers only one clean match, so the option list is the tie-breaker — not a guess.