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How To Do Well On The ISEB Pre-Test (Non-Verbal Reasoning)

The ISEB Pre-Test can feel like one giant maze — a place where shapes dance, patterns shift, and logic hides behind every question. Among all the sections, non-verbal reasoning often feels the most mysterious. There are no words to guide you, no essays to write — just a bunch of pictures, shapes, lines, symbols, and sequences daggling in front of you.


But here’s the deal: non-verbal reasoning isn’t about luck or natural brilliance. It’s about training your brain to see patterns. It’s a skill — one that you can learn, strengthen, and master with practice. While at first it seems confusing, but over time your mind begins to recognise rhythm, structure, and flow. And if you’re lucky you may even find yourself enjoying solving those puzzles.


So, let’s explore five tips to help you do brilliantly in the non-verbal reasoning section. These strategies are designed not just to help you pass, but to help you thrive. So let’s begin.


Writing a test

Tip #1: Familiarise with the Format


The ISEB Pre-Test is a commonly used online test for children moving from primary or prep schools for selective UK secondary schools. It consists of mainly multiple choice questions, and split into four sections: English, Mathematics, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. For non-verbal reasoning (NVR), candidates has to answer 36 questions in 32 minutes, which works out to be roughly 53 seconds per question. This section focuses on logic, pattern recognition, and spatial awareness rather than words or facts. The topics include shape analogies, matrices, horizontal codes, finding similarities and differences, nets and cubes, rotations and reflections etc.


For example, a question on reflections and rotations might involve imagining how a shape would look if it were flipped, mirrored, or rotated. They test your ability to “see” movement and symmetry in your mind — a bit like mentally folding a piece of paper; a question on spatial reasoning might involve 3D cubes, nets, or arrangements, so you may have to picture how a cube unfolds or which sides match; a question on sequences might involve a series of shapes that change in a pattern — perhaps in size, number, shading, or position. Your task is to identify what comes next in the sequence, such as a small semi-circle, followed by a medium triangle, and then a large square.


Start by exploring sample papers and online practice platforms such as Atom Learning, Pre-Test Plus or Century Tech. These mirror the real digital format, helping you get used to clicking, dragging, and selecting answers on screen. It’s also worth remembering that the non-verbal reasoning section is adaptive, meaning that the questions gradually adjust in difficulty depending on how you perform. So, if they start to feel harder, that’s actually a good sign because it means you’re doing well!


Tip #2: Practise Under Timed Pressure


When it comes to non-verbal reasoning, practice really does make progress. But more importantly, timed practice makes you exam-ready. The ISEB Pre-Test doesn’t just assess your reasoning skills — it tests how well you can think clearly when the clock is ticking.

Timing can be one of the trickiest parts. Many students know how to solve the puzzles, but lose valuable marks because they spend too long on one question. That’s why you must train your brain to work efficiently under time constraints. The more your paper practise session mirrors what you will face on the day, the more you will reap the benefits of said training, including the ability to handle pressure and reduce anxiety.


Here’s a suggestion on how to do it:

• Start with untimed practice. Focus first on understanding how to solve each question type.

• Then, introduce timing gradually. Set a stopwatch and try completing small batches of questions in short bursts — 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes.

• Finally, move to full timed papers. Simulate real exam conditions to get used to the pace and pressure.


With NVR, it is sometimes faster and more accurate to eliminate all incorrect options until there is only one remain instead of trying to find the correct answer from the beginning. This is particularly useful when sometimes 2 of the options offered are quite similar with the purpose of misleading students who are not familiar with this method.

Once you applied the elimination method and reduces the options down to 2, it’s also sometimes faster to look for a the differences between the 2 remaining answers before looking back at the questions if you could had already spent considerable amount of time eliminating those options.


Tip #3: Consistency over Intensity


When preparing for the ISEB Pre-Test, it’s easy to think that the best way to get ready is to sit down for hours at a time, tackling endless practice papers. But here’s the truth: non-verbal reasoning isn’t something you can cram for — it’s something you train your brain to recognise over time.


The key is consistency. Instead of one long, draining study session once a week, aim for short, focused bursts of practice, spread out over several days. This “steady and often” approach helps your brain absorb patterns, sharpen logic, and build problem-solving stamina — without getting tired or frustrated. Think of your brain like a muscle. You wouldn’t go to the gym once a month and lift weights for five hours — you’d train regularly, gradually building strength. The same rule applies here: it’s the small, regular workouts that make your reasoning skills stronger.


Start with sessions of around 30 minutes, focusing on one question type at a time — for example, just sequences one day, reflections the next. Keep it varied, but manageable. Over time, increase the length slightly as your concentration and confidence grow. This routine builds what psychologists call “cumulative learning.” Every small session strengthens the connections in your brain that help you recognise patterns faster next time. When you practise steadily, your mind becomes more alert to subtle changes — like shading, position, or symmetry — without even realising it.


And remember: taking breaks is part of this steady rhythm. Your brain is a muscle, so it needs rest to process and store what you’ve learned. Step away after each session, stretch, or go outside. It’s not about working endlessly — it’s about working consistently and consciously. The students who perform best in non-verbal reasoning aren’t the ones who study the longest; they’re the ones who study the most regularly.


Tip #4: Gamify the Learning Experience


Gamifying your study sessions keeps your brain engaged and motivated — especially if the child is someone who thrives on challenges and rewards. It transforms revision from a chore into something exciting. Here are a few ways to gamify your ISEB preparation:


• Set personal challenges: “Can I beat my score from yesterday?” or “Can I solve 10 pattern questions in 8 minutes?”

• Use points and rewards: Give yourself points for every set of questions completed, and trade them for small rewards — extra screen time, a snack, or a fun break.

• Use online platforms: Interactive websites and apps that offer non-verbal reasoning practice often have leaderboards or progress bars — making practice feel like a real game.

• Involve friends or family: Compete with a sibling or a classmate to see who can solve a puzzle faster. A little friendly competition adds excitement and helps you think on your feet.


For example, you could create a “Pattern Power-Up Chart” where every time you score above 80%, you add a sticker or badge. Over time, your chart becomes a visual celebration of progress.


Gamifying your learning taps into children brain’s natural love for challenge and reward. It turns effort into achievement and helps you associate non-verbal reasoning with positive feelings rather than pressure. Remember: when children are having fun, their brains learn faster. Curiosity, not stress, is the best teacher.


Tip #5: Track Progress to Find Gaps


The final key to doing well in the ISEB Pre-Test is knowing where to focus your effort. Too many students keep practising blindly without reviewing what’s actually working. After every practice session, spend a few minutes reviewing your results. Ask yourself:


• Which question types am I strongest at?

• Which area do I keep making mistakes?

• Are there certain patterns or rotations that confuse me?


Keep a revision log or tracker. Write down your scores, your weak areas, and the strategies that helped you improve. You could even colour-code your progress — green for strong areas, yellow for okay, red for “needs more work.” For online learning platform, this is done automatically, so you can review your scores, time taken to answer each question, strengths and weaknesses, and suggested target area for further practise with no effort on your behalf.


So you see, tracking progress isn’t just about improvement — it’s also about confidence. When you can see how far you’ve come, you start to believe in yourself more. And belief is half the battle. The goal is not to be perfect at everything immediately, but to be a little better today than you were yesterday. That’s progress and progress leads to success.



So to summarise, doing well on the non-verbal reasoning section of the ISEB Pre-Test is not about memorising answers — it’s about building logic, consistency, and confidence.

Let’s recap the five key tips:

1. Familiarise Yourself with the Format – Turn uncertainty into confidence by understanding what to expect.

2. Practise Questions Under Timed Pressure – Train your brain to stay calm, sharp, and quick.

3. Take the “Steady and Often” Approach – Build skill and confidence through regular, short practice sessions.

4. Gamify the Learning Experience – Make practice fun, rewarding, and something you look forward to.

5. Track Progress to Find Gaps – Reflect on your strengths, focus on your weak spots, and watch your growth.

Once you learn to see the patterns in puzzles, you’ll start to see the patterns in everything — and that’s when reasoning becomes more than just a test skill. It becomes a way of thinking, a way of growing, and a way of doing well in these type of exams.



Are you ready to unleash your full potential through consistent practice? The choice is yours, and the possibilities are endless. Start today and pave the way for a brighter academic future! Stay Connected with Dickson!


For additional study tips, resources, and updates, visit my website (dwtutoring.com) and connect with me on social media. Together we can create a community of passionate tutors and learners striving to achieving academic excellence.


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