Non-Verbal Reasoning · Classification

Shape classification 11+ practice

Classify figures using structural properties rather than surface appearance.

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The key idea

Understand the rule first

List measurable features—sides, corners, symmetry, shading and dimension. Find one precise property shared by three options and identify the exception.

Worked example

Odd one out: triangle, square, pentagon, circle.

Triangle, square and pentagon are polygons.
Each has straight sides and vertices.
A circle has neither straight sides nor vertices.

circle

Watch for this

A common misconception

Choosing the visually unusual figure without testing a consistent rule.

Reusable method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.

Question 1 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningcore
Which is the odd one out?
- Atriangle
- Bcircle
- Csquare
- Dpentagon
Need a hint?
Three figures are polygons with straight sides.
Show worked answer
Answer B: circle
Circle is the only option with no straight sides or vertices.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.
Question 2 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningcore
Figures A, B and D each have one shaded corner. Figure C has two shaded corners. Which is the odd one out?
- AA
- BB
- CC
- DD
Need a hint?
Count the shaded corners.
Show worked answer
Answer C: C
Figure C alone has two shaded corners.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.
Question 3 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningcore
Shapes A, C and D each have vertical symmetry. Shape B does not. Which is the odd one out?
- AA
- BC
- CD
- DB
Need a hint?
Test each figure with an imagined vertical fold.
Show worked answer
Answer D: B
Shape B is the only one without vertical symmetry.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.
Question 4 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which is the odd one out?
- Ahexagon
- Bcube
- Ccuboid
- Dpyramid
Need a hint?
Three options are three-dimensional solids.
Show worked answer
Answer A: hexagon
A hexagon is two-dimensional; the others are solids.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.
Question 5 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which is the odd one out?
- Atriangle
- Boval
- Csquare
- Dpentagon
Need a hint?
Three shapes are made only from straight sides.
Show worked answer
Answer B: oval
The oval is the only figure with a curved boundary.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.
Question 6 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which is the odd one out?
- Acube
- Bsphere
- Ccuboid
- Dtriangular prism
Need a hint?
Three solids have only flat faces.
Show worked answer
Answer B: sphere
A sphere has a curved surface; the others are polyhedra with flat faces.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.
Question 7 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Figures A, B and D have exactly two black regions; C has three. Which is the odd one out?
- AA
- BB
- CC
- DD
Need a hint?
Count the black regions.
Show worked answer
Answer C: C
Figure C alone has three black regions.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.
Question 8 of 8
Non-Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which has no non-trivial rotational symmetry?
- Aequilateral triangle
- Bsquare
- Cregular pentagon
- Dscalene triangle
Need a hint?
Test whether it matches itself before a full turn.
Show worked answer
Answer D: scalene triangle
A scalene triangle matches itself only after a full 360° turn.
Quick method: Count or label properties instead of guessing visually.

Understand the rule first

Odd one out: triangle, square, pentagon, circle.

A common misconception

Which is the odd one out?

Figures A, B and D each have one shaded corner. Figure C has two shaded corners. Which is the odd one out?

Shapes A, C and D each have vertical symmetry. Shape B does not. Which is the odd one out?

Which is the odd one out?

Which is the odd one out?

Which is the odd one out?

Figures A, B and D have exactly two black regions; C has three. Which is the odd one out?

Which has no non-trivial rotational symmetry?

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