Here is a kind of question that you can get on Verbal Reasoning. They might give you three groups of numbers like this: (4 [6] 2) (3 [7] 4) (5 [12] ?) And they will tell you that the three numbers in each group are related in the same way.

So what does that mean: the three numbers in each group are related in the same way?

So what does that mean: the three numbers in each group are related in the same way? Well, the best way to understand that is to see how they made the question…….

And this is how they made the question:

First, they use a and b and c And make up a sum Like (a + b = c) That is the simplest kind

They can use this sum a + b = c To generate lots of sums like this: (5+ [8] = 13) (4 + [3] = 7) (9 + [1] = 10) Check them and see

And they can use three sums like this to make a question (5+ [8] = 13) (4 + [3] = 7) (9 + [1] = ?) Check them and see

But they can make up lots of different a b c sums and this is what makes the questions hard. For example, can you see the a b c sum behind this question? (4 [6] 2) (3 [7] 4) (5 [12] ?)

For example, can you see the a b c sum behind this question? (4 [6] 2) (3 [7] 4) (5 [12] ?) The sum is a + c = b And the answer to (5 [12] ?) is (5 [12] 7)

All you have to do is to spot the way in which the numbers in each group are related. While you are learning you can use the idea of the a b c sum to help you. But you will soon forget the a b c sum and just think about the actual numbers in the question.

The first example is always simple. Then the a b c sum gets harder.

Here is one pattern: (24 [12] 6) (4 [2] 1) (32 [16] ?) Can you see the pattern?

The pattern is a divided by 2 b divided by 2 c Let’s check

Can you apply the same pattern to the other sums? a divided by 2 b divided by 2 c) (24 [12] 6) (4 [2] 1) (32 [16] ?)

It gets harder.

Another pattern they use is: (6 [18] 3) (4 [32] 8) (7 [?] 4) Can you see the pattern? In this one, it is easy if you know your times tables because 6x3 = 18 and 4x8 = 32 So the pattern is a x c = b (7 [28] 4) the answer is 28

Here is another pattern: (3 [2] 7) (9 [6] 21) (7 [3] ?) You might see a pattern/relationship between the numbers. Think, how can I get from 3 to 7 using 2? Think, how can I get from 9 to 21 using 6?

(3 [2] 7) (9 [6] 21) (7 [3] ?) Think, how can I get from 3 to 7 using 2? Think, how can I get from 9 to 21 using 6? Well I could do a + (b x 2) = c sum Then I would get (3 [2] 7) (9 [6] 21) (7 [3] 13)

This one really puzzled me: (4 [16] 8) (9 [27] 6) (4 [?] 7) And at first I saw this relationship: (4 into [16] is 4 and 4x2 is 8) and (9 into [27] is 3 and 3x2 is 6) But it won’t work for (4 [?] 7) Why?

(4 [16] 8) (9 [27] 6) (4 [?] 7) So I tried to make an a b c sum like this First I did a X c And got (4 [16] 8) 4 X 8 = 32 But how could I get from 32 to 16 (9 [27] 6) 9 X 6 = 54 But how could I get from 54 to 27

So the pattern with this one is: (a X c) = (b X 2)

1.(6 [48] 8) (3 [21] 7) (4 [ ?] 9) 2.( 7 [56] 4) (3 [12] 2) ( 5 [?] 3) 3.(24 [12] 6) (36 [18] 9) (28 [?] 7)

The best way of all to be able to do this type of question is to write your own question. Have a go at writing a few. And congratulations if you have got this far. You are a star!